The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-02-03
NO 400 IN
new YORK now
SOCIETY NOW CONSISTS OF NUN.
Der OF COLLECTIONS OF ONE.
HUNDREDS, OR LESS. SAYS
FREDERICK TOWNSEND MART
IN.
Special to The JournaI


New York. February 2.-That much
Wanted term, the 400 which has
been used for two generations to des-
fgnate those who have arrived" So
cially and been elected to the inner
chamber of the elect, is no longer
something for dowdy old ladies and
ambitious young matrons to conJure
with, according to Frederick Townsend
Martin. Mr.. Martin Is one Of the city's
most popular and wealthy bachelors
and of late years has held much the
same relation to society as the final
Ward McAlIister occupied In the days
when Mrs. Aston was in her prime as
the social leader of New York. It
was McAIlister, who first defined
American society as consisting of
but 400 families and he who kept the
army of climbers and make believe
aristocrats from making a breach in
the closely guarded corporation. Since
his death and that OF Mrs. Aston. there
has been a noticeable relaxation of
the strict line of demarkation OBJ
served in their days. due largely to the
rival aspirations of Mrs. Ogden Mills
and Mrs. Anthony Drexel for the
leadership of the clan. Through their
desire to secure the coveted position.
which Mrs. Astor held without DISPUTE
during the latter part of her life. they
have welcomed to their midst many
/ persons, who though having all the
qualifications Of money and culture
regarded as essential by Mrs. Astor
FOR those on her visiting list, found the
doors barred resolutely against them
for no other reason than that their
oscutcheon was too new to merit their
acceptance as social equals.
With the arrival in town last week
of the Duke and Duchess of Connaught
and their beautiful daughter. Princess
L NJ - ~ ~ @lae
| question as to who was it, should be
raised and make necessary show
down" of relative social values. That
the result filed many with eiation
and doubtless just as many with heart
burnings. is only natural To those
of the latter who saw their names
PASSED over in the formulation Of the
Hist of people invited to meet their
Royal Highness, Frederick Townsend
Martins assurance, that there is no
longer any 400 and that the failure
of man or woman to receive an in
vitation to meet the distinguished Wis
itors at the city home of Ambassador
WhiteIaw Reid or at the residence of
Mrs Ogden Mills. the mother of Lady
Granard is no evidence of their unde-
sira bility acted as a bromide on their
ruffled sensibilities
New York says Mr.. Martin. "is
too enormous for It's society to be
cliques. The time was years ago
when there were not more than a few
hundred families of great wealth and
cultivation here, that they all tried to
stay together-to make a social unit.
Now 1t is different There is no 400
in New York today 1t is a collection
of one hundred or less, usually less.
Neither Mrs Mills nor Mrs. Reid,
or for that matter any social leader
could entertain hundreds of persons
at one time in the space at her dis
posaL New York houses are not big
enough, and brushes are no longer
fashionable. Society today Is on a
friendship basis. It has passed the
struggling stage 1t can now afford
to indulge in comfort OF friendship
gatherings. Society is not nearly as
formal as is usually believed. Most
social leaders are amfable and human.
Leaders, l say, not newcomers to New
coachet Social leaders give parties
to people they know and like. They
give parties for their young daughter
and some to other young people with
whom their own children have grown
up since babyhood.
IF you look closely into society
today you viii find it Is simply a col
lection of small friendly circles. The
Reds are Intimately acquainted with
the Duke and Duchess of Connaught,
with whom they have been on the
friendliest of terms abroad It is per-
fectly natural, then, to make enter
tainment for them when they come u
visit New York. The result was that
the Reds invited the members of their
own friendly circle. Limited to the
capacity of their home. The same was
the case with Mrs. Mills when she en-
tertained the Duke and Duchess. The
"400'' is now only a name and sig
mites nothing at ALL
IT'S NOT WHAT YOU PAY.
It's what you get for your money