A SOCIAL REVOLUTION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 981, 26 February 1910, Page 4

A SOCIAL REVOLUTION.

President Taft's task of keeping the Republican Party together and steering a course midway between Conservatism and Radicalism is extremely difficult, but it is doubtful whether it is any more so than the work Mrs Taf t is reported to have put her hand to—the complete overthrow of the hitherto omnipotent "Four Hundred" in American Society. Headers of American books and newspapers are familiar with this exclusive social circL>. When Mrs John Jacob Astor was leader of the "Pour Hundred" sh* was social queen oi America. For instance, it w..s she who framed the list of 79 guests invited to meet Prince Louis of Battenberg at dinner ..hen he visited New tork with his squadron of British ships. Of'Jate years Bharp criticisms have been directed against the "Four Hundred," ' ard, indeed, against American So-

ciety id general. It is declared that money alone counts, and that "high" social circles are noted for their nar-row-mindedness, wrong-headed exclusiveness, and mental aridity. Mrs Astor attempted to re-cast the "Four Hundred" on the lines of London Society, which, with all its faults, readily welcomes genius, but failed. Now Mrs Talt is reported to have joined a great movement for the overthrow of the effete "Four Hundred,'" with its stupidity and snobbery, and the formation of a new ruling body to be known as the Assembly Set The Assembly Set will consist, says the "Daily Mail's" New York correspondent, of a thousand families having town residences in New York, Philadelphia, or Washington. The list includes, in addition to the most representative families of all parts of the country who reside for part ot the year in the three great social centres of America, the names of many not hitherto known as "Society people," but who have won for themselves a reputation in the provinces of art, literature, politics, or religion. Five editors and four musicians find themselves included. According to the "constitution" of this new movement, all the members will enjoy the right to exclusive social courtesies in all towns where any member lives. Three-quarters ot the existing "Four Hundred" have been ignored, but they are to learn of their doom i gradually, "in order to avoid a ter* rible howl of disappointment and I protest from socially rabid families." llt is a little difficult to understand I why any such formal movement j should be necessary ; Why cannot people visit and receive the people they want to know and let the others be?