Mr. Lewis cites the example of his late wife, Annie Burr Auchincloss, who, when the Second World War was declared, put down her needlepoint and her interest in collecting eighteenth-century prints, and went to work for the Red Cross and other wartime services. No previous education or training—no provisional year with the Junior League doing volunteer work—had prepared her for this. She simply was prepared, and did what needed to be done, providing leadership.
“In other words,” asked a friend, “there is something to be said for aristocratic values?”
Mr. Lewis looked briefly alarmed. “Oh, yes!” he said quickly, “But of course you must never call them that. An aristocrat would never call them that. The minute you use that word, the hackles rise.”
The crisis the Auchincloss family faced, in terms of Mrs. Kennedy, came as a result of the public’s clamoring guardianship of the young widow as a national treasure. The family wanted to return to lives of sedate, ritualistic predictability, respectable affluence, and grand reticence, to the kind of family who “one would never dream of speaking to without an introduction.” However Mrs. Kennedy’s marriage to Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onasis should remove this glare of public light from the Auchincloss family and signal the return to its former position of being “reasonably” celebrated and Republican. As standard-bearers and standard-setters, conveyers of values that are particular to the American Social Establishment, the Auchinclosses, one realizes, will carry on like … well, like Auchinclosses.
Whether or not one is worthy of being considered an aristocrat—that word never to be used—depends, in large part, on how one conducts oneself in the face of adversity. When the chips are down, blood will tell. It is then that one is judged by how automatically, and how well, one obeys the unenforceable.
In The Late George Apley, the late John P. Marquand offered his portrait of upper-class life in Boston, and caused his hero’s Aunt Amelia to utter the statement: “Whenever I am depressed I remember I am an Apley.” To upper-class Boston, however, the remark was puzzling, and tended to cast doubt upon Mr. Marquand’s qualifications as a chronicler of the real upper class. Would a real upper-class person ever talk that way? As Marietta Tree commented not long ago, “Anyone who has to keep reminding herself what her family stands for can’t really be very secure.” A good point, to which Mr. Marquand, were he still with us, might have replied, “Touché.”
Upper-class values are not confined to any family, nor to any city. And yet Mrs. Tree recalls that the “first and only” time her grandmother ever slapped her was when, as a young girl, Marietta referred to an acquaintance as “very middle class.” After the slap came these stern, grandmotherly words: “There are no classes in America—upper, lower, or middle. You are never to use that term again.”
Mrs. Tree is eminently well-equipped to be called a member of the American upper class. She is a daughter of the venerable Peabody family of Salem; her grandfather was the celebrated Rector of the Groton School, and four other of her antecedents were on the school’s first board of trustees. She is related, by blood and marriage, to such great New England families as the Lorings, the Searses, the Lawrences, the Endicotts, and the Bowditches who, in turn, are married or related to such as the Higginsons, the Cobbs, and the Howlands who, in their turn, are related to Auchinclosses—a lacy network of interrelationships that floats outward from Boston and New York and Philadelphia over the entire continent. In addition to headmasters of schools, Mrs. Tree’s ancestors include a comfortable complement of Episcopal Bishops and New England Governors.
Mrs. Tree speaks of her family as “The people who built and administered the schools, universities, boys’ clubs and hospitals. They were the sinews of society. They gave generously of themselves for the public good and prudently lived on the income of their incomes. They valued educated women as well as educated men; daily exercise; big breakfasts; president Eliot; beautiful views; portraits by Sargent; waltzing (known as the ‘Boston’ in Boston); Harvard; travel; England; comradeship between the sexes; Patou dresses for ‘swell’ occasions; long correspondence with family and friends; J. P. Morgan; mahogany and red plush; and, most of all, they believed that if you tried hard enough, you could make the world a better place. And you must try.” Few better, or more succinct, lists of upper-class values have been compiled.
And yet, at the same time, Mrs. Tree resolutely insists that there is “no such thing” as an upper class in America, and that her family consisted of, most of all, “Good, hardworking ministers, teachers, and community people.” When the term upper class enters a conversation, she cites her grandmother’s slap, and the solemn words that followed it.
