West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1881-04-09
VERY SELECT.
BY SARAH K. BOLTON.


The Highburus we've very Sc ect
family very select, indeed They
lived in an old fashioned house be-
cause they did not wish modern
one. a cousin OF Mrs. Higbburn's
great aunt came over in the May
flower, and this fact was never lost
sight Of. Several generations back.
money came into the family through
mercantile trade. l e'ieve the
great-grandla;her was merchant.
HIS memory was tolerated. and his
money thankfully received, because
be lived so many years ago but if
Mr.. Highburh himself had been
merchant, his wife would have con-
sldered that plebe;an.
| remember very we'll certain
family where one brother was in
the army, and the other a rich boot
and shoe dealer. The former was
welcomed by Mrs. Highb1rn the
other was entirely Ignored. Trades
people were at discount but the
children Of tradespeorle, were they
rich, aud had no occupation, were
considered eligible to fret class So
ciety.
Mrs. Highburns house showed
blue blood. She never had any
modern pictures none but the old
masters, or copies oil them, were to-
Grated and never anything Ameri-
can. II Church and Bierstsdt had
lived ages ago, had been German or
Italian, they would have been vel
eomtd to Immortality on Mrs. High
burns walls. Her children were all
educated abroad. She could not 90
with them. so they were sent under
the care Of nurses and guides to get
the refinement Of Paris and culture
OF Germany. Even England was
too American to be hihglY sppreci-
ated. Mrs. Highburn rarely pat
ronized Americon shops, but sent
abroad for as many things as posi-
bic. She had very little taste Sc
lect people seldom have. She was
moderately good to her servants,
though she thought common food
and common beds quite sufficient
for them but the gulf fixed be-
tween the two classes, served and
serving, both made by Jehovah from
the same common earth, was il!imi-
table.
Mrs. Highburn's associates in the
city could be counted on ones fin
gers; one or two historians, a col
lege president, one minister, and
holf-dozea old families, who have
never done anything in life but
live on the money their great-graud-
fathers earned. Occasionally the
governor was invited, but he was
politician and self-mads man, and
Mrs. Highburn had 10 affinity with
the governors wife because she was
formerly school teacher. Now.
while certain things might bo for
given in man, il woman had ever
earned her living she was taboosd
forever alter.
Mrs. Highburn drew up her dain-
ty garments politics, and had no
respect for men who attended pri-
mary meetings. The common herd
must do that, and she unwittinely
was living under aad obeying the
laws they made for her. She had
no liberation for the 70 called strong.
minded. She ruled Mr.. Hlehburn
WITH rod of iron, but she continu-
ally advocated submission on the
part Of woman. She believed in
their intellectual infericIity, and
openly said so.
She was a member Of church in
good and regular standing, and she
stood up when poor people Joined,
and promised walchcare, and then
never went to see anybody Outside
her circle. Even the minister
good nan though be was-was
greatly influenced by Mrs. High
burns desires, simply because she
was select, The little Highburns
played vita the minister's children
and as this familiarity was scarcely
allowable with any other family, THE
may have had its influence.
She was very harsh in her iudg-
msuts, and had little forgiveness.
especially Tor Der own sex. One
wrong step was nevsr forgotten. A
blessed thing that the Son or Man
was not like this kind. Failures Of
business men, and inability to pay
debts, we're ems not 20 be wiped out.
The Higbburn's income was certain
and what need was there for other
men to be unwise, or, az che thought