Was Once a Society Queen

1895

Mrs. Hicks-Lord Now Lives In Quiet Retirement In New York.

A few years ago the name of Mrs. Hicks-Lord had greater potency in the fashionable life of New York than that of a Vanderbilt or an Astor. Today it is but a memory.

The erstwhile social queen lives in a big, gloomy house looking out upon Washington square from the West side, ending her days in a seclusion which is almost hermitlike.

As recently as nine years ago she gave a reception, at which 3,000 fashionables fought and scrambled for an opportunity to pay their respects to the beautiful hostess.

For years she has been an invalid and now rarely sees any of the hundreds who used to crowd her spacious home when she was in the heyday of her society success. The swarms of fashionable moths have found other lights around which to flutter.

A few years ago her house was entered by burglars. They did not get much booty, but ever since then Mrs. Hicks-Lord has lived in terror of another visit of the same kind. Most of her jewels are kept in a safe storage, but she keeps enough in her big house to tempt a score of cracksmen, though often advised to put them with the others.

Many years ago, while in Rome, she made the acquaintance of several leaders of the Catholic hierarchy. At that time Mrs. Hicks-Lord learned a great deal or the teachings of the church. Year by year her learning in that direction became more pronounced, and eventually she became a convert to the Catholic faith. Now she is a devout and regular worshiper at St. Patrick's cathedral on Fifth avenue.

Two nieces live with her part of the year. The rest of the time she is surrounded only by a force of colored servants. — New York Correspondent.

A Blue Breakfast

1895

A blue breakfast that Mr. Edmund Russell tells about is both suggestive and amusing. It was in summer time of course. He says: "In a city where I was lecturing, a society dame asked a number of friends to a little breakfast. They found their hostess exquisitely gowned in blue, presiding over a beautiful breakfast table, the center of which, up to the plate line, was one mass of lovely blue morning glories — bloom and tendril. This artistic effect was produced by fine wire netting adjusted over graduated glasses of water, in which the delicate stems of the vines were kept moist and fresh. The harmony of blue and green was carried out through the entire service — one course in old blue Conton china, then one in green majolica, followed by a third — a grandmother's set of green and blue and gold bands.

"But what excited the most interest and admiration was a set of pale blue open work dessert plates, just the tint of the beautiful morning glories. When asked about these unique plates, the hostess touched with her slender, turquoise decked hand her plate, which seemed almost as rare and fine as her jewels, and said: Yes, I purchased those on my trip abroad. They were my greatest extravagance and are said to be literally unique. I could secure but nine, so when I wish to use them I have to limit my guests to that number. These unique blue plates were for a number of days the talk of all society. A few weeks after the little blue breakfast one of the guests, visiting an unfrequented part of the city on an errand of charity, discovered on the pavement before a small, shabby china store six baskets of the identical pale blue plates — marked 12½ cents each. Was the hostess of the blue breakfast attempting art, cleverness or impudence?" — Philadelphia Ledger.

Mrs. Hill's Visitors

1895

The Beautiful Finesse With Which She Rebuked Their Impertinence.

Mrs. J. J. Hill, wife of the new millionaire railroad magnate, is a person of a great deal of keenness, and nobody knows it better than a Washington woman who spent a summer out in St. Paul once upon a time. This Washington woman had met Mrs. Hill and chose to consider her one of the newly rich and not to be named in the same afternoon with the people of her set.

The Washington woman had a friend with her for a few days, and in showing her the sights of the town took her to the Hill house. Mrs. Hill was very gracious, though the Washington woman scarcely concealed the fact that curiosity alone prompted her visit. She and her friend were shown all over the house and asked questions that would have been really inexcusable in any one but a woman of society.

Finally she asked to be shown Mrs. Hill's jewels. Mrs. Hill's jewels, by the way, are among the finest in the country, and Mrs. Hill is fond of them with a connoisseur's pride and not with the vanity of a woman fond of adornment. Mrs. Hill left the room, and in a few moments the jewels were shown, but it was a maid who showed them. The hostess did not appear again, and as the two women went away the maid asked them politely if they wished to see anything else.

Personally I think congress ought to vote Mrs. Hill a medal. — Washington Post.