Is it possible that the wise and witty Mrs. Tree has missed what surely was her grandmother’s point, her grandmother’s lesson—which is that to call someone “middle class” is in itself very middle class? No upper-class person would do it. No upper-class person would ever admit that such a thing as “class” exists. Those who continue to deny Society, then, continue to confirm it—in generation after generation. On this firm foundation of paradox—not unlike those that have formed the bases of the world’s great religions—Society exists.
* Often called the “Other Rockefellers,” the “Greenwich Rockefellers,” and the “Best Rockefellers.” The descendants of William Rockefeller have generally tried to keep out of the spotlight which falls on the families of William’s brother, John D. While the Rockefellers of Pocantico Hills, in Westchester, have been known for wealth, piety, vast philanthropy, and a certain humorlessness, the Greenwich Rockefellers are known for their wit, good nature, and charm. They are the “Fun Rockefellers.”
* During the Kennedy campaign, Hugh D. Auchincloss telegraphed numerous friends who were prominent Republicans, urging them to support Kennedy.
Index
A. B. Spreckels Memorial Baseball Team, 31
Abercrombie & Fitch, 7
Accent, see Voice, social
A. C. Horn Chemical Company, 271
Acheson, Dean, 121
Acorn Club, Philadelphia, 103
Adams, Abigail, see Homans, Mrs. Robert
Adams, Brooks, 32
Adams, Henry, 32
Adams family, Boston, 10, 94, 257, 288, 296
Adirondack Camp for Boys, Lake George, New York, 39
Adirondack Mountains, 126, 228–234; State Park, 230–232; Mountain Club, 233; Museum, 238
Aetna Life Insurance Company, 184, 187, 189
Agnes Irwin School, Philadelphia, 168
Aldrich, Winthrop, 32, 295
Aldrich, Mrs. Winthrop, 99
Aldrich family, New York, 10, 33
Alexander, Mrs. Kirkland, 156
Alger, Mrs. Russell, 144
Alger family, Detroit, 142
Alimony, 92
Alioto family, San Francisco, 19
Allen, George, 259
Alphand, Madame Hervé, 207
Alsop, Joseph, 99
Alsop, Joseph Wright, 99
Alsop, Stewart, 99, 202
Alsop family, 225
American Yacht Club, Rye, New York, 134, 135
Americana Hotel, Miami Beach, 253
Amherst College, 80
Andover Academy, 45, 47, 56
Andrews, Mrs. Charles Sperry, 138
Annapolis (United States Naval Academy), 81
Annenberg, Mr. and Mrs. Walter, 166
Anti-Establishment, 51–52
Anti-Semitism, 45, 55, 107, 149; and Main Line clubs, 175; in Washington, D.C., 208; in the Adirondacks, 232, 234–237
Apawamis Club, Rye, New York, 134, 135
Arcesi, John, 259
Archbold family, New York, 130, 289
Ardmore, Pennsylvania, 160, 161
Ardsley, New York, 132, 133
Ardsley Club, New York, 134
Aristocracy, 52–53, 300–302
Arnaz, Desi, 270
“Arty Set,” Philadelphia, 165–166
Ashley, James Russell, 133–134
Assemblies: New York, 62; Philadelphia, 69, 72–73, 94; Boston, 72–73. See also Junior Assemblies
Association of Junior Leagues of America, 101, 106, 107–108, 110–111. See also Junior League
Astor, John Jacob, 242
Astor, Mrs. John Jacob III, 118
Astor, Vincent, 13, 102
Astor, Mrs. William Backhouse, 12, 24, 99
Astor family, 10, 13, 49, 92, 281, 282, 288
Auchincloss, Ann Anthony Stuart, 283, 284
Auchincloss, Annie Burr (Mrs. Wilmarth Lewis), 286, 300
Auchincloss, Charles C., 286
Auchincloss, Edgar Stirling, 287–288
Auchincloss, Emma Jennings, 287
Auchincloss, Hugh, 283, 284–285
Auchincloss, Hugh (“Yusha”), 284, 294, 298
Auchincloss, Dr. Hugh, 288, 291–292
Auchincloss, Hugh D. (“Hughdie”), 281–282, 288, 289–290, 292, 296, 297
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley, 287, 289
Auchincloss, J. Howland, 224, 289
Auchincloss, Mrs. J. Howland (Priscilla Stanton), 289–290
