AMAZING AMERICA

Evening Post, Issue 2, 2 July 1932, Page 8

AMAZING AMERICA

CASTE AND THE SOCIAL-REGISTER i

l(he Biiti<Ucr, domiciled for the'first time m the United States, notes *i\ith gioiung suipnse frequent, relbrenees m the diily papeis, the m ceVhci, and the magazines, to -what is Icnown as the "social legisier," \vjite.s___'lTlie Post's" >ew Yoik corespondent. A headline, aot confined,. to_thc tabloids, sajs. "Social Kegisteritc Dies 'm Leap'" [A. Moman may be'referred to as a /'social matron," a'girl as a "debutante " Families of th'c upper classes get an affix after their names, thus Okarles Van Ness 111, meaning the third head of the "socially prominent" Van Nesses. President Hoover's L .andson is Herbert Hoover 11. News writers, never fail to affix social status to those whose doings are chronicled in the Press—if they have any. The surprise of the Britisher grows to amazement when he learns, on closer study, that social caste is as strongly entrenched m the United States, despite its democratic tradition, as in any country that has developed aristo ciatic traits.

Pirhcular notice i- taken of Amencans included, and -urpuse is expie^e'd at the non inclusion of ceitam fotk Thw ft a characteristic of the^ Amen ' can -mintl that has; no epuuteipaVt elfce-i\-heiß_A'HPiig. An£lo_Sai.on_ countries, except Canada, r which subsciibos" "to Amencaii jievvs services ' l / Tffo 'f so^iatl Register" is now a sacred.^ college.'", Underj Keljer's will, it is canied on^y a. trusted aide, Miss Bertha, Enstmond, Jie stipulated that she should be its secretary foi lite and that she should.,receive one tenth ot its profits. Entries foi New"Yoik nc\ total 27,000 names The dajs of the 'Tour Hundred" arc past. A com mittee sits in judgment on maniagos, duorces, and public scandals, Awth competent local agents to adiise it.

The "social register" is an accredited publication, wliich made its first appearance in 1887, edited by Louis Keller, a wealthy man's son, who had »o interest in life beyond the social round. He had .lust financed'a society papei, "Town Topics," -when his friends suggested that he should compile a register of prominent New York families. The first issue contained aifew hundied names. The idea •wasliwelcome'd in society, and the author becoming interested in culling bloqds^and bleeds on the social amalgam, pioduced his volume annually, m eoiporatmg his woik as the- Social Register JAssociation, v * Washington, Philadelphia, and Bos-" ton askciL Keller to compile a register of then "'notables; today, ten years after Keller's death, editions are issued annually? for New York, "Washington, Baltimore, Chicago, Boston, *St. Lauis, Pittsburg, San Francisco, and a. dozoji less important cities. The society "complex" is so pio nouncedjthat,-on the day a new'cdi'tion of the Butish Who's Who is is 'sued, the Amciican Piess publishes the names of new blood included in. it, md names of those who" have dropped out, with the loasons in each, case t

There are anomalies, some of which arc amusing. For instance, Mr, Hearst, despite his wealth and the influence of his papers, is ignored, -while his son and his columnist, Arthur Brisbane, are admitted. Mr. Charles Schwab, multi millionaire industnal magnate, is not in the register. Mr. Roosevelt, Governor of Now Yoik State, is, but Mr. Al Smith, his predecessor, is not Jjindbergh is Mid," because ho "marned into the~social legister,",/ Conversely, Gene, Tunney's wife,t"heiress to the Carnegie millions," was expelled because she married a pr.ize-fighier. Miss Ellin Ma.cKa.v-* "tho Postal Telegraph hevresWas likewise ,Gxpello& bccaiise^she married 'Irving Berlin, who wa3,oneo_a singing waiter./ t ?Another f'regis.teri^e" was diopped far.vitarryrag ten actress.j-vYet ■" a'P'ecrVof'the Kealm m. England mames'^n'-faciress,'1 sho shares his tible. * Jimmy WalktjT^Nej^ ffnrk 's. '^plajTjby' 1' 'could n»t J"makV the« grajle,'* ne^the^ could Nevr""York(s jmce oiSclal 'igioctei V and Tuest dr^ssbd 'i^^Gjove^^VJialen. /The listing-! syatem is Intricate:-^- ■>» "Smith, John,+ Xnsr)'UV, KrSa, NjV Dt, Bg, Ss, J,m, Snc, 0180."- /■ These -mysterious Tetters-mean that Mr. Smith has- paid up his dues at the Union, University) Knickerbocker, St. Anthony, New Yprk Y,acht, Downtown, Baltusrol Golf, and South Side Clubs,' and that he is a membei of the Colonial Lords of the v Manor, St. Nicholas Societx, and n Columbia . University giadua^c of 18S9