How The "400" Was Born

1895

It Was Used In an Interview With Ward McAllister In 1888.

The famous phrase, "The Four Hundred," which has become synonymous in American ears with the most fashionable and socially exclusive set in the population of New York in particular and of other American cities and big towns in general, was born on March 25, 1888, when there appeared in The Tribune a long interview with Ward McAllister.

The article was headed "Secrets of Ball Giving," and in its opening paragraphs it treated of Mr. McAllister's ancestry and his position in New York. When the interviewing part of the story began, Mr. McAllister told of the organization of the Patriarchs' ball in 1873 and related various little episodes of interest connected with the gentlemen who were among its first subscribers. Finally he reached this point: "Society is an occupation in itself. Only a man who has a good deal of leisure and a taste for it can keep up with its demands and with what interests it. Say what you will, the modern leader of society must still have considerable of the old courtier and chevalier endowment to make a success of it. Numbers of people are introduced in fashionable society who cannot and do not make a success, and they fall out. They cannot float themselves even when some one gives them a good start. Those people have not the poise, the aptitude for polite conversation, the polished and deferential manner, the infinite capacity of good humor and ability to entertain or be entertained that society demands." He paused for a moment, and when he spoke again, lo! the famous phrase fell from his inspired lips:

"Why, there are only about 400 people in fashionable New York society. If you go outside that number, you either strike people who are not at ease in a ballroom or else make other people not at ease. See the point? Of course there are any number of the most cultivated and highly respectable, even distinguished, people outside of fashionable society. When we give a large ball like the last New Year's ball, for 800 guests, we go outside of the exclusive fashionable set and invite proiessional men, doctors, lawyers, editors, artists and the like. But the day when fortunes admitted men to exclusive society has gone by. Twenty or thirty years ago it was otherwise."

From that point to the end Mr. McAllister talked about famous dinners and suppers in the history of New York's fashionable entertaining, and also of the most captivating dishes for such feasts of the socially elect. Within a fortnight his statement about the number of persons in the fashionable set had been copied all over the eastern part of the country, and it gradually became solidly ingrafted into the popular colloquialisms of American slang and catch phrases. Mr. McAllister not long afterward, in another interview, qualified his estimate by explaining that he intended to convoy the idea that there were 400 households in the city the members of which were in fashionable society, but his qualification never get sufficient currency to kill the original estimate. — New York Mail and Express.

The Debutante's Programme

1895

The programme laid out for a debutante by her mother includes a box at the opera for the season, that the girl may be seen; invitations to the fashionable public balls preceded by fine dinners, to which are invited the eligible young men, thus laying them under obligations which, it is hoped, will be discharged by dancing with the daughter, writes Mrs. Burton Kingsland in The Ladies' Home Journal.

A month or two at Newport, a few weeks at Lenox in the autumn, Tuxedo at Christmas and a London season in the springtime — a showy career, to which wealth is the passport and a conspicuous marriage the aim. If the marriage be delayed, comment is rife, public attention having been so drawn to the girl, and feeling that it is due to society to do what is expected of her she sometimes marries for no better reason.

New Hampshire Neighbors — East Sweden

New Hampshire/Maine, 1916

Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Bisbee and Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Marr went to Lewiston to the State fair September 6.

D. T. Adams was home Sunday, Sept. 3.

Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Bisbee were in Rumford September 3.

A number went from here to the town hall September 6 to hear William M. Ingraham speak.

Fred Barton went with the Haskell family to Bridgton September 8.

Harold Porter made a flying call at H. Haskell's September 10.

—The Fryeburg Post, Fryeburg, Maine, Sept. 12, 1916, p. 3.

New Hampshire Neighbors — Sweden

New Hampshire/Maine, 1916

Leslie Chandler, who got so badly burned by the bursting of a gasolene torch while soldering some milk cans recently, is gaining.

The remains of Miss Louise Brackett were brought from Cumberland Mills to her sister, Mrs. Martha Chandler's. The funeral was held Thursday. [*]

Sweden grange held its regular meeting Saturday evening, Sept. 9, with nine members present.

Charlie Bailey hauled stove wood for Walter Evans Monday.

Miss Mable Trimback is doing housework for Mrs. W. E. Evans.