Auciuncioss, James Coats, 296–297
Auchincloss, James Lee, 284, 290, 298
Auchincloss, Janet Jennings (Mrs. Lewis Rutherfurd, 6, 35, 284, 288, 290–291, 298; Hammersmith Farm debut, 295
Auchincloss, Janet Lee Bouvier (Mrs. Hugh D.), 35, 284, 291, 292–293, 297, 298–299
Auchincloss, John, 283, 285
Auchincloss, John Winthrop, 282–283, 285, 287, 288
Auchincloss, Louis, 7, 139, 282, 286–287, 288–289, 291; The Rector of Justin, 48
Auchincloss, Nina Gore, 284, 298
Auchincloss, Rosamond Saltonstall, 286
Auchincloss, Sarah Ann (Mrs. James Coats), 287–288
Auchincloss, Thomas Gore, 284
Auchincloss family, 10, 121, 281–301; divorce record, 284; genealogy, 285–286; remarkable marriages, 287–288; as arbiters of elegance, 289–291; family motto, 291–292
Ausable Club, 234
Autry, Gene, 270
Avedon, Richard, 55
Avon Old Farm School, Avon, Connecticut, 50–51
Bachelors, San Francisco, 23
Bahai-Mar Marina, Fort Lauderdale, 247
Baker, Mrs. George F., 16, 192–193, 196
Baker, Hobey, 87
Baker family, 12, 225
Bala-Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, 164
Baldocchi family, San Francisco, 19
Baldwin School for girls, Philadelphia, 168
Bancroft, Thomas M., Jr., 92
Bar Harbor, Mount Desert Island, Maine, 222–224, 289
Barclay Hotel, Philadelphia, 173
Barker, Otto, 137
Barnard College, 81
Barnes, Dr. Albert C., 177–178
Barrymore, Diana, 77
Bartels, Mrs. Millard, 189–190
Barton, Bruce, 56
Betterson, James Goodwin, 188–189
Betterson family, Hartford, 184
Bautzer, Greg, 277
Baxter, Warner, 273
Beach, Rex, his The Miracle of Coral Gables, 255
Beach family, Hartford, 184
Beagling, 85, 167
Beale, Betty, 200
Beaux, Cecilia, 9
Bedford, Duke of, 76
Bedford, Margaret (Peggy), 92
Bedford, New York, 125
Beers, Henry S., 184, 190
Beers, Mrs. Henry S., 189
Bellamy, Ralph, 273
Bellevue-Stratford Hotel, Philadelphia, 4, 71
Belmont, August, 117
Belmont, Mrs. August, 241
Belmont family, 10, 13
“Belvedere,” Bronfmans’ Westchester estate, 128
Benedict, Gamble, 96
Bennett Junior College, 81
Bennington College, 88
Benny, Jack, 270
Bergeron, Victor, 216
Bermuda, 84, 85, 247
Bermuda Cup Race, 40
Bermuda Dunes Country Club, Palm Springs, 273
Berwyn, Pennsylvania, 160
Best, Mrs. Hugh (Barbara), 161, 168
Betner, Benjamin, 284
Beverly Farms, Massachusetts, 226
Beverly Hills, California, 125
Biddle, Ernest, 166
Biddle, Francis, 201–202
Biddle family, Philadelphia, 10, 13, 49, 94, 132, 162
“Bidet Group,” San Francisco, 23
Billings, C. K. G., 10
Bishop, Richard E., 271
Black, Mrs. Jennie Prince, 130
Blagden family, New York, 10, 36, 225
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, 125, 143, 154
Blue Skies Village, Palm Springs, 270–272
Blyth, Mrs. Charles, 26–27
Blyth family, San Francisco, 18
Boarding school(s), 44, 76–77
Boca Raton, Florida, 246
Boca Raton Hotel and Club, 246
Bogert, Frank, 265
Bohemian Club, San Francisco, 115–116, 119
Bolter, James, 188–189
Bonwit Teller, 168
Boodle’s Club, London, 113
Borge, Victor, 66
Boston, 10, 17, 26, 32; Beacon Hill, 49; Junior League in, 101, 105; North Shore, 182, 225–226; South Shore, 226
Bouvier, Caroline Lee, see Radziwill, Princess Stanislaus
Bouvier, Jacqueline Lee, see Kennedy, Jacqueline
Bowditch family, Boston, 226, 301
Bowen, Catherine Drinker, 166
Boyden, Frank L., 46, 56
Boyer, Charles, 270
Brace, Dr. Charles, 130–131
Bradley-Martin family, 12
Bragança, Miguel de, 176
Brainard, Morgan Bulkeley, 186–187
Brainard, Morgan B., Jr., 186–187
Brainard family, Hartford, 184
“Breakers, The,” Vanderbilt estate, Newport, 222
Breakers Hotel, Palm Beach, 243
Breech, Ernie, 277
Bremer, Mrs. J. Lewis, 49
Brewster family, Hartford, 184n.
