, 1872-01-09

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CONSPICUOUS among such are retired tradesmen
II who started life with the tide at the very
lowest cob, but by industry, close application to
business, and answering determination to watch
tor and seize every opportunity that presented
user to advance their prospects, ultimately OBJ
famed o comfortable independence.
Iho poor mother in her young days could
bake, wash, sew, and mend; but now to teach
such lessons to the daughters would be the ex-
tremo OF yulgarlty-no way consistent with the
glowing sphere of g%entility in which they are at
present imaginary shining stars. Another phase
OF thor life is noticeable in their constant seek
lng' with blind and most ridiculous vanity, for
grand connections; they are impressed with the
idea that to reckon on their list of friends even
the cast-aside, wei pensioned mistress of a man
OF fashion, with a high-sounding name and a
hired carriage, augment to an enormous extent
their genteel position in life; or the acquaintance
of that delightful ~half-pay, always haIf-seas over,
old naval officer who lives on the opposite side
OF their fashionable street, with a young-lookiDg
wife and half a dozen grown-up daughters, and
4 like number of marry-if-we-can sons-the lat
ter all boast and b%ombast, the young ladies with
sufficient assurance to enable them to stare a
troop Of dragons fairly out of countenance-
adornments which our would-be fashionables
mistake for the essence of good breeding. AS
the olive branches Of the e~x-tallow chandler or
greengrocer grow up, they are taught, as one of
their principal lessons in life, to look down upon
and deSplse, as totally unworthy Of their fash
ionable notice, the honest, respectable trade
which raised their parents to a position of wealth
and Independence. "Bother business! that was
right enough for pa, but I'm a gentleman % we
have often heard pass from the lips of youths VINO
owed all they possessed to trade; and too often
have we seen such youths, though Gaping" the
g%entility of those about them, in middle age fill
the vulgar grave Of the parish pauper. A class
OF associates who materially assist 10 fostering
and nurturing the aforementioned idle, fallaci-
Gus ideas Is found in individuals deriving subsist-
ence from an appointment in some Government
office or other(not, be it understood, that we
even for a moment intend to cast the slightest
stigma on place-seekers and place-fnders as a
whole, but only q small portion whom we have
known to be as here decribed), which having
most probably obtained more through interest
than their own merits, is considered as a suffi-
cient reason for treating with contempt those who
do not, like themselves. live idly at the expense
of others' labour and hard earned savings. What
is more common than to hear such speak of their
father as governor" the mother who watched
over their tender infancy and anticipated their
every childish want, as the ''old woman" talk
of the make of their coat as the 'build," and
the unfortunate taller who "built'' it, and who
has, no doubt, called twenty lines for his money,
and as many times was told "not at home" as
their "rascal." Coming from such persons, of
course such language cannot possibly be vulgar!
Another specimen is to be found in that GLASS
of young gentlemen who constantly indulge in
the most sickening pretensions to fashion and
grandeur, speaking of the actual possession of a
carriage and footmen as Indispensable to their
happiness; if they attend a matinee musicale or
an opera, it is not for the purpose of enjoying
the sweet charms of melody, but, as they inva-
riahlv take care to impress upon your mind. to