MILLIONAIRE MANNERS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9366, 8 February 1909, Page 7

MILLIONAIRE MANNERS.

AMUSING SKIT ON !NBW YORK CULTURE.

Americans who delignt to read about the fantastic life of the Very wealthy are enjoying a witty book jnat published by Mr Francis Orowninshield on “Manners for the Metropolis.’’ Mr Orowninshield finds that the prime want of New York society is a generally accepted order of precedence, and he suggests the following system of points as a way. out of the existing confusion in this respect:— Points. Opera box .. 6 Steam yacht .. 5 Town house .. 5 Country house .. 4 Motor oars, each .. 3 Every million dollars .. 2 Tiara .. 1 Good wine cellar .. 1 Ballroom in town house .. 1 Known grandparent of either sex, .. % Culture .. By this system a woman of culture with four known grandparents and a million dollars will have a total of 4 points. She will, of course, be forced to yield precedence to a lady with a town house and a tiara (6 paints), who, in turn, will follow after a woman with a steam yacht and* two motor-cars (11 points). The highest known total would be about 100 points, the lowest about one-eighth of a point. The housekeeper may arrange the totals, and the hostess can then treat the guests according to their listed quotations. The author defines the country house as “an establishment maintained by people of wealth and position who have banished from their home circle the old ideals of family life; the hearthside, . the romping little ones, and the studious evenings under the red lamp. ’ ’' He gives a schedule of tips expected from guests who spend Sunday in the country. Its total is £B. But if yon stay a week at a country house, “you had best hand the housekeeper a letter of introduction to your lawyer, together with a list of your securities, and allow her to sue your estate for the gratuities. ’ ’