Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-10-25
Social Warrants.

Examining the matter in the light of Stats
tics, one is surprised to see how large are the
numbers OF this rowing and constantly shifting
kind OF society. Go into the Alps in the autumn
and you will meet at pension people who pass
their whole time in moving from place to place.
You may light on them now at some tourists
hotel, now at seaside clearinghouse, and now
at hydropathic establishment Follow them
where you may, you will never find them shun-
ming the companionship Of ordinary men and
women. SO far from this, they invariably
gravitate toward certain centerS Of ttinerant so
ciety. Nay, more, 1t will be found on close in
quiry that they are particularly careful to re-
sort only to such places as promise Suff1ciency
OF this rowing society. They will Shun the hO-
tells where there is no tabled hote, and where
people keep aloof from one another. Thus they
show plainly enough that whatever their rea-
son for seeking frequent change OF scene, 1t can
not be WEAKNESS of society. Very unlike rea-
sons may determine people to join this rowing
population. Some do so because they find they
can get the quantity OF society which they
think Indispensable at a far less cost than at
home. sensible woman may grow tired OF the
cares and laborS OF housekeeping on q large
sca'e and may deliberately prefer taking her
chances OF pleasant cOmpanionship for herself
and her family in this changeful social world.
TLeIe is nothing discreditable in this resolution,
and it is only to be regretted that such persons
have not always the candOr to admit their real
motives. Very often, however, there mingle;
with such considerations motive which 1t IS
only too natural to wish to hide. We do not
here refer to the conceivable case OF a person
who has suffered social outlawry at home. We
would hope that such instances are too rare to
need mention. A more common case is where
mother of unmarried daughters thinks that by
moving from place to place and encountering so
TO speak, fresh relays OF society, shewill inieh-
ntely extend the chances OF a marital conquest
More especially will this motive be likely to
work when the home is quiet provincial one,
and when social prejudiceS prevent the attain
ment there of a kind of companionship which is
naturally judged to be suitable to the young
ladies' expensive style OF culture. One would
Ike TO know how many persons and families
take to this rowing life because 1t offers them
the only chance OF getting society at all. 1t is
obvious that pension, for example, gives to
many an opportunity OF social intercourse
which the home would never offer. At such q
temporary meeting place people are in meas
ure forced on one another's notice, while there
is naturally much less criticism directed to ones
temporary companions than to ones permanent
acquaintance at home Thus, they are, for eX-
ample, the bashfuI young man and the plain
though eStimaDle young woman, who are apt
to be neglected at home, but who may find due
appreciation among a less critical rowing So
ciety. Even that plague of private drawing
rooms, the conversational bore, is tolerated In
these temporary social structures. For there Is
hardly time for him to weary you by his mono
tOnOuS platitudeS, or disgust you by his incorri-
gible conceit and In any case you know there Is
ready mode OF escape when this diSagreeabe
stage of the acquaintance is approaching. In
truth, this modern Institution OF rowing society
may be said to be a kind Of benehcent agency
fitted to mitigate the evils of natural social laws.
1t is to the struggle for social existence what the
WoTh-lpuSe-ll tne JuxCapOSltlOn may DC par
doned-is TO the struggle for individual exist
ence; it gives those chance Of surviving who
would otherwise be swept away In the rude con-
flict. For the rest, it may be said that many Of
those who seek society in this form are persons
who frequently require the stimulus OF new ac-
quaintances, for the very good reason that they
are incapable of approaching more permanent
and solid form of companionShip. They are
persons without fixed interests, of but few IDEAS
and OF crude undeveloped tastes. Consequently
they 90 not offer much material for relation of
ueep ana lasting sympathy. They soon ex-
haust the sources of interest in their COM
palohS While IN turn they are soon exhausted
by the latter. Thus they need constantly re-
newed society Offering plenty Of scope for sud
den sentimental lkings which soon wear them
selves out.