New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-02-05
UoUR Best SOCIETY"

\
most caustic and scathing, though grave aud
even mournful, expose of fashionable Society,
esnecially of its great Entertainments. Every
one who reads it viii say at once, " How just !
How true ~ even those who VII fawn, and
intrigue. and eozen, for invitations to just
spcb parties az are therein described The
writer evidently speaks from the heart and
from the lfe-he is no Grub-street Timon de-
CRYING circles whence he is excluded, in which
be was never heard of, and mercilessly casti-
eating social sumptuOusness while mumbllng
the crust he loathes He frankly admits his
own completely in the folies and evils he rep
rebates, and evinces a capacity and resolve
to rise above them. His essay is just not only
in its criticisms but in its spirit also, and will
be perused by thousands with interest, with
shame, and ultimately with purpose 30 Go,
ard sin no more" We believe some will da,e
their nober purposes and better lives from the
hour Of its contemplation.
Unfortunately. it stops just halfway in its
course and gives no sign proceeding farther.
1t is admirably calculatedto evoke the inquiry,
"What must / do but not to answer it.
II shows our weather. iashiOnables and pleas
ure-seekers that the life they lead, the ends
they seek, the means they employ, are exceed
inely frivolous and base; butvery many of them
knew, and all Of them suspected this already.
Here the writer stops, without really attempt.
ing 10 make his readers yirtuous, apparently
satisfied that he has rendered them miserable.
Let US endeayor just to hint the correctiyes
OF the errors SO fearfully portrayed by him;
/. "Our Best Society" is empty, false, IN
worthy, because il has no aims beyond lux
ury, incidence, and the avoidance Of re-
sponsbility and care. Its fundamental vice
grows out Of the false views Of Life and
its Aims almost universally entertained, and
which the Seminary, the Press and (alas }
the Pulpit scarcely seek to eradicate. Who
says to the man who has made his Million
in Pearl or Wall-st., "Sir, you ought to train
your children TO Industry and Usefulness as
vigorously as though they were born to power.
/ .tyi You should ft each If them TO earn a
sure livelihood by his own unaided exertiOns.
| You should teach them 20 choose and master
/ some vocation wherein they can be usefdl and
/ obey the divine injunction TO labor, binding on
1 each and all" Who reminds the rich man of
these truths Not the highly conservative
| journalist from whom he deriyes his narrow
round of ideas, and whom he contributes to
| support out Of regard for she preservation of
I the Union. Not the College Professor whom he
pays literally for directing the education OF his
sons. Not Madame Jgaway nor Madame YO-
kel, WHO charge him such inordinate bills for ed
ucating the souls out ofhis daughters. Not Rev.
DR.. Graceful, for pew in whose intensely fash
| iOnable church he pays several hundred dollars
per year. If all these were in conspiracy to
blind and mislead him, with regard TO his duty
to bis children and their duty to God and their
Race, they could hardly do ii more effectuany
The basis OF reform in " Oar Best Socie-
ty" must be laid in proclamation and recos
milton of the truth thar no human being hal
any moral right to lead an idle, selfish
( pleasure seeking lfe-that each is under I'M
perative obligation TO be useful TO his Mad
according to his ability and his advantages
and that all should studiOusly qualify themselyei
| for such usefulness. Let these truths be re
cognized, and the despicabie conversation aaC
amusements which nov characterize what i
termed Good Society" vii vanish Ike th'
morning mist. They are empty and Paltry be
cause the life whence they spring has no earaes
purpose no worthy aim. Let any one drop int
fashionable party and there begin 70 talk Iik'
! Christian or hero, and he would be estesIneS
lupstie or quiz, because ais every sentence
would SO pOintedly condemn al that was pass
ing around hun.
III. "0ur Best Society" is glsringly vuga
and barbarous in It's ministrations 10 the groa
ser sppetites. Everyone possessing thinble
full of brains, is perfectly aware that only IN
Eghtest rejection should be taken after tn
usual dinner hour Of the wealthy, especially b
those who perform little or no labor. And
Yet, suPpers are regularly given after midni gh'
consisting Of the greatest abundance and varie
| ty of suUfutuors dishas and scarcely iigestibl