, 1880-06-27

Caste and Family PrIdc-ts Stand Aside,
/ Am Better than Iou.,,

Caste and Family Pride-ts Stand Aside
Am Better than Iou.,s
Netr FORK Home journal.
Iralt that has often been noted receives frest
treatment from several independent critics, al
OF whom are competent authorities. The f1rs
IS the We1l-known arr-author, Jnmes jack
son Jarves, who thus writes to the Times Of this
city: That strenuous belief in social caste
which finds practical expression in the famils
feeling, stand aside; am better than you,' Is
the dry-rot Of British civilization. It isolates
sets and individuals, poisons social happiness,
IntsPlaccs and mtsmotes people, and breeds
classes OF 1shnaelites. whose sympathies and
fellowship are limited to their own restricted
spheres Ono might suppose that the chief suf-
fcrers would be inspired with desire for q
sounder social constitution. But the malfgu in
hucnce Of snobbery intensihes as 1t descends In
society ordering. 1know an elderly person af-
h!cted with the notion that ut some remote
period royal blood hnd found its way into her
ancestral VEINS, but which, even If true,
had not prevented her from depending on
the charity Of strangers too
FOR home. Having occasion one evening to 60
out the favorir servant Of the mistress Of the
house, highly-respectable Italian woman, vol
unteered to be her escort, adding, as the crowd
arm. The English lady par excellence, as she
considered herself, not daring to be separated,
in the haughtiest and most offensive manner
dalnttly took hold of the upper part Of her
sleeve with TWO fingers, holding it as if she wero
touching carrlon, pantosnine which amused
even more than offended the good-natured
Italian. This manifestation WIS an apposit ex-
ample OF the base manners which mean ideas Of
caste genernte. Unfortunately they are not
very uncommon In some shape Or other, sting
ing to the spirit when not brutally violent to the
body. Can we marvel, then. ut the dstaste in
which many foreigners hold those Anglo -Saxous
whose lives are passed In un unworthy bondage
- I1+r1 n3~ bod
manners and obscures many excellent traits Of
character ut bottom? So long us each caste or
coterie strives fore1cusive privileges rs it's own
IN habits, eondemning everything not to
its own manner born, Just 50 long will the
ideal man OF English high life be half -fedged,
exercising an unwholesome influence on society
at large. As It descends in social SCALE this type
Of humanity, being stripped Of whatever glld-
more intolerable and derogatory to human nat
ure. Could this element be, eliminated from
the social atmosphere Of England and replaced
sc1f-rcspect of the Latin races, the world would
possess those hne specimens Of the ideal human
ity which It is ever longing for, If not actually
Piles IN British character which need only this
grating TO become altogether beautiful. The
feeling which gives rise at hone IN British CIR
cles to contempt Of those Of different social
stratum Is apt TO be intensified when directed
toward foreigners. A young American lady of
my acquaintance, bearing family name well
next to TO- party ,aio. Of English K tourists;
be9 aae one OF OF he nat ae h9 had
the Hon. Miss -, Of Loadon7" "No,'' was
n
ing that her remark would be overheard by the
LADY herself. To give greater sting to the
grntuitous impertinence, another added: s. You
X American FanH 2nfiAtT IN
London" Comment is unnecessary On This
species OF cultivated vulgarity in high life,
which is first and worthy cousin to the woman-
beating of the lowest classes
The Saturday Reuittc, which certainly may be
supposed to have an inside knowledge OF En-
glish society, 81 bstantiatcs the above criticism
fn this wise: When man takes u rood house
in a good country neighborhood. armed with the
best introductions, and is invited Immediately
to dine at the best house in that best neigh
bort1ood, he has every reason for self
be passes his evening. The chances are
that he tinds large party and that ha and his
are not staying in the house. The names OF the
ladies, written on strips Of paper, are thrown
like lots, ia order to see whom they are to take
into the dinfng-roon, The stranger finds him.
self between two ladies whom he has never seen
behoF nor s ke 20 aSan wae 4h MS Wds
the Irish estate. The party in the house have
their own jokes and interests At the mention
Q1 some apparently meaningless WOrHS lQefB IS
immense amusement, CONCERNING the origin Of
which the outsiders are absolutely tgnor7.ut.
The subjects talked of are chiefly the incidents
of the days shooting, or tho details Of prac-
ticai joke played IN tie house tie night before,
or the doings of some friends Of the family, who
are mentioned hy their Christian names only.
newcomers but they introduce them to nobody,
and talk of little but the common friends to whom
their acquaintance is due This is SO much tho
case TINT they almost seem to say, We should
certainly not have called upon you at all if
Lady Plnntagenet had not asked US to do so and
we have undergone the nuisance Of having you
ing-room is deserted most Of the party, both male
aud female, 20 into the billiard Or music room,
while only the unhappy outsiders, tho hostess,
and one aged lady remain to do company in
the drawing room. The new neighbors naturally
feel that, though present in body. they are. so-
eialy speaking, out of the Whole thing, and the
servant who announces that their carriage ia at
the door seems like an angel Of mercy come to
their relief.
The writer gives more instances OF the same
sort, and concludes his stinging indictment OF
English society, after some pointed remarks on
The prevalent rudencss Of gentlemen who make
hose feel uncomfortable whnn they do not care
nan Of modern times is an offender in this re-
'pect, the woman is often even more guilty. She
.eves in the ort Of being politely tisagreeable.
themselves to be IN false position.
Offering American comment On the English
:eview, Mr. Charles Dudley Warner remarks:
lad recorded such Al observation Of English So
;iety he would have been set down as boor.
But since one of the recognized organs Of polite
ociety has made it, we may add that 1t ls con-
1rn1ed By the experience Of American ladies',
vho have been greatly bcwildered by what to I
hem seemed sort OF good MANNERS with |
which they were unacqnatnted- This sort Of |
udeness generally comes from English women; |
his ignoring of stranger guest in drawing |
.oom, this directing the conversation to private
md local topics in which the guest could not I
possibly join this art of being politely disagree
tble. American women stayiug in English |
louses, by Invitation, Of course, have been sub
ected to exactly this sort OF treatment by |
he English women present, who, instead |
# doing everything to put them at case, make |
hem nll the time conscious that they are fn |
Mise position. We do not undertake to say |
ghat this sort Of social brutality arises from: it
las deeper root than any yconyenHonality, such |
Is that which forbids the introduction of |
tranger to the people she meets In drawing |
DOM or at dinner. We are content to let the |
Rsuic,o characterize it. But in no
American household would English visitors By |
my possibility be SO treated. 1t Is part Of the |
|ationaI kindness which IS inherent in Auleri- |
IN woman, and which no one prides herself on |
$ anything uncommon in the way of good |
reeing, to put her company at ease, to avoid !
amily or private topics TINT shall Isolate the |
isitor from the conversation, to study the |
astes and inclinntions Of the guests, and to |
make them feel that their enjoyment Is upper
aost in mind. And there is no other basis Of q
enuine hospitality.