The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1880-01-22

no means small, and quite charming BE-
sides, said she with triumphant air, as sne
Strengthened herself up, throwing back
pair OF square shoulders and Advancing
protuberant bust, 81 live in the same street
with the Duchess"
Incredible as it may seem to the reader, a
feeble impression only was made on our
minds by this petti.coated advocate, and
we backed out OF the front hall without en-
gazing to become members of her family
circle.
Recrossing the green to the Brown jug, a
respectable looking Inn. we heard While
despatching in the parlor glass OF the lnev'
liable 'arf and 'arf, from the jolly bar maid,
a girl robust in figure and fresh In complex
ion-that Mrs. Jones not only lived in the
same street but on the same side OF 1t with
the Dowager Duchess of Cambridge. And
that she was in the habit of entertaining
many s.high judicial gents and other official
functionaries.' This fact accounted at
once for the good woman's credit and con-
sequence, for the Indignant toss of her head
and the high price of her apartments.
A rain now coming on it was decided that
we should pass the night at the Brown jug.
After European repast in the shape OF a
''meaty tea I'VE established ourselves in
| freside chair and began to ruminate.
| A century's residence is by no means ne~
cessary in the mother country to make the
stranger acquainted with the AFFECT serviity
of the middle and lower orders towards the
nobility. The deity OF rank. is absolutely
idolized by them. The successful man OF
business, be he banker. merchant or manu-
facturer, considers nothing more desirable
than to bestow his daughter, she may be
beautiful and accomplished, upon the son,
though all unworthy son, OF Lord. On
the other hand it must be admitted that the
! mpecunious Viscount is not too proud to
replensh his Golfers by an alliance with
wealthy tea dealer, beer brewer or cotton
spinner. 1t is fair bargain and understood
thing that the money offsets the rank.
The eagerness, however, with which the
middle classes pursue their high game, and
their pride at bringing it down, is marvel.
Few things connected with the commercial
classes so much excites Republican surprise
as this gross want of self respect. That
sense of equality to which Americans
are bred under our pure political skies, finds
no place among the inferior orders in Britt
ain. Instinctively they kotou the moment
they are confronted by superior rank. This
obsequiousness is 6 peculiar trait In the
character of the shopocracy-is as deeply i'm
planted in them as the Sepoy's adherence
of a creased cartridge, To them title
outwe ighs all earthly considerations. To
be patronized by Lord is a great stroke OF
good luck and will make the fortune OF a
sure to patronize those whom nobility pat
ronizes. To be surrounded by the odour of
aristocracy is safe card for fortune. And
this, though the ancient nobility is princi.
pally sprung, as they should know, from the
twenty thousand adventures who landed at
Hastings In 10G6 and of whom it has been
truly said, "These founders of the House Of
Lords, were greedy and ferocious pirates.
They were all alike they took every thing
they could carry, they burned, harred, VIC
lated, tortured and killed until every thing
English was brought to the verge of ruin.
Such, however, is the illusion Of antiquity
and wealth, that decent and dignified men
now existing boast their descent from these
filthy thieves. Or if you come down to
later times, OF which faithful record has
been left by Grammont, Pepys and Evelyn,
from prostitutes taken from the theatres
aud made duchesses, and their bastards,
Dukes and Lords.''
When a shopkeeper has amassed for
tune, he retires to Tyburnia, on the route to
to the West-end or some fashionable water
ing place, and seeks the means OF introduce
ton into higher circle, and as in a coun-
try enjoying the commercial prosperity OF
England, the number OF these is large, they
find it no easy matter to accomplish their
wishes. The affluent supper ten" are ever
on the alert to head off intruders and pre-
serve intact the patrician realms. Relying
solely upon their rhDO, the new rich en-
deavor to acquire, through its instrumental
ity, the "open sesame.'' 1t is their only
card but luckily it is the long trump. In
the end they always succeed. The advertise
ments in the supplement to the Times fur
nish many striking evidences Of these
facts. Among the recent advertisements
we have seen is the following "Home Of
fered free of expense. A married lady OF
good family and highly connected, offers to
receive as her guest for the winter season or
longer. any lady or young lady OF good
birth, who in sole return would procure in
PRODUCTION for them to the leading society Of
either Dover or bennington. All travelling
expenses and further advantages paid. A
happy home offered. Full particulars, with
the best and highest references given. Ad-
dress, L. ", Portman Library, Baker
street, Portman Square, London, W."
The same feeling, in a modified form,
shows itself in all classes-even in the Peer
age, where the equity cid Baron turns up his
humor-eaten nose, and his watery eyes in
contempt at modern degeneracy and the
new creations.
In the piping times Of peace the prime ipal
avenue to success lies through the lava
lawyer Of eminent learning and ability rare
ly failing to make his way into Parliament
and thence to the peerage, Two cases of the
kind occurred during our residence in Eng
land. Sir. Vernon Harcourt, who was a ris.
ing barrisier in 1861, land who, by the way,
married daughter of the historian, John l..
Motley,) ten years later was Member of Par
lament for Oxford and Solicitor General
And Sir Hardinge Clifford, who was little
known beyond his Inn Of Court in 1861, was
in 1875 Member Of Parliament for Guilford
and is the present Solicitor General. These
conspicuous, men who owe their success to
their bright intellectual endowments, their
erudition and persevering industry, ARE sneer-
ed at by the older Peers, who superciiously
style them "Law lords" During our first
visit to London in 1s5I-52, the writer had the
pleasure to become acquainted with sscity
magnate,n Mr., Jones Llovd-one of tboeo