Litchfield enquirer., 1831-02-24
LFrom the New-York Philautli,,l-s,,l
'GOOD SOCIETY.

[ COlnS
try clergyman the other day. Reader! dc
you understand the import? Some NAV
think the good lady was deploring the fac,
that no temperance Society had been
formed in her husbands parish. No such
th'ng. She only meant that there were no
families, who lived in the elegant style to
which she had been accustomed, and with
whom she could interchange fashionable
visit. Her husbands church consisted of
about two hundred members, two thirds of
OF whom we're females. The parish was
not behind the average of the country gem
orally IN respect To schools, Libraries and
general information. OF course the female
members ut the church may be presumed
TO nave been better instructed in theology,
ana better read in history and useful
knowledge generally, than the flutering
group OF city tashionahles vino constitute
what this clergyman's wife called 'Society.a
The lady would doubtless concede that
her sisters in the church were pious, we'll
informed and sensible persons, that they
understand the rules Of decorum. and de-
meaned themselve with propriety. Alas
poor lady what will she do tor iSOcietv'
'when she and they get to heaven, and sit
down with Dorcas and Hannah and such
IKE antiquated matrons, who adorned
themselves with shame -facedness and So
briefly, instead Of gold and costly array?
lie subject suggests numerous topics of
an'madversion. For the present we con-
fine ourselves to one.
we see wherein consists the spirit Of Ar
'stocracy, so much complained Of, by the
people, and the existence of which is often
so strenuously denied.
We haze no aristocracy in this coun-
try excIaims one. what mean these vi
tnperatlops against aristocrats r
True. Our constitution recognizes no
exclusive privileges. Does it follow that
the spirit of aristocracy is extinct?
we nave no aristocra"y established by
Ias0. But custom is often more tyrannical
than the statute book. a''-' .'r r a"
We have no aristocracy Of birth or Of
blood. But we have the aristocracy of
'ocGHh, of style, and Of folly-not to say of
k"aUery. And many who have travelled
IN Europe can testify that in all the affairs |
ut social intercourse, the aristocracy Of the |
neao is becoming more insufferably arrogant
than that Of the old world. Indeed it is
remarkable in England, that the untitled
gentry, just risen by fortune into the cir
cles OF fashion, are tenfold more naughty |
Of the realm. Is i@66mi APrt:em6tnceA i isl; So
much matter Of course as to excite no airs
Of ostentation. The untitled gentry Of this
country are more formidable than those Of
England, because here, there are no regu-
lar nobility to hold them in check.
But would you prevent people from
choosing their own associates =
By no means. Let folly seek its own
level, and the feathers Of fashion auttcr to-
ge,her. But let all wise and rational wo-
men keep out Of the vortex. Legislation
cannot establish an aristocracy 10 this coun-
try. Neither can legislation do all that
must be done to check its growth and its
influence. lie, the republicanism Of prin-
tive christianity reign in the churches
Let Schools and Libraries and Lyceums
and Temperance Societies elevate the
minds and morals of both sexes and all oc-
equations. Especially let common sense
and a knowledge Of the world be placed
upon the list Of fashionable accomplish
ments. Unnecessary, let societies be form
ed among the wives and daughters Of our
farmers and mechanics for the special pur-
pose Of enlighieDing the benighted daugh-
lers Of fashionable folly. Let suitable
tracts be written and circulated in all our
great villages, towns and cities, till the
wives of all our statesmen. shall know that
all men are born free and equal aud the
wives Of all our ministers shall learn that
G cd has made of one blood all the nations
of the EARTH And let every press that
processes to be engaged in the work of mor-
al reform bear testimony against the vanity,
the pride, and tho prodigality that feeds
and fattens all the giant vices ofthe land.
AlUays Happy.--An Italian Bishop
struggled through great difficulties without
repining, and met with much opposition in
discharge of his Episcopal functions, with
out betraying the least Impotence. One
of his intimate friends, who highly admir-
ed those virtues which he thought it impos-
siblc TO initiate, one day asked the Pre-
late if he could communicate the secret OF
being always easy3 YES replied the
old man, l can teach you my secret, and
with great facility: it consists Of making a
right use Of my eyes," His friend begged
Of him to explain himself. Most willing
! w. returned the Bishop. I'm Whatever
state I am, FIRST Of all look up to Heaven
| and remannher that nv principal business