The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-11-06

New York, Nov. 6.-That the aristo-
cratic 400 of this city first made ia
nous under this title by the late Ward
MeAllister, is rapidly disappearing to
give way to newer aristocracy
founded on lines as yet TO be deter
mined, Is the greatest society devel-
| opment which New York has known
for many years. Unwelcome as such
a possibility may be to the residents
of upper Fifth avenue, happenings of
the last year have accumulated the
passing of the old or1er to an extent
which as caused wide spread alarm
among the members of the 400. Di-
yorce and death have been equally ac-
tive in this tearing down process, to
which the late prominence of men of
recently acquired wealth has also con-
tributed. Various happenings during
the last twelve months have caused
such schisms among the close corpora
ton Of New York's elect society as to
indicate the early passing of the ia
nous 400. The marital troubles of the
Gould family, the rumored separation
of Mr. and Mrs. w. X. Vanderbilt, jr.,
are only examples of the influences
which are splitting New York's elect
society into all sorts of warning clans
On top of all this comes the divorce
suit Of the J. ]. Astors; Mrs Astor
having been considered for many years
the natural successor Of the late Mrs.
William Aston as the leader of society
here. Almost every week sees a re-
markable depletion of the famous Fifth
avenue colony. Within the last few
weeks announcement has been made of
the sale of the Yerkes house. as well
as the Whitney residence and hardly
day goes by without some similar
happening indicative of the passing of
the once famous 400, which for some
years has really been only a myth.
Whether the remaining members of the
original social aristocracy will depart
to make their homes elsewhere. or will
accept the new order of things remains
to be seen, but the fact remains that
the 400, famous the country over. is
rapidly becoming thing Of the past.
Like everything else in New York.
human life has its price, and like
everything else that price has been
steadily rising of late. Revelations
coming as result of the recent cleo
ton have not only brought to light the
current quotations on murder and less
er assaults, but have also revealed the
existence of various gangs which earn
their livelihood by killing and maim-
ing. According to these figures the
charge for numbering an ordinary per-
son is 800. For the death of a gang
leader surrounded by his followers.
the price, as a result of the increased
danger, is naturally greater, amount
ing TO $500. The most expensive luxury
of all, however, is the sending to pris-
on OF q member of a gang who Is
rightly or wrongly accused of beating
up a rival leader The current charge
for this accomplishment is $1,000.
These prices are all nearly double
those Of six months ago, but on the
word Of an eminent east side author
ity, they should come down shortly.
now that election is over. The price
or minor services in tn esame general
field has remained fairly constant the
latest quotations being SIS for a stab
bling, $50 for beating with brass
knuckles, SIS for punching, together
with one razor stroke or one blow
with blackjack, and SIS for a plain
beating up with hands or feet. or
both. There are today a number OF
gangs with several hundred members,
whose services are available at these
figures, according to police authority.
The best known are the Monk East
mans" the "Humpty Jacksons," the
Paul Kelleys," and the kid Twists"
and all Of these are outgrowths. of a
quarter Of a century ago when the
Gas House Gang and the 'eWhyosp
made life unsafe for any respectable
citizen who ventured within their ter
ritory. The majority Of members are
youths under 25 years Of age. since
for number of reasons they are not
likely to live to any advanced age.
While Paris has but recently been