The Portland daily press., 1881-02-02
New York Society.

tAsSAoAu 0ioht w ulle III N. L.. llmeS.l
New York, however, is not peculiar in the
costliness of its social entertainments. 1t
should be needless to say so except that in the
way OF precaution against misapprehension
and perversion it seems not to be needless to
say anything. Ever since there have been
rich people in the world they have loved to
display their riches, both as hosts and guests,
to their friends and acquaintance. The Pc
culiarity in the society of the New York OF
to-day is that it is society of display only. In
other societies the display. be it great or small,
is but the setting of the reality of social life.
In other countries a social entertainment is
not mere gathering Of rich and expensively-
dressed people to eat and drink extensively.
All that it may be and often is but it is some
thing else besides. 1t is, more or less, accord
ing to the ability of the host and hostess, an
assemblage of men and women Of mark and
mold, of people whom it would be pleasure
to meet dressed in homespun over luncheon
OF bread and cheese and beer. Gentle reader,
fair or bearded, how many such people have
you met in society lately? And If you have
met any such, what opportunity did you have
of enjoying their companionship? Might they
learned of you, have just as well been wax fig
ures dressed in the garments of these people?
The society of New York of to-day. did say?
Twenty-Five years ago George William Curtis
(the author of "Prue and 1" had not then un-
happily deserted literature for politics and pol
itical journalism) wrote-wrote in his youth,
and in the flush of his first literary success
his "Potipher Papers," in the first Of which he
says: "We may be told that it has always
been SO in every country, and that the fne So
ciety of all lands is as profane and fiashy as
our own. We deny it fatty. Neither English,
nor French nor italian nor German society is
so unspeakably barren as that which is techni-
cally called society here. In London,
in Paris, in Vienna, in Rome, all the
really eminent men help to make up the mass
OF society. party is not a mere ball, but it
is congress OF the wit, the beauty and the
fame OF tine capital" And then he is hunor-
ously lugubrious aboat deserting the compan-
iOnShip OF great mems books, "to be squeezed
flat against the wall while young Doughface
pours oyster gravy down your shirt front"
Perhaps in this passage some of the critics Of
these articles may find the reason why his face
and those of some others who used to be seen
in society are now conspicuous by their alb
sence.
That with the profusion and flashiness Of
society which have followed upon rapid growth
in numbers and in wealth there has been
deterioration in manners, is so true that its
denial must be to any observant man an occa-
sion of wonder. There is, indeed, in no land,
among no people, more easy-going, good ma
ture than is to be found among the people of
New York. This may almost be called distin-
gushing trait Of New York people. Nowhere
will you find men less inclined to be quarrel
some or surly; nowhere women more ready to
please and be pleased. But as to refinement.
Af
they exist, indeed, in individuals, but some
deleterions influence prevents their manifesta-
tion in society" The politeness which
teaches thoughtfulness of others, forgetful-
ness OF self, consideration, deference-is this
conspicuous in the New York society Of to-day?
Dow defer to anything except money and
political power? When Hon. William Tweed
had both money and political power he was
treated with Difference enough, although he
was no in society" And Cresus who is in
society, has Difference enough shown him and
to spare. But Difference to character,
to ability, to good breeding merely-such def
erence as they receive elsewhere is not, take
it, the distinguishing trait of what is meant by
New York society. Our easy good-nature is a
mutual understanding that we shall not inter-
fere with each other. l will let you have your
profit or your pleasure undsturbed il you will
not interfere with mine. You may do what is
selfish or ill-bre1, if you will not check me in
my selfshness and ill-breeding. Our very way
regard to the comforts and the rights Of those
who are already in them, is manifestation of
this easy ill-5red good-nature. We intrude,
and are expected in our turn to tolerate intru-
sion. The elevated railways themselves are
monstrous manifestations of selfishness and
ill-breeding, which would be possible in no
other country in the world.
As to mere manners, there has always been,
until OF late, in New York, as well as in New
England, refinement and delicacy which has
been remarked by strangers who were both OBJ
servant and candid. Lord Lovelace, coloni-
al governor of New York, writing early in the
last century to the king, particularly mentions
the courtliness Of the manners of the people
here and ignorantly wonders where and how
they obtain it, Later writer's make similar re-
marks This grace of manner seems not to
have passed away until after New York's great
comm ercial prosperity began. We find it now
among New Yorkers of the old sort, and par
ticularly among those of New England stock.
But Cresus has it not He cannot draw his
check for that And the little Croesuses, who
revolve around him may be happy in the con-
seriousness that in this respect, at least, they
are like unto him in the light of whose counte-
nance they rejoice.