The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-11-24


The SHoDDY ARIsToCRACY.-We can hardly
class the advent of the shoddy aristocracy
among the, social uses of the war. It is
simply one Of its social results and by no
means the one most to be desired. It is neither
as reputable nor as satisfactory to be included
in the shoddy aristocacy as in that of cotton or
Goldfish; for whereas admission within the
sacred portals Of the latter might have been
gained by sharp yet honest trading, the former
is obviously composed Of men whose patriotism
was not strong enough to prevent their enrich
ing themselves at the expense Of their country.
We will not 60 SO far as to say they cheated the
government, but they were certainly so far
skilful in their tactics that they succeeded in
getting moneys out Of the national trea-
sury that were not altogether for value
delivered. In other words, there was
heavy weight Of shoddy substituted for
the genuine article in the fulAlment Of
their contracts. But the shoddy aristocrats
in nowise feel remorse or delicacy on this &C
count. They have the bird in the hand, and
possession with them is more than nine points
of the moral law. Therefore they make their
debut In society with happy consciousness that
they are as good as any of those who derive
their aristocracy from Knickerbocker connec-
tons, or cotton or Goldfish, and probably, as the
Eishman remarked, great deal better. They
have, in the course of life, become aware that
birds are, for the most part, judged by their
feathers, and, taking advantage of this weak
spot in the human mind, they assume the plu-
mage Of first class birds of society. They try to
dress in the same way, regardless Of expense;
to live in the same kind of houses, regardless Of
high rents; to drive in the same style of car
riages, drawn by the same sort of horses and
driven by the same sort of liveried coachmen,
regardless Of being considered bad imita-
tors, and they otherwise act in
manner which shows that they are quite regard
less Of being considered parvenus and of MAX
ing themselves vulgar and ridiculous But 1t
is not the United States alone that is or has
been honored with shoddy aristocracy. If we
look to England, France, Russia, Australia all
great military countries-we find men who,
having made large fortunes by government con-
tracts, have suddenly burst, comet-like upon
the fashionable world with an ostentatious
splendor which made the sham appear to the
initiated even more lustrous than the real. Re-
publics are, therefore, not alone in the manu-
facture Of this Brummagum nobility. But there
is more yearning after aristocracy, and more
intense desire felt to be aristocratic in this coun-
try than in any other in the world. 1t is, con-
sequently, not surprising that people here, after
experiencing pecuniary windfall, should reso-
lutely set themselves to work for the pafpose Of
outshining their neighbors and creating SEN
sation by conspicuously extravagant living.
through which they fondly hope to pass within the
invisible boundary line enclosing that myste-
rious and envied number-the Upper Ten Thou
sand. Hence this new furniture, these new
carriages these new clothes The founders all
want to get into the same globe with the gold
fish. For this they are, perhaps, more deserving
Of pity than reproach. Their efforts to be
grand are none the less ludicrous for being Sc
rious; and what can we do but laugh at these
social contortions for which we are indebted to
shoddy and the war. We would much rather
see republican simplicity, but we must put up
with whatever comes; and there may come
time when some other mushroom aristocracy
will revive old fashions in style which will
make sword and cooked hat, shoe buckles and
hair powder necessary to our respectability. We
would pray, however, that it may not occur to
this generation.
For the shoddy aristocracy we predict only
short reign. 1t will pass away as it has sprung
| up, like gourd and better social result of
the war will take it's place. We shall have i'm
| proved tastes, improved manners, improved
minds. The war will inaugurate new era in
our national history. The aristocracy of
nature, intellect and true gentility will
be substituted for the ephemeral ones
| of trade. We shall see merit rise
| and Mammon descend to their proper positions,
and shall require something more than money
| and vulgarity to make us the lions of the day