Daily globe., 1881-02-06
BETWEEN OURSELVES.

man OF fashion is seldom q man of brains
in the strong sense of the word.
Occasionally you sec man of some mental
distinction essay the role of fashionable
leader, but he is exceptional In the gay and
frivolous ranks, and his ambition is ulterior
rather than in the present. The man who is
untiringly active in social schemes, who
heads all sorts of clubs and organizations for
the furtherance of fashionable intercourse in
every desirable shade, is evidently bound to
have some coveted equivalentfor his exertions.
Perhaps he considers social promotion
necessary to complete business success. or
he may desire the prestige for the advance
ment of his family. a
In any event, whether he wants it for him
self alone, or for his family, he gives the mat
ter the same push that he gives his business,
and it isn't SO strange that he achieves his
ambition. Although it is, too, in many in
stances when one observes the lack of accom-
plishments, and personal graces, and sees only
in their stead persistent purpose to succeed
without them.
On his own plane of mental effort such q
man appears to excellent advantage; but in the
fashionable sphere his original merit isn't tax
en- into much account, and the paucity of his
claim to preferment where he wishes to take
pronounced stand, is strenuous egotism Of
tentimes. But he gets there and that's
enough, even if his credentials are not quite
the regular thing. His energy is valuable.
When dramatic, or dancing, or boating clubs
are formed such an ambitious man is q mas
ter hand at the work, because it means social
aggrandizement for himself and for his fam
lily.
Professional men are constantly thrown
with desirable influences which are not avail
able to the home circle unless some special
interest is exerted to get at them, or have the
circle 60 where the best display of gaiety and
refinement are in combination.
Every aspiring family must have male or
female representative to take stand for So
cial honors.
Very naturally the part is better adapted to
woman, and where married man is foremost
in such matters tits mainly because his mate
is not fitted for achieving the social position
he'd fain win.
Sometimes husband and wife pub together
for society's prizes-and then the combina-
ton is strong enough for any conquest.
Usually, however, man throws himself lazi-
iy on his passive prerogative in such matters,
when he is calmly confidential that he isn't
losing any ground thereby, and when he is alb
soautely certain OF the best social results
through expert feminine agency in his house
hold.
The common masculine ambition is to make
lots of money, but directly that fortune comes
the next Overweening impulse is to give it an
other value. The low-bred man wants to
gouge position in high life with it; and the
'crooked' raan aspires to be, and generally is
the leading pious brother in some kirk. There
isn't church 'or meeting house in ST. Paul
this blessed day that hasn't its righteous ras-
cal in conspicuous seat, while the ground
lings rub their eyes and wonder if there can
be such transparency of @ compromise with
Mammon.2
Shylock is an imposing figure on Change.
There he has respectable authority, and fol
lowing-but in church he is fagitious, since
no change of heart has come to him, and never
will-for he isn't worth special miracle.
Now, why should he seek to give his
thousands that sanctimonious counterfeit
flavor on Sundays, for brief interval? And
why should he be distraction to musing
souls, who take him for subject of mediation
and try to understand the mood which brings
him into the temple with all his treasure SC
dear to his heart, that he looks with positive
resentment at Gods poor, lest they might ex-
pect the smallest sum of it9
When the preaching is in order, on many
texts of the new testament, he must consider
share of it as personal, unless there is some
new tangled, elastic Interpretation, devious
enough to let him dodge the inferences.
In the matter of society, the reserved seats
and the reserved circle are invaded by sea-
skin and silk, and diamonds, aud the repre-
sentative personality is frequently vulgarity,
ignorance and the consciousness of making
) the outfit good for every deficit. These things
have magic momentum. So has the ambition
of the society aspirant, who is determined to
make every aid tributary to his success. Look
at the men who lead the germans. They are
generally of rather mature years-sometimes
lucy are Datu, Out tity HIT ducpGS III tiAaG uit1y
process whereby they took possession of the
fashionable heart. 1t was harder to secure
than diploma, but tits the most active victory
of their lives, and yields them the most sur
passing triumph. Perhaps because tits the
most unexpected laurel in their reward, which
has brought social distinction to their very
firesides-and reflected an advantageous lustre
on their relatives.
What is protracted up hill work for other
professions in the way of pronounced social
success is smooth enough for the military.
They easily and naturally live the dual lives of
dandies-'curled darlings' of the drawing room
and ballroom, and that of soldiers; going
with just change of step from the Duchess S
of Richmond's ball to the field of Waterloo.
The famous fighters of the Six Hundred in
the awful charge at Balaklava were dis
tinguished in the fashionable world, and two
were such renowned walters, that it took
months for society to recover from the shock
of their loss.
The specu!ator, too, Graves the highest social