Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-02-28
NUMBER 2O7...

t
ment of social life. There was time wheno
elderly persons were admitted to nearly all
social gatherings, partially as wholesome
restraint upon excessive dissipation, and
In part as protection to the younger inem-4
bers OF their own 1amilie.. We claim that
no parent, who has any true regard for. the !,
mOdesty and happiness of a daughter, will
suffer her to pass the night in dancing at
apublic house. And yet, during this win-i
ter, week after week these unrestrainedl
''sociables" have kept their wild round,
drawing in many who call themselves re-
fined and modest, and carefully excluding
any element that could at all Obstruct the,
revels. Not to belong to the DelmopicOf
'circle" has been equivalent to being un7,
fashionable. And for the privilege of these
weekly companies, young ladies and young
gentlemen. have sought the acquaintance Of
those whom they could neither respect nor
desire to be associated with. MEANWHILE
the heads of the families have been ioung-i
ing at the 1elub-houses, torgetful of home
and its duties, aud uDmindIul of the where-t
Rbouts of the younger members, f.. 4.
II any man or woman desires to know
how it is that Pafisian looseness of life Isl
creeping upon us SO rapidlyy and why 10 vi
that thestreets are so filed with the daugh7,
ters Of perdition, and the courts with cases
of crime In high life, they can find the
text Of the whole matter in these midnight'
dances and punches. The evils of New
York social life are growing to an alarm
ing extent. Once some regard was paid to
the character Of persons sought for an even-
ing company. Then the older as well as
the younger members of the family were,
expected to share in the festivities. Nor
were dancing and drinking considered the
most improving exercises for an evening
entertainment. Sensible conversation was
locked upon as one of the pleasant features
of social assemblage. But now the char
acter of guests seems to be ignored. Men
calling themselves "gentlemen" are equal-
ly welcome in the hall of debauch and the
fashionable ,parlor. They are introduced
to respectable ladies, and are treated ac-
cording to the extent of their supposed
wealth. At an hour when all respectable
men and women should be at home, the,
dance begins. 1t is unfashionable If not
continued until or O'Clock in the morn
ing. Parents are oblivious as to the wbereO
abouts of their daughters. They are not
unwilling that they should dance day out,
and day in with men who are well-known
as rakes and gamblers. Can it be wonder-i
ed at, in such state of social license, il
many fall by the way, and if sorrow and,
trouble reach many households? r,gL ..t.
Our whole system OF social life needs cor
recting. To begin with the parties that
are given are too large for any possIbleen-i
jOyment on the part of the guests. The,
idea seems to be that several hundred invi-
tations must be given out, and every corr
ner of room must be crowded. Persons
are invited without discrimination, and Of
ten, in such miscellaneous assemblages, the.
most uncongenial people are brought to-,
gether. Refreshments are doled out be-
tween elbows and over silks, to the enjoy
ment of few, it, indeed, to one of the guests.
If the gathering brings under the gas-lights
"brilliant" people, of course it is great
success. What if not a single guest .eDjoys
the evening? there has been a display and
a "grand party" and that is enough
Against such stupid and inane develop
ments of social life we protest. They do
no possible good, and most assuredly ac-
complish deal of injury. We hope that
another seasen will witness more sensible
evening entertainments. At all events we
hope no respectablelady or gentleman will
join such ''sociables" as have been held at
Delmonico's on every Tuesday night dur.
ing the past season.