Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-10-16
sNOBs AND sNOBBERY.
Cincinnati Commercial.

Cincinnati Commercial.
SnObs are confined 10 no one class in life,
but are found IN all ranks Of society. There
can be no snObbery without vulgsJity and
pretension; 10 attain tO il an individual has
only, with intrusive bad taste, tO ape that
which is beyond his powers. Tie Presi-
dent of the United STATES may be- 4 snoh,
as may also be the Queen Of England. as
was considered the ex-Empress Of France
Eugenie-by the other crowned heads Of
Europe, she not being to the manor born
nor To the manor bred. a state Of things
made apparent by her reckless expenditure,
love OF amusement, and her deviation from
the tread mill course and time-hOnOred
customs laid down TO be observed by those
born to the purple.
CandOr cOmpelS US, however, 10 admit
there is more likelihood of a President Of
the United States proving i ShOb than any
Of the crowned heads of Europe, although
s.the first gentleman i'm Europe" was Ger
iainly in point OF position the first sGOb Of
his time.
The snObs of social life are mIlItitudin-
o,is. They are generally found among the
rich, money being prolific source Of snOb-
berry. This preteniiOus Vulgarity crops out
when a man has suddenly acquired a for
tune, and faneying himself great man, at
once repudiates his old home, and proceeds
to demonstrate his greatness to the world
by dOmiciling il in palace, furnishing said
palace with costly, garnish appurtanances,
filling it with pictures, confusing in his
talk Turner'S. Claudes and MurillOs; ar
when woman, having purchased diamonds
or other jewelIy, wears the former to break
E.uf Nrawralsrar in. roll anH IL lnanQ6
with the latter when dressed in a simple
ehintZ or calico print.
Snobbishness shows itself at entertain
meuts in the lavish prOfusiOn, the pressing
the guests to partake, with the assurance
there is plenty; the conduct Of tie guests,
the destruction and waste. II is seen when
furniture or dress is exhibited by hostess,
and the price paid for each article is an
nOunced-"It ought to be handsome, il cost
so and So"
Ii IS patent in manner. IL courts pub
licity, is .'loud," bOastful, pushing, and
often coarse. Is especially observable in
desire TO proclaim how rich / am and how
fashionable | can be. IL affects the COM
pany of high officials, Honorables aud
Generals, gives dinners and entertainments
TO such, prefacing the mention of their
Will lily llAClls AAlg 44OAAs @hAs ~
and-sO, or ''my friend" General -, and
is in the seventh heaven Of delight when
mentioned in the newspapers as the enter
tainer Of such.
Now, a man is not a snob because be
gets rich, builds house, gives entertain
ments, buys diamonds, and has really great
men for his friends. Ii is only the vulgar
ity Of pretensiOn that makes snOb Of
him, the Il am as good as you Indeed, l
am better, for have more money" spirit
which does il.
| was very much struck, hearing two
gentlemen, evidently Eastern men, talking,
on the CARS, Of the Cincinnati Exposition;
one of them said,
"There is not a particle of snObbery
about it."
ssNo," was the reply, lit stands on its
merits. Chicago can do all the snob for
the West"
These men spake of snObbery in BUSH
ness, which is generally more tolerated
than anywhere else, as TO draw attention
to articles of merchandise, to advertise
them in the most extravagant language, IS
considered a Legitimate thing, and IS FOL
lowed with considerable success by qHack
medicine men.
Mpll MILO nave lLlllt llirlI CAlAAAO NAAACof
men who, by industry, keennes and Sagae-
ity. have accumulated money, starting only
as poor bOys, naturally desire, when this IS
attained, TO have their moneys worth, and
with their wives and families 10 enjoy the
situation and prospect at the top oi the NIL,
which they have labOred 50 hard 10 reach.
Urged by their wives, for women unusually
take the initiative in these matters, they
procure fine dwellings. ard proceed 10 get
themselves into the best SO,iety OF the place
I'm which they live, not 50 much for their
own comfort and aggrandizement rs out OF
consideration for their children, whom they
wOuid have enjoy what they consider the
greatest good.
Such men not uufreguently, in the pride
of their hearts al What they have achieved,
ani with 4 desire not t0 be thought
ashamed Of What they were, speak on all
occasions bOaStfully, saying; LOOK al me
aud see what | have done, with an AR not
! less offensive tO those with whom they
miI.sle than Of his who has gained his pO-
sition bs the same means bat Shrinks from
its mention. and would Eave his present
world believe he had 4 grandfather.
They have accumulated money, alld are
/ respected for the qualities developed IN the
50 doing, bui they are uneducIled ahd uil-
cultivated, and have thrust themselves INTO
a society where some little OF both these
things are required. They are tolerated
because of their money, but are none The
| Iess considered Snobs. Like the knights
of London. held by those born 10 titles rs
the fls-end Of the peerage, their preiension
| is cOniemptuOuSly laughed Al.
| OF all snObs, however, thetaristOer;1le
| suOb is the meaneSt and most offensive,
| simply because he has nO eXetse for being
| a snob ut all. Ii h. has had a father ana a
/ grandfather, if they have left him money
and he continually prates ofhis blue bioCd d
his horses. lands or pictures, and reminds
his hearers that they have ''come down 70
him. aud he has in his veins 'ali the blood
| Of all the HOwar,ls,a he is the snObblest ol
the snObs. and the veriest tallOw chandler
or soap boiler who entertainS with an ac'
count of his vais and their contents IS
horn gentleman beside him. lie IS oniN
eaualed by him who marries for money
then talks T his wife's possessions, whlei
Inc never owned. Is '.mine, and attempts
to teach and patrOnize the family who haV'
taken him in.
The new rich seeking TO get into SOcietl
are the natural prey Of the modlste, mer'
chant, uphOlSterer and tailor. These al
know him at glance Madame, the Wiie
wishes a dress made; Of course she must g
TO the most fashionable dresSmaker, an'
the dressmaker knows whom she has .
deal with. Madame has already visited tn
merchant and paid an exerbitant price 10
her material, which with some pride sh
produces !.
The modiste touches i'll cannot de
scribe the touch; it must be seen TO be sp
preciated- lays it down, then takes II u
her hand, crumples it up, holds It to III
LIGHT. rubs it and smiles. Madam feel
somewhat alarmed.
as it not good? paid so and so Tor IL.
.sIndeed,- another look. SIT may do,
7 with a shrlIe of the shoulders. 'It doe
NOT compare to some have made up 10
Mrs. last week" mentioning one
, the ladies Of fashion.
+ Madame begins to feel hdgety and un
comfortable. If she is shrewd she will no
! saw anything-will not catch at the bait
The modiste now thinks it may do If yer
handsomely trimmed, and she produces
,, box of costly lace. Madame, whose hear
has begun 10 sink, and who has been de
batting whether she had not better order