The New York 400 – Crème de la Crème

By Suzanne Norquist

The Gilded Age spanned from 1870 to 1910—a time for new millionaires to climb the social ladder in the United States, particularly in New York City. They made their money in industry, railroads, mining, and such—many from humble beginnings.

Without a monarchy, as in Europe, the Americans needed another way to decide who was worthy. No one in high standing wanted an uncouth miner or tradesman in their midst, regardless of their fortune, and poor relations must be shunned.

A group of A-listers known as the New York 400 took on the role. They threw lavish balls, dinners, and costume parties. The media and general population treated them like royalty or movie stars, even in the far reaches of the country.

The following article appeared in the February 17, 1891, edition of The Herald Democrat, Leadville, Colorado.

Several of the leading members of the celebrated 400 left for Philadelphia today to attend the marriage of John Jacob Astor to Miss Ava Willing, which will be celebrated tomorrow morning. Mr. Astor, the father of the groom, has returned from England to attend the ceremony.

This reads like news of the rich and famous today.

They set social trends. The Idaho Springs Mining Gazette, Idaho Springs, Colorado, January 29, 1914, reports that:

Mrs. Fish Banishes Tango from “400”

The Tango is dead so far as the New York “400” is concerned. It was buried at Mrs. Stuyvesant Fish’s Ball.

Apparently, the social elite didn’t ostracize people for having odd names. Mr. Stuyvesant Fish was a wealthy businessman. His wife, Mamie, a leader in the 400, held the ball that killed the Tango among their peers.

The exclusive group didn’t even automatically include the first lady of the United States. She needed to earn her place. The Rocky Mountain News, Denver, Colorado, May 5, 1889, printed this tidbit.

Maude—Mrs. Cleveland’s advancement into social prominence has been wonderfully rapid, hasn’t it?

Mabel—Why so?

“Why lately, she was only the first lady of the land, and now she’s a member of the New York 400.”

Like with today’s celebrities, not everyone honored and respected them. The Colorado Daily Chieftain, Pueblo, Colorado, December 31, 1895, says this.

The New York’s 400 is dreadfully flurried because Mrs. Potter Palmer, “an innkeeper’s wife,” has rented a handsome cottage at Newport for next summer. As Mrs. Palmer has never figured in any scandal, and as she is a woman of unusual gifts of beauty and intellect, she will certainly be out of place at the fashionable resort. The wonder is that she cares to associate with the New Yorkers.

Who came up with the idea of the New York 400, anyway?

Many society matrons vied for the position of gatekeeper. Who wouldn’t want to control the wealthy elite? However, Caroline Astor, counseled by distant cousin Ward McAllister, took that role. The number 400 was rumored to be the number her ballroom would hold. Alternatively, Mr. McAllister claimed that it was the number of wealthy people who could be trusted to behave appropriately in polite company.

Caroline Astor came from a wealthy founding family of New York. Her husband, William, brought money to the union, but not the same pedigree. His grandfather had been a simple fur trader. William also brought his philandering ways, leaving Caroline to her own devices.

Wealthy and lonely, she filled her days by hosting elaborate dinners and parties. Though everyone longed to be invited, she valued lineage, wealth, and decorum. Her guest list boasted only the best of the best.

When it was time for her daughters to come out, she recruited Mr. McAllister as an advisor. He had spent time in Europe and knew the proper way of doing things. Never mind that his family hadn’t been particularly prominent, and he didn’t have that much money. He touted himself as an expert, and he knew how to throw a good party.

Mrs. Astor preferred to include only those who were four generations removed from the origin of their wealth. She made an exception for her husband, as his grandfather had been a simple trapper. Mr. McAlister added a number of the newly wealthy to the list, mostly industrialist friends. Old money families were known as the “nobs” and new money families were known as the “swells.”

The Vanderbilts, Carnages, Rockefellers, Gettys, and Fords were among the swells. Some of them had to fight to be included in the group. Ava Belmont (who was Ava Vanderbilt at the time) manipulated her way in.

Being snubbed by Mrs. Astor, Mrs. Vanderbilt constructed a mansion and invited nearly 1000 guests to her housewarming party. She excluded the Astors. One of the Astor daughters desperately wanted to attend and convinced her mother to pay a call to Mrs. Vanderbilt. The Astors attended the gathering, and the Vanderbilts became part of the New York 400.

By the time Caroline Astor passed away in 1908, the elite balls and dinners in wealthy homes were giving way to functions at luxury hotels where anyone could buy their way in. Thus ended the era of the New York 400.

However, we only have to check the magazines in the grocery check-out aisle to see that Americans still clamber for news of the current crème de la crème of society.

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”Mending Sarah’s Heart” in the Thimbles and Threads Collection

Four historical romances celebrating the arts of sewing and quilting.

Mending Sarah’s Heart by Suzanne Norquist

Rockledge, Colorado, 1884

Sarah seeks a quiet life as a seamstress. She doesn’t need anyone, especially her dead husband’s partner. If only the Emporium of Fashion would stop stealing her customers, and the local hoodlums would leave her sons alone. When she rejects her husband’s share of the mine, his partner Jack seeks to serve her through other means. But will his efforts only push her further away?

 

Suzanne Norquist is the author of two novellas, “A Song for Rose” in A Bouquet of Brides Collection and “Mending Sarah’s Heart” in the Thimbles and Threads Collection. Everything fascinates her. She has worked as a chemist, professor, financial analyst, and even earned a doctorate in economics. Research feeds her curiosity, and she shares the adventure with her readers. She lives in New Mexico with her mining engineer husband and has two grown children. When not writing, she explores the mountains, hikes, and attends kickboxing class.