Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1873-08-19
LETTER FROM NEW YORK.
:. Some are, horn great, come ach greatness,
And;some have. greatness THIRST upon them,
..NEw YoE1s, Augnst PEE J, Is78.

8
aristoerats, said that they while away their.
monotonous lives 10 ngaotiiiny - Now since
some NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. maintain, that man is in-
capable to "do nothing" because, when be is
said TO be in the act namely, doing nothing"
'sonleih 'ng is the resdtt, consequently, result
is somethi.g. But, leaving this abstruse ques-
ton to those endowed with philosophical
turn Of mind, L will proceed to give synopsis
of the "ways andmeans" among metropolitan
royalty. For an .aristocrat to live on the
Avenue CFiith or Madison), he must'frst own
quarter million dollars, with which to pur>
chase mansion; one hundred thousand will
suffice to furnish it in suitable style fifty
thousand more to defray the annual expenses.
High-sounding figures, 4 admit; true, never
theless.
I Will enieavor:to give a description Of a
private residence, which [ visited a few
months ago, not that it is superior IN grandeur
to the hundreds of other houses situated on
the Avenue, but, that the readers of the
s. trit may CLEAN from the description faint
ceilings of this house are suspended mirrors
of dazzling brightness, which reflect the
sylph-Iike forms and Raphael mould features
of the fair occupant. Velvet carpets Of the
inesttexture and most exqui.ite pattern cover
the waxed floors; pictures-masterpieces in
art-adorn the walls articles of g.fu are
po' ed on gilded pedestals, at studied intervals
throughout the spacious apartments statues
of the Greek Slave aud Vcms de Redici arc
placed on each side of the lace-curtained bay
window. These two pieces of art are con-
sidered perfect gems in the eyes of the cor
no 'seu'. Chandeliers of crystal brilliancy,
which hang by frosted brackets, lend to the
whole scene an appearance of oriental mag
niicence.
In order to gain an entrie into the polite
circles that dwell in these luxurious homes,
one must be wealthy merchant, successful
politician, lawyer Of note. physician of extern
sive practice, actor of talent, musician
of celebrity, an artist of transatlantic fame,
or an author of genius. Officers in the army
and navy, as we'll as the man of superior edu>
cation, who has neither the ambition nor
talent to succeed il any of the professions
mentioned above, can associate with the sup
per>.er," on equal terms Titled foreigners
always find the portals of the haut-ton ajar.
Travel and education have impaired degree
of politeness condescendsion and upreserved
hospitality to this class of society, which exer>
cises over the stranger home-like influence.
Thackeray saws, ''Dean Swift was too proud
to be vain" The same can be said concern
ing our aristocrats; for Byron adheres to truth
when he declares, "Tke yi2e are onIy gain
the great are proud"
But about the "shoddy aristocrats," whom
I mentioned in my last communication. This
class of society the sycophant courts, the gen.
teman avoids, the working-man fears and the
widow curses. The rauks of tho ''shoddy
arlstocracy" are chiefly composed of Irish and
Germans. These are persons who in their
native country were engaged as farm laborers
j.
poverty or oppression, sought refuge and en-
poignant in the new world. They immi>
grated here, say twenty years ago. The Irish
became hod- carriers, porters, and drivers of
carts; the Germans, pcdlars, and vendors of
pies, nuts and fruits IN the public thorough>
fares. By dint of the strictest economy, they
accumulated small sums of money, which they
invested in real estate. Property increased in
value soon the 'greenhorns' found them-
selves in comfortable circumstances. After
that, many changes took place among them.
The hod>carrers opened liquor>stores, or
started as builders, while the porters and ped
lars embarked as general merchants. Their
next step was to remove with their &C servant
girl wives into a brown>stone>front, which
costs from twenty FIVE to fifty thousand dollars.
Now they full pledged aristocrats to
prove their Fright and titlc," they must nec-
essarly employ two footmen as we'll as coach
man, and feel a sovereign contempt for every
one else.
Thointerior embellishments of tho ssshoddy-
ties" house, though costly, bespeak want of
taste which cannot be purchased with money.
from the old masters; no books, .scattcred in
graceful profusion-ornaments which mark
the homes of intelligence and refinement
There arc exceptions of conrse,-houses
which show to the visitor, that all the inmates
are not devoid of the poetry and truth of art.
Many of the ''shoddyites," although unable
to write their signatures on a bank check, yet
have sons and daughters who are ornaments
even in the most polished circles of New York
society. These young men and women are
not termed "shoddyites," because they hold
that man will not cease to be human, if no
have not wealth If one were to ask s:shoddy-
lite" the criterion of responsibility, uudoubt-
eddy, the answer would be-money, money
only! Poverty is held in such degree of
desestation among these parrcnues. that they
scarcely even recognize poor relation. The
strong tie which should bind those born of the
same parent, is frequently ignored when pow
erty and affiucnce are in the scale. The ma
jority of our aldermen and judges are chosen
from this intelligent ~ class, to the great
"honor' Of the first city in the Union. There
is an anecdote about one of these judges which
1 will relate. Judge G. was on visit to his
native country-Ireland-au having met
with an old 'crony," with whom he shook
hands, he at the same time remarked -
ARA Dan, ye'd be long time in Ireland
atore ye'd have Judge to shake yer hand"
sFa'x." replied Dan, eyed be longer time
in Ireland atore the likes O. ye'd be Judge,
at all, at all ~
There are hundreds of men in this city
who are from foreign land, yet they have
the esteem of their fellow citizens for all
that, Wtterafe, but gcntlomanly in manners,
charitable at heart. We have foreigners,
too, that discharge with precminent ability
Offices Of honor and trust