New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-02-26
THE PARTENU IN ENGL4ND.

From The saturday RcUieT.
One of the greatest social changes that have
tak,o pacc i'm Tins country curing the last i've and
twenty wears has leen III th" relations between
great families ana wealthy parrcHas. In London
people Of all kinds have Tor q long time been so
mixed no that the distinction between u peer and il
brewer might almost lie defined as Fix OF one and
half Il dozen of the other; but Ia many provincial
counties there We're until lately, Old families that
stood out manfuy against any rlch lntIuderS WHO
dared to build or purchase large houses IN their
ncighbOrhOOdS That man whose legs had been
diSgraced by sitting upon an ONCE STOOD slOulu
have the cifruEtery to buy with ms hthy com sou
which they regarded almost sacred was IN Itself
an insult and offence " ich deserved no forgive
ness. If heaven and eaTth continued to Tolerate
such being it was mysterious uiSptn>atlOn OIL
evidence; bat he might at ANY rate be very GER
tain that he would not be noticed by any OF the
county gentlemen. A. time went on, however tie
maguates took step IN downward direction.
though with many protests ana much ungracious-
ness. When the OLD county families perceived that
the nroad of rich unknowns was irresistible, when
fine mansiOns which made their own country houses
appear almost mean and contemplate were rising
III all directions, aud when Mammon was enjoying
and offering to all cOmcIs, good things Of TINS lie
which they could not AFFORD 10 purchase happy
idea occurred 10 them. Mammon wanted 10 know
them. MammOn should know them; MalnmOn
should become their grdtultous puryeyor. They
had always entered their tradeSnen'S shops to pur
chase what they wanted why should they not enter
the houses of retired tiadeSmen 10 take hlnSS lhey
war ted without purchasing them They spoke 10
their shOpkecpcrS; why should they nor speak TO
manufacturers or meTChautsi They stayed at
hotels and received the attentions OF the landlords
with naughty civlluy why should they not stay at
the houses of any parrcnHS who would make them
comfortable and receive their attentions also with
naughty civIlty! Then again, there was this to be
said-that if oceans of LATHE ANA dry champagne
were being pourel ont for somebody. 1t was lar
more fitting that they should be drunk by aflst0-
Gratis than 10y plebians. If the only payment re-
duted by the host was to DO allowed the enloynent
OF watching the swclls' deyOurng his GOOD
things that was entirely his alalr .
Ii must not be supposed that the social position Oh
Crtpsus is materially improved by THIS altered con-
dtiou of affairs 1t IL true that he Is on speaking
terms with great men and great ladies' put they
speak with equal clNlhty To shOPOOyS Dehlhu
counter whom they consider Just as good as
Crusus 1t is possible that the rlch man may DC
invited occasionally to great houses; but IN the
ewes of his hosts. his position IS somewhat DelOW
that of their buffers. At grand places people are
CONSTANTLY admitted to the drawing rooms. aud
oven dining rooms. whom the hosts never dream OF
regarding rs better than upper servants. Such are
r,cL noLodies the inferior order of clergy, agents
tutors solicitors, etc. all Of whom are probably
snnerior IN intellect and possibly also IN culture to
his hosts and hosesses. Mr.. Smith the lawyer
nuslne.s is to attend to my lords mortgages. TO
make his will and sell or purchase his land; Mr..
lnnes the mIliOnares business Is To provide covers
well stocked with pheasants for my lord o shoot,
mounts for my lord to ride and gorgeous balls TO
amuse my lords daughters.
Ii might supposed that into house where
yulgarlty reigned refinement would never enter u
second time; but this Is very Tar from being the
case The most cultured" OF arstocrats show q
wonderful tolerance TO the repetition OF vulgar
suporluites wnea they can set them. IL soon