The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1880-08-19
EUROPEAN ARISTOCRCY.
British vulgarify and snobbiness-soms
Contrasts.

New York Times1
The feeling which gives rise at home
in British circles to contempt of those of
a different social stratum is apt to be
intensified when directed toward for
eigneers. A young lady of my acquaint-
ance, bearing family name well known
in the English aristocracy, while sitting
at a table dhote dinner in Switzerland,
next to a party of English tourists, heard
one of the ladies, who had read her
name on the hotel register, referring to
herself, ask her companion, els she Hon.
Miss =, of London?" ''No," was the
reply, in pointedly contemptuous tone;
she's only an American" P" knowing and
intending that her remarks would be
overheard by the lady herself. To give
greater sting to the gratuitous imperu-
nence, another added: "You know no
American goes in good society in Lon
DON" Comment Is unnecessary on this
cultivated vulgarity in high life, which
is first and worthy cousin to the women
beating of the lowest classes. But how
is it with ourselves? British colonists
carry their home traits wherever they
settle. In America these have been
modified by new conditions of climate
and the interblending of ideas and man.
ners of other European emigrants. Out
of these combinations fresh types of men
are rapidly forming, whose ideal effgies
begin to appear on our horizon. How
far they may be better or worse than the
European types remains to be seen.
Wherever intellectual traits are strongly
marked, manners become corresponding
ly emphasized. This intensity of local
or individual convictions is a powerful
factor in human life and history, and
none the less energetically. operative i,
as is too often the case, it regards all
advantages as the elimination of its own
innate virtues and the reward of an ap-
preciating Providence in the pursuit OF
special interests and pleasures. The
early Grecian states, particularly the
Athens of Pericles, and the Italian de-
spotisms and republics of the middle
ages, were conspicuous examples OF con-
centrated self-interest and selfish pride
of local existence. Every man in them
all, not citizen born, was considered
either as a slave, active enemy, or an un-
sympathetic alien. But the intense self
assertion of the dominating caste was al
ways q reservoir of strength which
nourished the growth of the city fol-
which its tyrants or its citizens jealousy
wrought and fought. Their patriotism
was genuine of its kind, albeit more one
| sided and narrower than that which tool
| its place after the rival communities
were consolidated into broader national
tiles. But its spirit has now degeneratec
into mere pride of family name and tie:
of caste, and is no longer politica
force swayed for the dominion Of petty
| state which was identified with the exist
ence of ruling class. Instead, moder1
times have developed varied systems O
social tyranny, based on petty sentiment
! and aims, seclusive and exclusive IL
principle, and ruled by individuals who's,
horizon of aspirations Is bounded b,
their own hearth-stones What is nov
called aristocratic society is an outgrowtl
of the older and broader civic ambitions
toned down to the modern standards Q
life. It shapes itself into multiforn
castles founded on the onesided, strictl
personal ambitions which have supplante'
the larger, if in practice, less humane
idealisms of the older epochs of civiliza
tions, gradually deteriorating in ali
from the city or association to the family
now settling more and more on the mer
individual, by sheer force of the dem
ocratic drift of ideas. Family name an
distinction, however, still continue i
England to be the chief keystones of il
strong arch of caste. Each individus
member cherishes himself as an integr,
portion of the social structure he rel
resents. In consequence there is forme
certain unity of manners and tone {
speech in high life which corresponds
its homogenity of aim, and any pressu
brought to bear on one part of tt
system is felt and resisted by the who'll