The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-05

10 visiting fore igners IN the future II tho
action OF ono well known man has any
siRnifcance. He invited a titled foreigner
at present here 10 n canoe at his house
recently, and two days atteIward With
drew the invita- ton. In spite OF the fact
that the titled fore gner had already ao-
cAnte,l.
In the brief interval between sending and
recalling the invita- ton. the host bad learned
enough 10 convinc, him that he did not
desire the presence Of this gentleman.
however aristocfatic his lineage might be.
He did net explain this in tho short note
recalling tho invitation. Ii mer, ly stated
that the host felt iimso Il compt lied 10 do
az he did and regretted the necessity for
his act
The erisode has awakened discussion.
Sympathizers with the New Yorker insist
that II is high time for sock ~ here to cease
taking In any foreigner who may present
himself without question ns TO his ante
cedents and standing In his own country.
On the other side it ia asserted that this
young man might better have been AL
lowed 10 go 10 the ball. where his presence
would not have been great shock to the
guests. and that afterward he could have
Ittu IluNt ~ IliiflFAhii Ai'''N ~ "'N" NV
expected 10 continue TO Writ the house.
The reply to this il that the mere presence
Of this man in such New York home would
have given him social standing in Nav York.
which he did not deserve.
1T, a wonder 10 me that there are not
more complications than there are, In view
Of the generous way In which fore tgners
arc received here. said foreigner OF title
who las been In New York for the past
year. Il have often wondered on Nha%
principle they were sell cted.
THE men Of the diplomatic Corps are OF
course accredited everywhere, but the
swarm of titled small fry seen at some Of
the New York entertainments are wonder
10 me. Fort igners are always amused
when they see the lists Of titled guests
who are made much of In American houses.
and / must say that the impression that
one gcts from distance IA a total mis-
representation of what New York society
really Is
Take one big hall given every year,
which is supposed 10 be the most repre-
sentative enter tainmcnt Of the city. The
New Workers there are men Of wealth or
position, who have some right TO be present
az gathering that presumably represents
the best. Scattert d among thom are some
twenty or thitv men with assorted titles
from all the Continen tai ratons.
I'm nine cases out Of ten there Is nothing
10 exT lain the presence Of tbose me n st such
place beyond the o. 'ession OF title.
That is very often hszy, allowed merely
FOR formal reasons and seldom represt nta-
tive Of any present wealth. valor or con-
righteousness Of any kind. In their own
countries these men or their fathers might
he Just as prominent as police cartsin or
fl o ma -shal or some of the small officials
In the builning or Street Cleaning Depart
ment.
New Workers. OF wealth. cultivation and
personal tive cuveness far txoeeding these
men. and with personal records that can
m re readily withstand scrutiny, would
never be invited to take part in this ball.
but any titled hedgling with the fiimsiest
81 i'm to be a count or baron may be an
honorcd guest there II be only pulls few
wires.
There arc New Yorkors who are just az
much amused as Il is foI6irrer ct the
u t. Of guests they see at notable enter
tainments. The If anus ment Is Increased
by some OF the tLings that titled foreigners
do
Last winter an Italian who said no Was
writing a took on America got into the
Hmelight probably more frequently than
any other temporary sojourner here. He
was not beautiful to look at, and was wo-
fully neglectu. in certain details of the
toilet.
He made haste slowly at first, but finally
got to the house he was most anxious to
viSit and ultimately received an invitation
TO dinner SO ec.tatic was he over this that
he wrote a letter to newspaper saying
that certain distinguished matron was
10 give a dinner in his honor on certain
night,
be disseminated the news 40 industriously
that it finally reached the ears Of the private
secretary Of tho hostess, who Ia moro caro-
ful Of the character OF the entertainments
given in the houSe than her employer Ia.
The no tess therefore transmitted TO a
newspaper an announcement to the effect
that the gentleman in question was guest
with twenty-three others at the dinner
but was not the person In whose honor
Il was given.
His social successes were not In the least
dimmed by this little cloud. He COM
planned, though. that men we're not nice
TO him. although he found American women
the lovelest in the world.
Even the rumors OF his American sucoess,
which travelled back 10 his native land,
could not prejudice the police enough in
his favor to make them ignore some Incl
dents occurring after his return, and the
publicity gained in this manner will prob !
ably prevent any repetition Of his triumphs
here.
Sometimes men who come here with
title and some fortune let 1t be known .hat
they have their eyes on two or three young
women as possible wives. Sometimes
women Of title who descend on these shores
in search OF fortune are equally frank.
An Italian woman with a somewhat
threadbare title, which belonged 20 her
husband rather than herself. as he had