14                      THE  OLD  MERCHAJVTS ,
 

CHAPTER IL

There is an old aristocracy in this city, which is not
generally understood. There is no strata of society so
difficult to approach or reach. This class makes no
noise, no fuss, nor is at all pretentious. If one has
qualities and attributes that will place him at the fire¬
sides of the old set, he will there find all solid and sub¬
stantial, but no gingerbread or mushroom work. The
sideboard is deep shaded, because it is old solid mahog¬
any. On it are real cut glasses, decanters, and solid
silver salvers. The wines are old and pure. There are
apples, cakes, cider and hickory nuts. The habits of
the olden time are kept up. The young man in this set
courts the fair girl of the same level, as in the olden
time. Origin causes no mark of distinction in this old
society. It comprises all countries — old Knickerbock¬
er families or those descended from the original Nether-
land settlers—from the old English families, who took
part in the Revolution as Whigs — those who rose to
distinction and political power under the American con¬
stitution or during the war, as Generals, or before and
during the war as signers of the Declaration of Inde¬
pendence, members of the Continental Congress, or
framers of the Constitution.

Amon^ the Dutch names that claim rights among the