Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-01-04
NEWPORT SN0ERySEENESS.
Same OF the Ridiculous Airs Put GA by
Social Upstairs

Msrgery Dean in Boston Transcript
Newport's winter residents are of two
cla5ses-0ne keeps shop and the other shines in
society. 1t requires little exertion to do either
and climate and people go admirably together.
Speaking of society makes he think of one
of the last stories-this time true-whch is a
very good commentary on the state of things
here socially. To be in trade pronounced
with very broad a. is something accord
ing to our social ethics that it is
simply impossible to rise above II
am thankful that none Of my family
nave ever been in business said
young gentlemen to me once. who lived on his
mother. who, in her turn lived on a rich son-,n-
law; and business has even more reason to be
thankful in this instance. But to the story
The small daughter of one F. F's appeared at
school. recently. with face expressing much
satisfaction. explained in this manner to her
teacher: Il am not to study arithmetic any
more Ny mamma doesn't know anything about
afilhinetic, ana my papa says it is not much
use; anu as shall neverkeep shop. you know,
there's no need Of my learningit it." You are not
TO Judge OF Viewpoints winter residents consti-
tuting society" as whole, by these instances:
for there gather here every year large
number OF really delightful people, cultured and
sensible. but there is a leaven in the
lump that would give Thackeray
great delight. Society itself finds much anuse-
ment in this very thing, while it yields to the
Influence OF this curious element, which some
times has come to lay down its laws. 1t is not
everybody who can appreciate the depth of feel
ING which caused lady to say On our streets,
NV hat is society coming to when naval officer
marries school teacher?"
1t Is person almost invariably whose ante
cedentS are better not looked into who makes
such remark as this last. Fancy one lady say
ing TO another who had just come to town. Il
did not introduce you at my house last night to
my other guests, as they did not know who you
are. and they might not have been agreeable
toward you" lis there to be no dancing
school this winter?" l asked the other day.
mo, last winter the children of two or three
tOWnspeOpie (SyD0nymOuS with Tablespoonful
got in, aud there was srch fuss that they can't
get up class this year" was the answer. Now
am on this subject, let me give you personal
experience was once, at party. introduced
by the lady giving it to another guest who had
been in Newport long enough to become mbued
with the ideas of few social leaders, and who
was very much alive to the feeling that she.
through marriage. had really acquired q social
position for the first time in her life. She was
sweetness itself and beaming cordially. sud-
denly t'und that she was under the impression
that Lelonged to the navy. l undeceived her.
Are you not Mrs. =. of the navy!' she asked.
her sweetness vanishing into air. 81 am not"
l replied. and with inward gratitude. too. That
woman could not finish her conversation with
me until she had abruptly turned away and
asked a neighbor "Nhat Mrs. - is this p
1t is study. this society question. when you
reflect that this is America. OF course the sum-
mer society looks far down on this winter coteTe
1t is curious. too. to see the influence of this
peculiar excusiveness on all grades from the
highest to the lowest. We are known BY
chops here, and / assure you the first chop
does not feel any more keenly its superiority
over the second chop than does the fifth
chop over the sixth. We are said to ape the
English in winter as in summer but we are not
at all English we are not at all American. we
are Newport. and if there is another place just
like Newport in the world. have yet to find it.