The Orangeburg democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1879-1881, 1880-03-05
Modern Sociesy.

| "oaSth SoSiSiJs
| in reading Of the manners and Gus.
toms OF uncivilized people we are
wont to cXclain, "How horrible
What blessing it is that we arc
civiliTed" We look with disgust
upon the half naked and bedaubed
savage, and our ladies woulJ turn
away with shudder at the sight OF O
woman of the FIJI islands, We are IL
civilized nation, but do we act rs
such? or does that portion Of us,
which conside rs itself the ultimatum;
not only of civilization but Of truest
refinement? This class, designating
itself rs the creme, the bon ton, sets
itself up as an example Of inteM-
gence: politcncss and refinement, for
the ether classes of civilization To
follow. Aud those who do follow.
generally become What Darwin en-
dcavored to prove us 10 be at first.
One should strive TO become truth re-
fined, and if the heart is, educated as
we'll as the head, we will reach that
true refinement, which is the rounda-
ton of genuine aristocracy. but,
what is our modern society? What
are its chief attributes? Vanity, de-
ccit, sclCconceit, idlcncss, pomposi-
ty, .cXtravagance in dress, and
strict observance Of every rule that is
ridiculous and silly. We find no snen
in this bogus aristocracy, but set of
puppets, with more perfumcd locks
than hrains, and more cunning than
wit; who with eye-glass to half clos
eel eyes, smirk and bow to the little
wooden dolls who take the lead in
this circus.
If man or woman is educated,
will not he Or she converse in an in
tciligiblc way, and not aim TO speak
in riddles more difficult 10 solve
than that of the Sphynx7 4 lady,
conversing with gentleman-her
mouth filled with imaginary pebbles
-once said :"How ! do enjoy VOW
waw stories. I am snah you must
haye been a yarqh gollont soldiah
am no Omazon, yet l should deadly
love to participate once in bottle"
"Ah! my'dcar. mahdom," replied The
gallant Qnixotle, "You know nothing
of wah never desiaw it. should
never seek to behold bottle" And
yet this highly educated and refined
"soldah" often sought and felt the in
fluence of the "bot,le." = ",st'
The diess Of the savage shocks us,
and yet, take one of our society la
dies, in full costume, and place her
beside chief lady Of one of the South
sea islands, and where is the differ
ence. The dress Of our lady is drawn
SO tight about her figure, that it
greatly resembles the which is
kind of fringed band, the train of it
being at the right side-worn by
those women. In her dress she can
move freely, whereas it 81 with great
difficulty that our ladies step. These
savage women wear their hair fright
fully frizzled, falling over the face SO
as TO almost conceal the eyes. Our
ladies dress their hair in the same
manner. The civilized following the
customs OF the uncivilizeG, and then
pride themselyes on being the leaders
Of the wor!dl
When thcguage of society is sense,
and love of knowledge, and men and
women consider that they we're made
tor something higher than TO talk
:"noth'ngs," and disfgure their boz
dies with what they cali fashionable
dress, then, We will not be plagued
with "shcdyitcs"i and s'big- bugs" and
the manners and customs Of polite
society will be worry of imitation.