M. E. Perry and wife and Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Moulton were in Portland Saturday, going in Mr. Perry's new auto.

Mr. and Mrs. James H. Bennett are visiting his brother, Charles Bennett.

Mrs. Fordyce Gammon and daughter Emily are visiting her sisters, Mrs. Ernest Bennett, and Cleora Saunders, also her brother, Lindon Merrill.

Mr. and Mrs. Fred Saunders and daughter of Portland are visiting his father, Lincoln Saunders, at O. P. Saunders'.

Miss Marion Moulton is visiting Mrs. Charlie Bailey and Mrs. Forest Hutchins.

Miss Louisa Moulton has gone to Massachusetts to visit her sister.

George Thompson and Ernest Bennett cut corn fodder into the silo for Lindon Merrill Thursday afternoon.

Hugh Smart helped Thell Bennett get in oats and hungarian Saturday.

—The Fryeburg Post, Fryeburg, Maine, Sept. 12, 1916, p. 3.

[*] Note: Original newspaper breaks this line "Thurs-" followed by "Number Four. [another linebreak] No. Four."

New Hampshire Neighbors — South Sweden

New Hampshire/Maine, 1916

Henry Emerson and Joe Willard made a business trip to Norway last week.

Hazel Plummer of Haverhill, Mass., is visiting her uncle, Enfield Plummer.

Mrs. Adelbert Stearns and two children of Lovell, also W. H. Smith visited at Charles Brackett's Sunday.

Royal Flint and George Thompson finished haying on the meadow Saturday.

Orin Plummer of Bridgton ridge spent Sunday at E. S. Plummer's.

Mrs. Florence Sawyer and Mrs. Carrie Adams visited at Henry Emerson's one day last week.

—The Fryeburg Post, Fryeburg, Maine, Sept. 12, 1916, p. 3.

New Hampshire Neighbors — West Denmark

New Hampshire/Maine, 1916

Mrs. Viola M. Walker has returned to her home in this neighborhood.

Mr. and Mrs. Rufus Warren, Mrs. Robert Ingalls, Mr. and Mrs. Enoch Sawyer and son Allan of South Bridgton visited at H. F. Lord's Thursday.

Mrs. Martha Ingalls and daughter, Mrs. Harlan Lord, were in Portland Friday.

Willis Thomes has moved his family to Kezar Falls.

—The Fryeburg Post, Fryeburg, Maine, Sept. 12, 1916, p. 3.

New Hampshire Neighbors — Brownfield

New Hampshire/Maine, 1916

Mrs. Alvan Smith and son, Percy, have been in town for awhile.

Mrs. Benjamin Howard is entertaining her daughter, Eva.

Miss Winnifield Jones has returned to her home in Eaton, N. H.

Sherman McDonald came home, Sunday.

Fred Files came up from Cornish Saturday evening.

Mrs. A. S. Lynch has been entertaining Miss Rachel Weston of Fryeburg.

Miss Ruth Peckham was in Portland Saturday and visited the Longfellow mansion.

Mrs. Lucian Snow of Portland has been a guest at Spring farm.

Rev. L. F. McDonald, Mrs. McDonald and children have returned from their vacation which they spent in camp.

Merlin Butterfield is in Denmark employed in the corn factory.

EdWin Poore has had extensive improvements made on his house.

Miss Mary Peckham is teaching in Eaton, N. H.

Eugene Poore, Fred Poore and the Misses Leola Butterfield and Clair Rowe are engaged in the corn shop.

On account of the critical illness of Mr. Hawe's mother, High school will not open for two weeks. All other schools began Monday.

—The Fryeburg Post, Fryeburg, Maine, Sept. 12, 1916, p. 3.

New Hampshire Neighbors — Watson Hill

New Hampshire/Maine, 1916

Frank Wilkinson and family from East Wakefield called to see his father Sunday for a short time. They came in an automobile.

Mrs. Ruth K. Moulton is spending her vacation on the Hill with her mother, Mrs. Sadie Kezar.

Mr. H. S. Rass and family returned to their home in Boston Saturday after spending a very pleasant summer at Hornheam Hill.

Mrs. Ida Waston[*] called on Mr. and Mrs. Eli Wilkin Sunday afternoon.

