Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-11-11
FAMOUS FOUR HUNDRED.
Death, Divorce and Newly Made
Fortunes Rapidly Disrupting It.
Nner Social Circle Made Famous by
Ward McAllister-Pr,cc CT Human
Life lncrcnsing-Now s500--
Revival Of Duclllng.

NOW OTk NOV. o. Hdt tilt iSNo'i"
&c -four hundred" of this city. first |
made famous under this title by the late
Ward McAlister. is rapidly disappear
ing to give way to newer aristocracy
founded on lines as vet to be determined
Is the greatest society development which
New York has known for many years.
Tnwelcome as such a possibility may he
10 the residents Of upper Fifth Avenue,
happenings OF the last year have ac-
centuated the passing Of the order to
an extent which has caused widespread
alarm among the members of tho 400.
Divorce and death have been equally ac-
tive in this tearing down proccss.to which
the late prominence of men Of recently
acquired wealth has also contributed
Various happenings during the last
twelve months have caused such schisns
among the close corporation Of New
york's elect society rs to indicate the
early passing of tho famous "4oN. The
marital troubles of the Gould family,
the rumored separation Of Mr.. and Mrs
w. K. Vanderbilt. Jr.. are only exam
pies Of the Influences which are split
ting New works. elect society into oil
sorts of warning clans. on top of all
this comes the divorce suit of the ]. J.
Astors: Mrs. .Astor having been consid-
sor Of the late Mrs. William Aston as
the leader of society here. Almost every
week sees Il remarkable depletion Of the
famous Fifth Avenue colony. Within
the last few weeks announcement has
been made OF the sale Of the Yerk"s
house. az we'll as of the Whitney resi-
dence. and hardly day goes by with
out some similar happening Indicative of
the passing OF the once famous "ipo'
which for some years has really been
only a myth. Whether the remaining
members Of the original social aristo-
tracy will depart to make their homes
elsewhere, or will accent the new order
Of things remains to be seen, but the
fact remains that the -four hundred'
famous the country over is rapidly be-
coming a thing Of the past.
Like everything else in New York,
human life has its price and like every
Thing else that price has been steadily
rising of late. Revelations coming as
result OF the recent election have not
pnly brought to light the current quo
tations on murder and lesser ASA ults
put have also revealed the existence Of
various gangs which earn their liveli-
hood by killing and manning. According
ing an ordinary person is one hundred
lollars For the death OF n gang leader
surrounded by his followers, the price,
Is result of the increased danger is
naturally greater. amounting to 500. The
most expensive luxury Of all, however
r the sending to prison OF a member
of gang who is rightly or wrongly ac-
cused OF beating up rival leader. The
current charge for this accomplishment
Is 81 600. These prices are all nearly dou-
Bile those OF six months ago but on the
word Of one eminent east side authority
they should come down shortly. now
that election is over. The price Of minor
services in the same general field has
remained fairly constant the latest QUO
tations being SIS for a stabbing. $50 for
beating with brass knuckles. SIS for
punching, together with one razor stroke
or one blow with a bla elk jack. and s.
for a plain beating up with hands or
feet. or both. There are to-day num-
her of gangs with several hundred mem
bers, whose services are available at
these figures. according to police author
ity. The best known are the Monk
Eastmans." the "Humpty Jacksons."
the Paul Kelleys." and the "Kid
Twists" and all Of these are outgrowths
y
"Gas House Gang" and the "Whyos"
made life unsafe Cor any respectable
citizen who ventured within their terri
tory, The majority OF members are
youths under twenty-five years Of age.
rince for a number of reasons they are
not likely to live to any advanced age.
While Paris has recently been stirred
by q duel between a leading critic and
one Of It's foremost dramatsts in which
the latter forgot to discharge his pis-
TOT, after having been missed by his OPP
ponent: and while Cuba has been highly
wrought up over a revolver duel between
two OF the prominent officers OF it's gov
ernlent in which eight shots were eX-
changed without injury. New York has
Just been treated to n duelling revival in
which bullets and swords both reached
their marks resulting in several con-
etructive deaths. This revival of duelling
frowned upon even so long ago as during
the days OF the revolution, took place
on the grounds Of Columbia University
in the heart of the city. Two students
Coo, but grim and determined. faced
each other at a distance of twenty yards
with loaded duelling pistols. At the word
the two adversaries fired simultaneously.
One was struck above the eve. the other