The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-05-12
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tolerance for, and sympathy with, the weak
nesses and peculiarities of tho human race,
could find neither tenderness nor federation
wherewith to depict for us fashionable young
lady. To such writers. an inclination for evil
seems to be more pardonable than taste for
society, or, what is perhaps the truth, they can
better comprehend the former weakness than
the latter.
To turn from society's detractors to society
itself, it might, we think best be compared to
picnic where each guest is called upon to con-
tribate something to the general stock for the
entertainment of the whole The debutante
brings her freshness and her beauty; the wo-
man of the world her charm of manner and
her sagoir faire; the dancing young man his
leadership of the German; the amateur
songstress her vocal gifts AMI artistic graces;
the wit entertains, lending in his bon r1aots and
brilliant conversation, charm to dinner par
ties; while the wealthy and hospitable contrib
ute tetes and balls, gay receptions and brill
liant weddings, the glory of superb toilets, the
dazzle of diamonds and ths loveliness of lace.
And ii all members of society were only con-
tent to regard their contributions In the light
of proper return for that share of the offer
ings of others which they have themselves en-
iOyed, there would be less disposition to cayil
at the requirements of social intercourse, and
more inclination to impart freely of whatever
they have to bestow.
The ceaseless outcry against that much-ma-
igned organic alton called society is thoroughly
unjust. The art of evil-speaking has become
exhausted upon this one theme. Vicious, de-
moralizng, heartleSs. stupid, silly, ruinous,-
are but few of the adjectves which are
hurled at those who compose society in any
large city. The fact is that society is neither
literary club, an art union, nor benevolent
association, and those who insist on its possess.
ing the advantages and merits of such institu
tions, are about as wise as those who would
seek to gather apples from rose-trees. Nor yet
is II, as Its detractorS assert, society for the
propagation of vice and immortality. 1t is
simply an association formed for the purposes
of social amusement and MISUNDERSTANDING
more and nothing less; and il people would on
ly accept it for what 1t really is, there would
be less disposition to cavil at the defects which,
in common with all organizations # similar
nature, 1t undoubtedly possesses. Nor would
It's critics persist in seeking within its limits
for qualities it never pretended to and bless
in2s which it never asserted it had the power
to bestow. Ii We want substantial viands
shall we go to conservatory to look for them?
Ii a lady insists on promenadng on the first of
January In ball-dress, can she reasonably
complain If her costume lacks durability or
fails to impart warmth? and is it the fault OF
the garment itself? Is not rather the wearer
to blame, who insists upon peryerting the un-
substantial fabric to uses for which it was ney-
er intended? Yet such and SO wise are the
criticisms of the cavilers at society. They in
Sist that the gay sprite-sOcial intercourse,-
shall assume the garb and the gestures of an
angel. And they are wildly wrathful when
the disguise they themselves imposed upon
their light-winged visitor is cast aside.
There are those, too, who, not content with
decrying society IN general, extend their criti-
cisms into minuter details, and sketch lively
pen-portraits OF the personages who haunt the
precincts OF the fashionable world. Their strc-
lures are often apparently well founded, and
their portrait-gallery not infrequently contains
striking hkenesses whose great defects are,
however, exaggeration and want OF variety.
They are usually drawn from one group Of per-
sons, and are as thoroughly conventional as are
the stage representations Of Yankee and Irish
characters. We have all been introduced ION
paper) to the heartless young matron whose
sickly infant is poisoned by fendish nurse,
while the unnatural mother is amusing herself
with her sister butterflies. And we have all
been edited by the mournful history of the
noble-minded young man, with an elevated
character and the best of principles, who ult.
mately fills drunkard's grave, by reason of
the claret, punch and champagne provided at
the festivities of the upper ten. OF course,
there are no unfeeling, careless mothers except
those who go into society; and equally OF
course, there are no roads to dissipation pro-
vlded Tor young men, save those that lead
through its glittering. scenes.
1t is perhaps, true that the most lovable and
charming of society's leaders can find among
their dear five hundred friends, scarcely more
than five or six to whom they are really dear,
whenever circumstances arise which bring the
devotion of their acquaintances to any real or
painful test. Yet, were the remaining four
hundred and ninety five loved with any more
sincerity than that which they are apt to dis
play in loving? If any one of US were to de-
part this life tomorrow, there would not be
one tear the more, or one German the less,
among the ranks of our fashionable acquain,
tances Supposing that we were to be informed
of the sudden demise Of Mrs. X, a lady at
whose door we have been in the habit of leaving
an annual card and from whom in return a
parallelogram Of pasteboard has been received;
who has always invited us to her balls when
she gave what is termed a general invitations;
= do you think thatour hearts would be brok-
en-, and our spirits crushed by such an event?
tells, where hundreds of guests may permanent
ly abide they are, at best, but cosy dwellings.
for some six or eight cherished inhabitants.
And if each member of fashionable society
were to go through the world weeping and
wailing over the death Of every person on his
or her visiting-list, they would live in per-
petual shower of tears So,iety would keep
an Easterless Lent, and Grape wells and cam
bric handkerchiefs would be at premium.
This charge of heartessness is brought against
are none that do not display 1t in the self-same
qegree. When gentleman belonging to any
religious denomination dies, the congregation
of which he was member do not expend any
extraordinary amount Of time in bewailing
their deceased brother. Bank directors die;
but their fel'ow-directors seem to sur
vive the blow and continue to take
their customary bank dinner with undimin-
ished relish. Society, like all other corporations,
has neither body to be kicked, soul to be
nor even heart wherewith to
love.
Ler us not ask from society what we never
gave her, and what she has not the power to
bestow. She is the playmate of our happy
hours,-noJ the CONSIDER of our sad ones. 1t is
her duty TO amuse and charm, not to love US.
When the storms OF adversity or sorrow beat
upon us, let us not wrap our shivering forms
in society's draperies OF point lace, or shelter
our heads beneath her wreaths Of flowers.
Therein lies the madness of those who live for
society alone. They who do so forget that life
is both earnest and real, and that, some day,
to every votary of fashion there will come
time when the sunshine will grow dim aud
pleasure itself will cease to be pleasant And,
still MORE If we have no desire to enter society,
let us not stand without the wall to sneer ut
the jewellers because their ways are not our
ways, or because their dance-music does not
possess the solemn grandeur of Beethoven, nor
their conversation combine the wit Of Sheri-
dan, or the originality of Goethe, with the elo-
quence of Burke and the learning of Macauay.