The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-27

mass Of the population is more and more
compelled 10 congregate in tenement,
fiat and apartment houses, Already il
has become something Of distinction
for family to occupy a house by itself,
and the time seems near when only the
very rich will have such residences ut
least in region Of this island accounted
especially fashionable.
1t is obvious that such conditions
will bring about very radical social
| changes in the town In spite OF the
greater rapdity and wider range OF
transportation facilities, experience in
dicates the necessity of some centre in
which a society of fashion shall be
gathered, for the mere sake OF contiGulty
and convenience. Already in New York
that society is separated too widely.
Automobiles may help TO overcome that
disadvantage but they cannot entirely
conquer it. Such society loses its in
tegrity and splits up necessarily into
clioues if it is not congregated but is
distributed in districts remote from
each other.
1t is not impossible. it is even probable.
that a generation hence this society will
have been driven entirely from Manhat-
tan Island to some outlying district.
Country life is already a main part of
the existence of great numbers OF these
people, after the English fashion, The
period of their residence in New York
has been abbreviated, year by year, till
now il is only from about the Christmas
season to the Lenten season. They
keep UP separate residences in town, in
the country, at the South, and frequently
if not usually they are abroad for large
part of the year
Whether they will go to Washington
as social centre" is another matter.
Washington in many ways has devel-
oped into one of the most beautiful capt.
tails of the world 1t has the advantage
for people of wealth and leisure that it
is unique in its freedom from the hub
bub of trade. Practically there is no
trade there except for the mere satisfac-
ton Of the daily wants of the people
therefore, is easily kept invitingly clean
and fresh. For social centre, however,
it is still deficient in many of the most
important luxuries which fashion de-
mnnds. Forexample il has no great opera
house, a prime essential of fashion, and
its theatres generally are provincial in
character and appointments Relatively
TO New York too, It's routine of fash
ionable life is dull and uneventful. The
most stately and alluring accessories of
wealth are not vet there; yet, unques-
tionably, Washington offers the future
possibility of greater social advantages
than those which are suggested by any
other American town.
Even if. however, Washington should
become a social centre" il would be
only one among many in America, Our
people Of wealth and fashion are becom-
ing more and more people of leisure, and
they may find in Washington inviting
in their pursuit of pleas
ure but il will be only as transient resi-
dents. They may make it one OF their
stopping places and set up establish
ments there, as they now do in various
other places at the North and at the
South. passing from one to the other as
their mood or the movement Of fashion
impels them.
The great social centre of America,
however, will remain in the metropolitan
area of New York, carrying that area
to distances which include Westchester
county, Long Island and the New Jersey
seashore and hills Manhattan Island
itself may become and is likely to be-
come a centre of trade almost exclu-
sively, with its increasing population
crowded into hotels, apartment houses,
flats and tenements; but that very domi-
nation OF trade will continue to draw
about it az a centre the greatest wealth
and the highest fashion of this hemi-
sphere by best catering to the wants and
gratifying the luxurious tastes of those
rapidly multiplying people,