The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-03-27

BY MARGARETTA ROBERTS
Who Has Been Social Secretary in the
hSnes Of Some Of the Countrv's WesIthiest
F5miIIesD
THIS IS the story of the society
j racket as it EXISTS in this
country TO-DAY. believe I am quail
fled to tell tina story because, for
the past t n years I have served as
social secretary in the homes of
some of our Weslthiest and most
socially prominent families.
Never before nave there been so
many society crazed people as there
wealth of the country. of course,
is responsible for this condition.
study the income tax reports and
Tou will understand Wny We have
such q large number of people who
are DESTROYS of breaking into so
ciety.
Huge inherited fortunes, quick
wealth gathered overnight on the
stock exchange - these are the
things that have turned American
society into a racket.
Remember, the people who are In
5ociety are doggedly determined to
stay there; those 10 are out, but
have great wealth, are equally de-
termined to crash the inner circle.
Since society must be exclusive, or
else It is not societ, at all. we have
here a constant struggle. racket.
People who attempt to win their
way up in society must DE equipped
with great wealth. There was q
time, perhaps. when society was
open to a person of fairly moderate
means, but that day has passed.
A socially ambitious person who
wishes to achieve any success as a
climber, must have millions of dol
lars. And the climber must be pre-
pared to spend it recklessly.
THERE is no doubt but that
i American society is largely con-
trolled by money. It is still possible
TO buy a way into its innermost
circle; but the cost has gone up.
Tt costs, literally, many millions.
Society, the kind spelled with a
capital S, means only two sets In
this country today. First, there is
the so-called Newport set, which
numbers among its members such
families as the Vanderbilts. Astors,
BelmontS, Goelets, Wideners, Stuart
Duncans and others, Second, there
Is the Long Island or International
set. younger, gayer, more daring
group. Both of these sets, Of course.
carry Social Register rating.
Between the two sets, so far as
social supremacy is concerned, there
is no comparison. The Newport set
nav be dull. but it still is the leader.
There are many members Of the
International set who spend their
lives in trying 70 crash the Newport
set. A few. a very few ever succeed.
Newly rich social climbers uSu-
ally aim at the International set.
It's members are eager to be
amused, their imaginations are
caught by bizarre and luxurious
entertainments. and they are in
every way more accessible than the
dogavers of Newport. hidden behind
the battlementS of their cottages"
It was the International set which
captured the prince Of Wales on
his last visit 70 this country. That
was a feather in the cap of that
sroup. but it had no lasting effect.
TINE Newport circle is extremely
4 difficult to break into. I have
Known mothers and fathers who.
despairing of ever making the grade
themselves, have set out deliberately
10 get their sons and daughters in
by marriage.
In some cases this has been done
provided. of course. the marriage
settlement was sufficiently large.
But even then. the mother and
father have benefited only indirectly.
Newport seldom accepts them. They
are invited only to the most un-
important parties.
They are not even given op-
portunity to diSport themselves in
the sacred waters of Bailey'S Beach.
There is this 70 be said for New
port, however. Once you crash it.
you are in for life. Your next stop.
socially. is heaven.
Many of our society families,
Turn tn PaSe n