I think it was Truman Capote who said that the world (in which he lived) was inhabited by five or six thousand people all of whom knew each other by no more than one, maybe two degrees of separation. I’ve often thought of that remark and have wondered if such an estimate held true in this more populated, more gallivanting world.

This week we begin an addition to The List. We’ve compiled another list – of several thousand people – mainly among the living, but also quite a few who are no longer with us. All of these are names and faces who have appeared on the New York Social Diary since its inception five years ago.

We’re calling it NYSD Personages. It gives an opportunity to expand The List, not only with the sometimes lengthy bios and recollections that I am prone to, but just enough details so that the reader can become familiar with the territory that we cover.

A lot of these people know each other, knew each other, know others who know them, or knew each other. Indeed some of them were married to each other or married to someone who was previously married to someone who knew them. The first husband of one of our Listees this week was also the second husband of a woman who is now the third wife of a man who is also among the Personages. His first wife, in turn, is now the widowed stepmother of another woman who is on the List. The world grows smaller and smaller and, no doubt, more interesting. We hope we are able to achieve some of that for your edification and/or interest.