The sun., 1918-07-28

MRS. BURTON HARRISON, in
ltl "Recollections, Grave and CAV
told of visit made in 1892 as one of
party of invited guests travelling by spe-
cial train TO the newly built -Four Seasons
Hotel at Cumberland Gap, in Tennessee,
where the directors of new land company
and health resort scheme had arranged a
week Of sports and entertainment.
About forty congenial persons from
New York and Washington made the trip,
the mountaineers and their families along
the route assembling at stations TO see the
notabi!ities among them. The chief at
traction, Mrs. Harrison recorded, seemed
to be Ward McAllister, who had been
expected, but did not go.
At one station James Brown Potter, en-
gagged in taking a constitutional to remove
train stiffness, was pointed out by another
Of the party to group of staring natives
as the famous arblter of New York
fashion
~ want to know" said gaunt noun
tain horseinan. Wal, I've nd fifteen
miles purpus 10 see that dude McAllis-
ter, and don't begrutch il, not a mite"
Yokels Moved by Curiosity.
All over the land there were yokels and
the spouses of ,oke!s and even the chill
dren Of yokels, moved by like interest
and curiosity, while rural visitors to New
Co.
that matter-if such person as a born
New Yorker actually existed-eraned
their necks from the tops of the Fifth
avenue buses in the hope of catching a
glimpse of the great man. who, for brief,
fitting moment was an institution of as
much importance as the Obelisk or the
Metropolitan Museum of Art.
But so far Is the great world beyond
the Weehawken Hills went, Ward Neal
listers was an ephemeral glory. 1t wns
clear case of anachronism. He was born
100 years too late, or 200 wears. or 1000.
His was the soul of the Roman PetronIus,
or or one of the Corinthian eccentrics, who
strutted in St. James's Park or past Carl
ton House in the early days of the Re
gency.
In the Carlton House circle he might
have out -Brummelled Brummell and sup
planted that famous Beau as the object OF
the fat Princes attentions and ingrati-
tude. Indeed, there was flavor Of Brum-
mell's biting insolence in some of the say
ings that were attributed to the New
Yorker. For example, there was a well
known literary woman of New York who
had in some way incurred the arbiters
august disapproval.
"She write stories of New York socI-
ety. be said. why, have seen her my
self buying her Madeira at Park & Til
ford's in a DEM john"
Fame Through the Newspapers.
Fame came TO him through the news
paper reporter. 1t was smaller New
York, a more limited Fifth avenue, in
those days, and Mrs. Aston ruled its So
eiefy without any one to question her
sovereignty. She was about to give
great ball, and Ward McAllister, as the
self appointed and generally accepted sec
rotary of society, was in charge of the list
of invitations.
To the reporter sent to interview him Ar
McAIlister explained that, owing to prob
lens of space, only 400 cards we're to be
sent out, commenting: After all, there
are only 400 persons in New York who
count in a social way"
"And who are those 400 personsr
asked the quick witted reporter.
On that point Mr. McAllister was more
seticent- But the reporter obtained the
Int Of those who were to be invited 70 the