Briarcliff Junior College, 76, 81
Bridenbaugh, John and Jessica, their Rebels and Gentlemen, 221
Bridgeport (Connecticut) Junior League, 109–110
Bridges, Senator Styles, 192
Bronfman, Edgar, 134
Bronfman, Samuel, 128
Bronxville, New York, 125, 136–139, 254
Brook Club, New York, 118, 120
Broun, Heywood, 117
Brown, Franklin Q., 131
Brown, John Nicholas, 14, 46
Brown, Walston H., 131
Brown family, Providence, 121
Brown University, Providence, 46, 81
Browning family, New York, 130
Bruce, David E. K., 295
Bruce, Mrs. David, 208
Brush family, 146
Bryan, William Jennings, 255
Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, 125, 160, 161, 163, 164; Hospital, 158; Public Library, 166
Bryn Mawr College, 81
Buchman, Frank N. D., 50
Buck, Elizabeth (Mrs. John Auchincloss), 285–286, 287
Buck, Henry, 288
Buhl family, Detroit, 146
Bulkeley, Morgan Gardner, 187–188
Bulkeley family, Hartford, 184
Bunce family, Hartford, 184n.
Bundy, Mrs. McGeorge, 201
Bundy family, 288
Burden, Mrs. Chester, 65–66
Burden family, New York, 10, 35, 222, 288
Burlingame, California, 20, 25, 125
Burr, Aaron, 286
Bushnell family, Hartford, 184n.
Butler family, Newport, 222
Butterworth, Charles, 273
Cabot family, Boston, 10, 49, 226
Cactus Club, Denver, 117
Cadillac, Antoine de la Mothe, 142
Cadwalader family, Philadelphia, 10, 15, 69, 94, 159, 162
Cadwallader family, Phi
ladelphia, 10
Café Society, 10, 74. See also Society
Cafritz, Gwendolyn Detre de Surnay (Mrs. Morris), 199, 202, 203, 204, 205
Cafritz, Morris, 203
California Palace of the Legion of Honor, Lincoln Park, 17, 29, 31
Cameron, Mrs. George T. (Helen), 19, 26, 31
Canfield family, 225
Canterbury School, New Milford, Connecticut, 47
Capote, Truman, 195
Carroll, General Howard, 127; and “Carrollcliff,” 127–128
Carver, G. W. Douglas, 64
Cassatt, A. J., 223
Cassatt, Mary, 9
“Castle, the,” State in Schuylkill clubhouse, 115
Cavallero, Gene, 218
“Cave Dweller Set,” Washington, D.C., 206, 209
Central Pacific Railroad, 18
Century Association, New York, 116, 119
Century Country Club, Westchester County, 135
Champlain, Samuel de, 230
Chandler, Mrs. Norman, 270
Chandler family, Boston, 225–226
Chapin, Roy, 144
Charity, 34, 99–100; and charity balls, 6, 156, 274
Charleston, South Carolina, 17, 72–73
Chase, Kate, 202
Chatham, Patricia Firestone, 203
Chatham Hall School, 76–77
Chavchavadze, Prince David, 36
Cheltenham School, England, 48, 52
Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, 163–164, 168, 179
Chevy Chase, Maryland, 125; Club, 207
“Chevy Chase Set,” Washington, D.C., 207
Chew family, Philadelphia, 10, 94
Chicago, North Shore, 182
Child, Julia, 215
Children, 33–41; discipline of, 35; in Palm Springs, 266
Children’s Museum, Hartford, 189
Chilton Club, Boston, 103
Choate School, Wallingford, Connecticut, 42, 45, 46, 49, 54, 55, 57, 77
Chrapovitsky, Maya, 284
Christ Church (Episcopal), Grosse Pointe, 150
Churchill, Winston, 130
The Right People Page 35