The Nevada Democrat., 1861-10-17
Social PecuIIaritles.

II has been apuy said that when q young
lady makes her arst appearance in Boston
society the question asked is, "what does
che knOwi" But under similar circumsta0-
ees Ia New York, the query is, What Is
she worth? ?" as 10 Philadelphia, is, "WhO
is she % To the shame of cur city we must
say, that the Bostonians, In their inquiry,
display higher degree of true culture than
we do. For the "who is she ~ Of Phlla-
deIphia society does not mean what are
her moral, mental aud social qualities" but
" who were her father and mother ~ In
no city on this side OF the Atlantic is there
10 much pride Of birth as in Philadelphia.
Lord Morpeth, now the Eearl Of Carlisle,
who can boast Of nobility in more senses
than one, for be has not only "the blood Of
ell the HOwardsn In bis veins, but is emf
nent for his virtues aud high culture. could
not conceal bis surprise at this feature 10
our city. Other travellers, having less char
ity and courtesy. have openly ridculed II,
saying that "liVe lord" was nowhere wOr-
shipped as 10 America, but especially 10 Phil
adelphia,
The absurdity is the more patent, because
the FIRST settlers Of this city. whose decend-
enta, where the family still remains aud is
wealthy, c0nstitnte the very "upper crust"
Of cur "Grst society,"" were notoriously
members Of tee English middle classes only.
Many, indeed, were not even this. We hap
pen TO know something Of the origin Of most
Of our Philadelphia families, and would be
sorry to shock them by revealing what
their ancestors were century ago. One
was an honest crier of Court an other was
q German rsdemptioner, who bawked or
anges about the streets and third was q
thrifty carpenter who made his descendants
rich, TO the fourth generation, by buying
town lots. ALI these occupations, though
respectable enough In our eyes, would be
regarded rs "vulgar," We fear, by the
grand children Of The crier, the orange sell
Ter aud the carpenter. These degenerate
descendants of hard working, saving, thrifty,
enterprisng mechanics aud labOrers, would
not hesitate to insult young girl, the
daughter OF a mechanic or operative, by
saying Contemptuousiy, "who is she s' II
thrown Into society with her. Alb Burns
was right,--
''The rank Is but the guinea stamp,
The mans the gold for a. that
TrAuspose the question, making IT, not
"whO Is she 2" but, "what IL she 2" and the
true test will have been found. The Boston
inquiry, "WhaE does she know Z" ignores
one very important element in the highest
type Of woman, socially. that Of manner.
The Boston bellies have always smack OF
the female savan. Now the perfection of a
woman, socially considered, Is TO be pre-
tentious In nothing. Ia manner we include
many things besides the knowing how to
eourtsy prettily, or how to enter room
things higher and nobler even than grace.
fal way Of talking. The 'what is she"
should include all the essentials that 90 to
make up q woman. not merely as . daugh.
ter, sister or wife, but as an intelligent, So
eial creature also. Avery excellent female
may be q very dull person. Something
more, we are free TO say, is required, as q
claim TO admission into what we should call
good society" than stupid virtue. But a
society. made up Of worthy people, even II
bOres," would be better than society,
shich, mainly descended from mechanics
nd working people, turns up its nose OF
ho daughters Of such persons. no matter
Ow intelligent, virtnous or well-bred those
aughters may be.-[Phlladelphia Ledger.