The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-07-03
FashiOnab BILE Society.

1--WE do DoSSIbIC. III IL A''
on this point. 1t is assumed that those
within the charmed circle are DESTROYS OF
giving a fair equivalent for the entertainment
they receive. Nothing, however, Will destroy
! debutante more e~ffectually than an attempt
To appear superior to her surroundings.
The way to retain the appreciation of So
cietv is not always the way that self-respect
would dictate. or true dignity could follow.
To reign a supreme favorite implies more
amiability than most people would care 70
possess. "What man Is there who often
deth not?' And the woman who attalns
that degree of perfection is less sensitive or
more accommodating than one need desire
to be. Extreme forbearance Is bad IN any
body. however charming it may be from a
Social point of view. 1t is the duty of wo-
man to cultivate a sharp tongue and hery
scorn for everything that Is base, indellcate
and irreverent. The popular t%avorte, by
reason Of her office, must c%ontrive not to see
unpleasant things. If she succeeds, she will
retain the crown, but her success will be no
especial credit to her. 1t was secured by
the sacrifice of something far better and more
valuable. Perhaps the saddest fate that can
befall a young person is popularity. The
idol considered most worthy of ancient reyer-
ence was too holy to be protaned by common
eyes, much less by common touch. Under
this system, a reasonably hideous object
would retain its prestige for ages In the
strong light to which Society subjects its
coddesses the enamel cracks so soon that,
after a season or two at most, the crowds
that come to offer homage remain to jeer.
Sadder still, the ~sentient idols must assume
the impassibility of stone and smile sweetly
in response to the ironical grins of quondam
worshippers. Knowing that detraction and
condemnation are inseparable from the king
dom of the world, they must submit to be
the topic of the hour, with the certainty that
they will fare no better than the comrade at
whose social stoning they have just assisted.
Wit, exercised in the disparagement of
others, is the cheapest of worldly possessions.
MedlOcrity, Tor this reason, %rejolces IN small
satires which still weaker minds re-echo with
approval. Any little pebble can make an
ugly wound if persistently thrown at some
thing larger than itself. Every one who
casts a pebble successfully is not necessarily
Il David.
Contrasting the Sights, humiliations, ofan-
noyance and heart burnings of the most for
tunate of social toilers with the serene life of
those who are content to shed their light on
something better than Society it becomes a
marvel that candidates for Social honors
should ever be found. The best woman is
the one of whom least is known, and who is
consequently least discussed. And the best
man is one whose dignity and selfrespect
keep the most of idlers at a distance where
they can respect his worth, if unable to APP
preciate it. Break down the barriers and
the crowd of fools will be increased by one
more. Let a woman seek Social distinction
rather than the triumph of ~reigning supreme
In her own honored home, and she has part
ed with a birthright more precious than that
OF Esau, one she cannot regain when she is
-4nIr + 1r,Ea H. I. Il
which she is weary.
Taken at its best, it is a pitiful kingdom
over which Society reigns. Whatever is
mean t1ourishes, its baseGess concealed under
smooth conventionalities. Whatever is good
and true fails to please, unless accompanied
by meretricious graces. The typical men of
Society are those whose record it would not
be proper to mention in the presence of the
falr women who contend for their approba-
ton. Whatever the reason, it is certain
that the belle OF society may wither away
un%plucked, while the humble wall-fiower is
selected as the one best adapted to create
and preserve a happy home. But however
vain or silly fashionable women may be, the
poorest among them is only too good for the
class of men surrounding them. Socially.
it is not thought undesirable to bring in con
tact with guileless girls men whose very
glance Is degradation and whose admiration
is an insult. Or some capital fellow
habitually addicted to the Glowing bowl is
cordially received, because he is known to
be "a perfect gentleman even when ''at-
fected'-as it alphabetically termed. So
clety demands this tender consideration for
the weakness of its favorites. Indeed it
carries forbearance to the extreme of making
especial provision for the comfort of prodi-
gals who are unwilling to leave the swine.
In Ultra fashionable circles virtuous matrons
are sometimes heard discussing the means of
saving china carpets, and furniture from the
ruin which awaits these household gods at
the hands of the gentlemen! who will GER
tainly abuse the hospitality they accept. In
such circles, even the presentation in society
of a young girl is not untrequently celebrated
by what, in the end, is a disgusting orgy.
Prudent housewives talk of covering their
carpets or hiring a public hall for the occa-
sion but it rarely occurs to them that it
would be still wiser to procure appropriate
substitutes for their innocent daughters.