Book Description
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1899 edition. Excerpt: ...nity, they marked adecade in the social world ancestors, and that it required only encouragement to develop wit and originality. She accordingly founded a literary club of ladies, who met biweekly in the parlors of the members, at which each one was expected to contribute an article from her own pen, to lie read before her confreres and discussed by the society. The wisdom of this social leader has been well proved by the success of the modest little society which she founded, and from w h i ch have sprung many others of more or less d istinction, the original society being an exclusive association to which few are admitted, and to attain entrance to w h i c h confers a certain social distinction. This society is so quietly conducted that but few people know of its existence, beyond the circle of old-fashioned New Yorkers. the metropolis. Up to the middle of the century, the subject of wealth was one that was little considered or discussed. Every one lived in about the same simple style; cverjr one was supposed to have the same number of servants, that was increased only when one family was larger than another and required more service. It was considered the height of vulgarity to spend money lavishly on unnecessary luxuries, simply for the sake of making a display and thereby exciting the envy of others. Quiet, unostentatious hospitality marked the character of each household in which the wit and education of the hosts were the standard of excellence and not the size of their bank account. Families were well known in all their branches and ramifications, and there were but few persons in society who had not been born and bred in the city. Photograph by Path Hi other. MRS. ARTHUR KEMP. that had a more durable effect than they of whom it...