Most everyone is getting back to the city now and it leaves the summer places kind of lonesome until another year.

Mr. and Mrs. Alphonse Wilkin and son of Salem recently spent a few days with his father.

Miss Nellie Kezar spent the weekend of last week in Rochester returning Monday.

—The Fryeburg Post, Fryeburg, Maine, Sept. 12, 1916, p. 3.

Note: [*] Perhaps should be Ida Watson since the place is Watson Hill. Just a guess (educated), but I left it Waston.

New Hampshire Neighbors — West Brownfield

New Hampshire/Maine, 1916

Mrs. Horace Mason and son Harry of East Conway, N. H., were Sunday visitors at Mrs. James Dennett's.

Miss Peggy Comstock of South Conway, N. H., was seen in this neighborhood one day last week.

Walter Mason and wife and Lester Mason of Conway, N. H., were weekend visitors at J. L. Dennett's.

Among those seen in the neighborhood Sunday were: Thomas Harmon, M. L. Rounds and wife, Clayton Spring, Ralph Miller, Harold Littlefield and Ralph Bishop.

Mrs. F. M. Chamberlain, son Earle, M. L. Rounds and wife and Ralph Bishop made a motor trip to Ossipee Corners and Chocorua lake Sunday afternoon.

Mrs. Charles Stearns with her daughter, Mrs. Jenney, and granddaughter, Miss Jenney, of Brookline, Mass., were callers at Mrs. James Dennett's and at J. L. Dennett's one day last week.

A good many people are calling to inspect Lieut. Walker's new barn these days. This barn, we are told by those who should know, will be, when completed, the equal if not the superior in finish and modern equipment of any in the state. It is 113 feet long and 36 feet wide, and will have two tie-ups, one on each side, the cows facing each other with a walk for feeding purposes between. There will be steel tracks and carriers for handling both feed and manure; the floors will all be of concrete with steel stanchions. Two large silos of glazed hollow tile are already in place. A system of ventilation is being provided, having numerous air shafts connecting with three large metal ventilators on the roof arranged to turn with the wind. The finish of the building, both inside and outside, is excellent and we are told that the cost will exceed $13,000. This barn is being built on what was formerly the John Payne farm, on the road to South Conway, which Mr. Walker purchased some time ago.

School began Monday with Miss Murphy teaching here again.

—The Fryeburg Post, Fryeburg, Maine, Sept. 12, 1916, p. 3.

New Hampshire Neighbors — New Boston

New Hampshire/Maine, 1916

Mr. George Kennard has been helping Melvin Kennard repair his barn.

Mr. Leon Day of Kezar Falls spent Sunday with his uncle, Osgood Pendexter.

Mrs. S. P. French has returned to her home in Everett, Mass.

Mr. Stilman Chick has been helping Thomas Blake for the past few days.

Mr. Winslow Brown of Freedom called on Mr. Walter Sargent Friday.

—The Fryeburg Post, Fryeburg, Maine, Sept. 12, 1916, p. 3.

New Hampshire Neighbors — Porterfield

New Hampshire/Maine, 1916

Rev. Fred Ward held a conference at D. Huntress' Saturday afternoon.

Mr. Wallace Durgin and family visited at Darling Huntress' Wednesday.

Miss Luella Hartford, who has been visiting her father, L. R. Hartford, has returned to her home in Hollos.

Mr. and Mrs. Fred Clemmons are at D. E. Jewett's for a while.

D. Huntress was in Brownfield on business one day last week.

—The Fryeburg Post, Fryeburg, Maine, Sept. 12, 1916, p. 3.

New Hampshire Neighbors — Hiram

New Hampshire/Maine, 1916

On Tuesday Mr. Albert F. Berry was sworn as Assistant Postmaster at Hiram Postoffice. This is a very good selection. Mr. George C. Bray, who has given excellent service as postmaster, has resigned and will soon leave the State to engage in other business.

Lieut. John W. Hubbard of Fryeburg visited his daughter, Mrs. Arthur W. Sadler, and his sister, Mrs. Mary E. Young, Tuesday.

We have not seen but about half a dozen fruit trees this year that have been stripped of foliage by brown-tailed moths.

