New-York tribune., 1871-06-02
REpUBLJCdN SNOBBRRY.


With the first warm days begins the usual
surfeit of announcements of Summer plans of
all our notabilities, from Grant to Train. So
called society papers hurry ont their bulletins
regarding the movements of fashionable gro
GERS and shop -keepers' wives, or young misses
from the country spending week or
two at New-York hotels. Train and
his kind regard this gossip us so
many advertisements, and the peripatetic
young ladies are innocent enough in their de-
siro to catch glimpse of the fashions in
street cara or hotel parlors. But what impress
sion does foreigner receive from the columns
in leading papers devoted to the dazzling
"erandeurn of a ball at lucky fish-dealer's,
or the announcement that Miss Caddie Smith
sis visiting tho Brevoort," or "Miss ImOgene
Zones is favoring the Fifth-Avenuep
Our English cousins are just now hotly de-
batting the question whether the removal of
the Royal Family and Court will rid the ooun-
try of its tendency toward toadyism. Mr..
Auberon Herbert, champion of Republic that
is to be, dcnounces the Court system as a
fountain of folly in their midst. The Spectator,
in answer, points to America, where there is
no Court. "The American journals" it says,
care full of elaborate descriptions of
"dresses worn at Washington ball,
"difiering only in two points from those
"of The Times describing any Court cere-
"monal. The American reporters descend
/" to details which in England would be de-
"clared impudent and nauseOus; and they
Invariably mark the cost of the dresses with
ga sort of awe, as though the price were the
"hghest criterion of excellence. Is there any
Improvement here upon English frivOlities y,
it demands triumphantly, and then proceeds
to deduce the conclusion that their social
hierarchy restrains the worship of wealth
which corrupts and debases American society.
This reasoning would be sound enough if So
ciety in America (by which we mean the laws
and habits of the highest class-highest by
right of birth, breeding. or culture) had any
central point which controlled and represented
them as the Court does the like grade in En-
gland. There is no such point. The Spectator
must surely be aware that our Presidents are
men chosen for their own qualifications, with
out the slightest reference to the social standing
of their families. The wives of professional men,
tanners, farmers taors, take their turn in
the White House, and play their part with
whatever tact or grace Nature has given to
their share. With how much or little, is to
Americans usually a matter of utter indiffer-
ence. Fashionable society in the large cities
is in Ike manner made up of the families of
lucky spectators aud rich tradesmen, who
naturally delight in the display of their
wealth, and cluster about any titled foreigner
who apparently is possessed of that breeding
of which they feel the need. These two classes
have of necessity their outer rings of toadies
and hatterers. Beyond these but few foreign
ers penetrate, and hence come English pic
lures of American social life. Human nature,
The Spectator should know, will differ little III
any people or under any government. Money
will hold its Fictitious power over vulgar
minds in London IA well as in Washington.
The man of cultured tastes and noble aims
will seek simplicity in outward forms, whether
he he We're de Vele or al American back
woodsman.
Tho difference between our social system
aud that which the English are striving to
throw oil, We believe 20 be that in oura n man
i. sura 10 tAho urODcr rank III his own guild