Hard work, for instance, and not flashing one's wealth. Authentic Brahmins are descendants of colonial governors, leading Revolutionary War families, or China Trade merchants. Than see them as regular members. Brahmins believe in public service, and because of their inherited wealth have the time to serve on local boards. They used to be largely inbred, but their sons and daughters are increasingly marrying down-and out of the tribe.
Brahmins tend to be buried in Mount Auburn Cemetery.
Quite a lot of them of late. Indeed, the number of Cabots, Lowells, Forbeses, Saltonstalls, Emersons, and Peabodys in the Social Register has dropped from 190 to 79 in just the last two decades, victims of death and intermarriage with the lower orders. Many of the remaining blue bloods are either watered down or from elsewhere. Senator John Forbes Kerry, for example, may be descended from the Winthrops and the Forbeses on one side, but he's Irish on the other. Former governor William Floyd Weld has more New York than Boston in him.