Mr. Eli C. Wadsworth, whose buildings were burned July 29, has bought of Mr. Calvin F. Clemons, the farm formerly owned by Hon. John H. Spring, of 160 acres with ample buildings and he removed to it September 4th. Mr. Wadsworth was born upon the Spring farm, which adjoins his homestead. Llewellyn A. Wadsworth, who was severely burned at the fire on his back, right arm and shoulders, went to East Brownfield Tuesday to be treated by Dr. Marston. He is improving.

Mr. Cyrus H. Goodwin went to Brownfield Tuesday.

We note with pleasure that our old friend, Col. Abram W. Smith, of Topeka, Kansas, a native of South Hiram, has recently been selected at the primaries as a Republican candidate for Presidential elector. As he received 1889 votes more than any other Republican and 44293 votes more than any Democrat, it looks as if he would get there. He is a typical son of Maine. He went to Pennsylvania at the age of 17 and enlisted in the Union army, serving four years. He was in a rebel prison 18 months. He went to Kansas after the war. He was chairman of the Board of Managers of the Kansas Department in the Columbian Exhibition in Chicago in 1892. He has also served as state senator, speaker of the House of Representatives, candidate for Governor and U. S. Pension Agent. His lecture on the "Romance of the War," has won for him a reputation as one of the finest orators in the West, and his many friends have watched with pleasure and pride his long, useful and successful career.

James Evans, Esq., a prominent citizen of East Hiram, died Sept. 5, of Bright's disease, aged 77 years. A more extended tribute to this excellent man will be given later.

Master Charles Rounds of Malden, Mass., a grandson of Hon. Charles E. Hubbard of Kezar Falls, is visiting his aunt, Mrs. Mary E. Young. On Sunday morning he attended the Universalist church, and sang "The Holy City" as a solo. His wonderful voice and singing were a rich treat to all who heard him.

—The Fryeburg Post, Fryeburg, Maine, Sept. 12, 1916, p. 3.

New Hampshire Neighbors — South Hiram

New Hampshire/Maine, 1916

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Trueworthy and Mr. and Mrs. E. F. Stanley, Mrs. Mary Mason and Mrs. Ella R. Cotton attended the Pomona grange at North Baldwin on Thursday.

Mr. Melville Smith was a Portland visitor Friday.

Mrs. E. A. Silva and two daughters, Evelyn and Marian, were guests Tuesday of Mrs. Bertha Durgin.

Mr. Charles Smith was called to Brockton, Mass., Tuesday for a short stay.

Mr. and Mrs. Willis Thomes and two children, who have been in Denmark for the past year, have come to her parents, Mr. and Mrs. S. A. McDaniel, for an indefinite stay.

Mr. and Mrs. Noyes Stanley of Needham, Mass., are the guests of Mr. and Mrs. John Stanley.

Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Quint returned from their recent visit among their children Saturday.

—The Fryeburg Post, Fryeburg, Maine, Sept. 12, 1916, p. 3.

New Hampshire Neighbors — Snowville

New Hampshire/Maine, 1916

Miss Helen Blake of Brownfield has been visiting her aunt, Mrs. Inez White, but has now gone to her school in Francistown, N. H.

Hiram Mason of Yarmouth was a guest at J. C. Head's recently.

Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Dennett were callers at W. N. Snow's recently.

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Adams have closed their house for the season. He has returned to his home in New York while Mrs. Adams is stopping with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Greeley of the Hidden house.

Mr. and Mrs. W. N. Snow and Mr. and Mrs. Everett White and children, Seth and Bernice, took an auto trip to Ossipee, returning by way of Chocorua Lake and Conway.

Mr. Adrial Stuart of Parsonsfield spent the week-end with his sister, Mrs. Martha Doick.

Vernon Kenneson has returned to Amesbury, Mass., after visiting his parents for a few days.

Mr. Murphy and family are spending the remainder of the month on the Adams cottage.

Mr. and Mrs. Mark Snow and children have closed their home and have gone to Conway for the winter.

Dr. B. F. Horne of Conway was in town Saturday.

Jack Frost is expected any time now that dog days have gone.

