The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1919-12-16
NEW YORK CITY
BY o. o. McNTYRE

New York, Dec. l5.-The way the
little band Of war millionaires are
vollaning into Gotham society In
upsetting all social traditions.
Naughty matrons at almost any
gathering may lift their lorgnettes
to inspect their dinner companion
and gaze into the rudy couhtenance
OF former puddler. Only the smell
ing salts saves them.
Society editors cannot get the hang
OF things any more. Mrs. De Pey-
ster Jones-Jones is discovered to be
three years ago, put the buttons
in her husbands shirt and fixed his
bath on Saturday nights.
Now she Is among New York
elect and is tuning up the cymbals
for q crash Into British society. The
latest book or guide to society shows
500 new names. None Is OF the old
J New York families. Money seems
to have opened the closed doors.
One society editor tells OF a func-
ton on Fifth avenue the other night
where a newly made millionaire was
with unfortunate geniality forcing q
| cigar ON an abashed footman. The
old crowd resents this vulgar intru-
sion. but the younger element likes It.
Most Of the young folk got q taste
Of democracy I'm war work. II q
newly-rich buys q home next door,
they get acquainted. Then come
invitations, and the new crowd re-
ciprocates in such lavish style that
everybody goes for fear Of missing
something really big.
Great homes of massive architec-
ture are being bought in the exclu-
sive sections by the new crowd.
They are equipped with everything
from hot and cold running buffers
to ancestral portraits. The shops
show them the greatest Difference
because they do not ask prices. And
they pay their bills promptly.
Nobody seems to understand this
invasion by the newly rich. II has
come about despite vigorous protests
of the old guard. But II Is indica-
tive Of a new order Of things. New
values are placed upon people. Fam
lily history does not mean so much
as II did.
Still there is talk OF a new social
acknowledgements who will carry
on" and separate the wheat from
the char. so to speak.
A young Kentucky girl with hazel
eyes and black hair, ambitious to
sing In opera, came to New York
last summer to seek an engagement
She called up the president Of the
Society OF american Singers on the
telephone. He was just leaving
town and had no time to give at the
moment.
Then I'll sing for you over the
telephone" said the girl.
And over the wire she sang the
bell song from "Lakme," a most
difflcult coloratura aria. The i'm
pressario was so much impressed
that he postponed his trip and had
the young lady come to see him
When she left she had a contract
for a season.
The vim ordinaire in the Red Ink
Palaces OF the Roaring Forties Is
now served in its diluted form
wrapped in newspapers The waiter
brings the bottle opened to the table
with a newspaper wrapped around
It. II is the new camoufiage and
is to give the impression that the
diner brought the wine in from the
outside.
Ellis Island is crowded these days
with a motley gathering Of those
who have found the U. s. A, the
promised land. a Forbidden Paradise.
Every face there has a look Of de-
spair. Tall. ebony-hued Hindoos.
giggiing italian girls, quiet-faced old
men and women of many races stand
about like so many cattle in a cattle
car-looking out at New York's sky
line-and grimly held in leash by
armed guards. In one building are
the stowaways. hardy young adven-
turers. who have dared and failed.