The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-01-04
EXIT THE +" 400, ("
ENTER THE 1000
Smart Sets of Philadelphia, New
York and Washington To Be
Merged.

WASHINGTON. Jan. 4.Zunder the
name OF the Assembly set" the smart
set OF New York. Philadelphia and
Washington will be fused into u body
not To exceed thousand families. In
this process there will be eliminated
the now historic -Four Hundred" Mrs.
William III. Taft In behind this move
ment which had it's inception shortly
after the death OF Mrs. Ast0r year
ago. and which is looked upon favor
ably by the New Workers in view OF
the way that divorce and other Causes
have played havoc with the original
membership. There IL absolutely no
intention 10 ignore other cities except
geographically, In the opinion OF those
behind the movement, every social
leader OF the country maintains resi-
dence in either Philadelphia. Washing
ton or New York, and this will be suf-
ficient qualification for membership.
Membership under the new order of
things will not be limited TO a person,
SO far as numerical strength goes. but
to one family. An attempt Will be
made whereby an outsider can be made
eligible through marriage OF one OF the
members, provided the union Is of
such character as TO make this advis-
able. There are as many men inter
ested In this movement as there are
women men who are renowned
throughout the country for what they
do In politics and other fields-and this
promises, according to the sponsors for
the movement. total elimination of
the snobbish rich.
The first cause that brought about
the consideration OF this step Is the
hesitation OF New Yorker, for in
stance, TO receive a member of Wash
ington's or Boston's or Cincinnatis
smart set as freely as he would one of
the Four Hundred. According to the
articles of the new set, which will be
informally ratified by the White House
and the exclusive leaders OF those
cities. person recognized by The As
sembly will be eligible to all the hon
ors and courtesies. no matter what
city he visits, provided there Is a mem
Der OF the Assembly at such place.
Wealth Alone Not Considered.
Rank, birth and wealth will be but
relative qualifications for membership.
Rank will be more valuable than birth.
according 10 the promoters OF the
movement. They include birth as
categorical qualification In order to
embrace those families who have
achieved no especial rank or wealth to
Justify their coming under these head
ings. Wealth alone will not be con-
That money, nevertheless, is
not an unnecessary item Is made plain
by the drain of expenses that member
slim I'm thiv saf will demand
The latest development. by the way,
discussed at recent informal reunion
at which Mrs Taft was present, is to
make especial allowance for bachelors
between tie ages OF 20 and 50. Their
membership will not be considered a
unit In the one thousand.
but an extraneons set highly necessary
TO The smooth working OF exclusive So
cial life. I'he age limit is made % on
the assumption that a man younger
than that is not OF much interest ex-
cept rs a dancing partner or TO fill
I'm odd places, and these odd places,
very frequent at ordinary functions.
will be eliminated In the new Assem-
bly, Above 90 a bachelor will begin
to be undressing; a social leader
stating that he should be married by
that time. This celibate category VIII
embrace only those men who have no
family In The Assembly. and their in
clusion To membership is personal.
Some Protests Made.
There have been some protests by
ultra-exclusivists against member
ship of one thousand families. They
believe that this will average well over
three thousand persons, but the oppon-
ponents are a small minority. The