—The Fryeburg Post, Fryeburg, Maine, Sept. 12, 1916, p. 3.

New Hampshire Neighbors — Greenhill

New Hampshire/Maine, 1916

Miss Lillian Weeks and Miss Alice Stanley returned to Westbrook Wednesday. Mrs. Bert Smith and Lillian went with them for a visit, coming home Monday.

Mr. and Mrs. Leon Hill and Elsie visited at Dexter Wiley's, Fryehurg Center, on Thursday.

Mr. Charles Blake and Harriet Blake of Portland were recent visitors at Madison Weeks'.

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Eastman are spending a few days in Stow.

A. D. Weeks has been picking corn for Dean Ballard at West Fryeburg.

—The Fryeburg Post, Fryeburg, Maine, Sept. 12, 1916, p. 3.

New Hampshire Neighbors — South Conway

New Hampshire/Maine, 1916

A very pleasing entertainment was given at the chapel Tuesday evening by the young ladies of the summer colony, ably assisted by the few young gentlemen. Tableaux, singing, charades and finally the pinning of the Donkey's tail by the children all gave much amusement. Ice cream, cake, home-made candy, pop corn balls and peanuts were sold which with 10 cents admission netted the church $35.

Mr. T. P. Ivy has a new automobile and Will Jackson is his chauffeur.

Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Cook are also enjoying a new Ford automobile.

Mr. John Legere lost a nice young horse last week, tetanus caused by stepping on a rusty nail being the disease. Dr. Lord was sent for, but too late.

Mrs. Abbie Blood and daughter of Franklin, N. H., visited at A. E. Davidson's last week.

Miss Persis Davidson came home from Pendexter's Mansion last Wednesday.

Mr. John Potter and family called on friends in this place Sunday.

Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Stewart visited at J. M. Hatch's Sunday.

—The Fryeburg Post, Fryeburg, Maine, Sept. 12, 1916, p. 3.

New Hampshire Neighbors — Center Conway

New Hampshire/Maine, 1916

Fredrick Philbrook has been at Bar Harbor with his brother Ira for three weeks and returned home Saturday.

School began this week and a school has been started in South Conway for the first time in several years.

Miss Josephine Pratt was in town over Sunday, a guest of A. M. Littlefield, the teacher at Intervale this season.

George D. Petrie has been visiting in Portland for a few days.

H. A. Peare was not in his usual health the past week.

Alta M. Mason is visiting in Sebago this week.

Henry Snow and wife and Arthur Snow have gone to Bryantville, Mass., where they expect to stop for a couple of months.

Miss Helen Baird has gone to Akron, Ohio, for a short visit.

The vaudeville show given by the summer people in the church at South Conway last week attracted quite a number from here and was a great success and netted the church people over $40.

The return of the summer colony began last week. J. E. Nesmith's family, Luke Davis, Mrs. Fowler and a portion of J. A. Nesmith's family returned to the city last Saturday.

William Allen returned from Rockland Friday where he has been enjoying a two weeks' vacation.

Ivory Mason is laid up with a bad hand which has been in the care of a doctor.

Private theatricals were held at the W. H. Chapman camps Saturday night which were very much enjoyed by those who were invited to attend the affair which was managed by Mary and Helen Chapman and Ruth Allard.

Peter Masterton's family, accompanied by Elsie Wickens, took an auto trip round the mountains Sunday and enjoyed an ideal day.

Mrs. Nettie Potter died the night of the 6th after an illness of five years. She was about 55 years of age and leaves two daughters and two sons to mourn her loss. The funeral was held at the house Saturday afternoon. Interment was at Conway.

Ruth Allard has gone to the Intervale to assist in a hotel this week.

The janitor of the schoolhouse, Dana Bemis, is manufacturing a sidewalk in front of the school grounds which is a much needed improvement.

John McLoy and Ralph Twombly were in Portland Saturday.

An auto load of voters from here attended the Democratic rally in Fryeburg Wednesday evening.

C. E. Allard's family autoed through Bridgton and Lovell and spent the afternoon on Upper Kezar recently.

About twelve from this village propose to attend Fryeburg Academy this fall which begins next week.

—The Fryeburg Post, Fryeburg, Maine, Sept. 12, 1916, p. 3.