, 1877-08-19

d. Cation, OF Illinois, Win MS WIG, anu 4Ml- Auu
registering at the Stockton.
SADIE RICHMOND.
SOCIAL POSITION.
To the Editor Of The Tribune
CHICAGO, Aug. 17.-John and !, the other
morning, were laughing about this question Of
" social position" We know, Of course, that,
in its legitimate sense, it is II the power behind
the throne ~ that is not to be ridiculed nor ig-
nored; but we we're laughing at the various
neutrality-suspicious. Of this sublime and awful
mystery that - obtain :" las Bostonians say)
among half-educateu people.
To illustrate, we mentioned Mrs Alpha, who
is SO absurd]y vulgar that her very face and tis-
ure seem ono of Nature's jokes on humanity.
We have seen her at church, on the street-cars,
and leaning over back fences. We have heard her
call her small son in voice that rescmbied
nothing so much as the imperative croak Of a
matrony frog, and when We were poetic VIC
haye quoted to each other, for her sake:
All look thou largely with lenieut eyes,
On whatso beside thee may creep or cling,
For the possible beauty that underlics
The passing phase OF the meanest thing.
In our larger and more comprehensive mo-
mcnts, John and I have alluded to her as
t.Passiug Phase" and tried to imagine what
Frogs correspond to in the Spiritual Kingdom.
s'But what has she to do with social positions"
You could never guess
t'John,t said, ''AIrs. Beta called yesterday;
the first neighbor who has called On ls.r
'sWas she another Passing Phase'?" asked
John.
"She visits the Passing Phase believe"
rcjoined I, land when told her, by way Of
airing a long pcnt-up civility, that was happy
to meet her, as She was the first ueighbcr who
had called, she said, Dear ME, the people in
this neighborhood is so stuck up -he-he-he.
l can't see what the Use is of not bcin' sociablc
when people might be real pleasant if they oulk
would as they had ought tor
Hold, enough, MacDuff, n said John laugh
:. No, the cream Of the joke is to be told
She said Mrs. Alpha said she did not know
person on this street. Her friends were all down
town."
well" said John, t.that speaks we'll for
this ncishborhood. Life assumes new aspect,
if the Passing Phase is the ouly passing phase
From this spzang the question Of ssocial po-
sition.n
John said: II suppose this Alpha woman in-
aeines that if she will affect exclusiyeness, and
pretend not to know any one Oh this street. that
people will fancy she has wide circle Of choice
acquaintanccs doing her homage at distance"
Then We drifted into speculation concerning
the ways and means by which people try to
cover up stupidity and manifest superiority, and
succeed only in being supremely ridiculous.
Then We talked OF Mrs. Gamma, who is
lovely, unpretentious woman, with face like
some rare old picture, who was telling the other
day how once she moved into strange neigh
borhood, aud, becoming acquainted with the
minister attended serni-social, semi-religious
meeting, where the atmosphere seemed one OF
delightful peace and goodwill. when suddenly
there appeared before her mincine Fanny
Dorritish sort of sham, who said laboriousIy:
Mrs Gamma, have myself SO lately moved
into this neghborhood that can scarcely feel
it incumbent upon me to maize the initiatory
call:H and Mrs, Gamma found no words to cx-
press her emotions but prunes and prisms.''
"It was too bad about the incumbeucu OF tint
jnitlatory cali said John, satirically, .Yes,''
said I. .twhat q Joke it would have been If Mrs.
Gamma had asked her. as Coleridge once asked
n ycry nompous individual. NV dear sir, are
vou-are vo,,-anybodv in particular?, Such
neonle always remind me Of how witty Wash
i,gtmn rorrcsnondent once ouoted Shaksncare
ahnnt. some otfirers who were sprcadiug them-
ea;r.s arn,1,l f;-n y urren har trce. t'Their nf-
- WLa+ do von sunnose these nomnous. nre
tcntious people, like Mrs. Delta, for instance,
11nagiue is tic pleasure or profit Ut knowing
them? What do such people say when they
calir' asked John, curiously.