New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-04-22
DUUFS. CABS AND BOYS.

Coma &c our contemDoraries have been wasting a
GOOD deal of breath lately In signing over the de-
cadence of the youth of America. foreigner would
i,far from their lamentations that our young men
were all IN the slang Of the day either Dudes or
Cads or Bows. Porhapsit would be rs well for the
benefit of the non-sang using classes oil the United
States TO state that Cad is an Importation, beng
an English word and thing nearly synonymous with
the snob whom Tbackeray delighted TO torture. lie
ia a yulgar-mlnded fellow III any rank who makes
prctences to position aid breeding to which he has
no claim. He is the jackdaw IN peacocNs plumes,
the impostOr wearing the stolen clothes OF gen
tlenan over an unwashed skin. lie Is tho SHOP
olerk who br,gs of intimacy with the tony
swelIsp of Murray Hill: he is the youth OF Murray
Uill who affects familiarity with foreign dukes and
,rinces. But the butchers boy or tho day-laD0rer
who is sensible, genuine and self-respecting is no
cad -,
The Dnde il an indigenous American growth He
:; usu,lIy rich partially educated, with nice little
tostes He appreciates himself too intensely TO be-
Gonna an initator and he is sufficiently well-bred to
know that all display and clamorons pretcnce are
,,,loar Hence. having spent his energies III bring
inc his own clothes, walk and accent 20 the point
which he considers perfection he lIpses INTO an alb
normal quiet There is nothing more to be done.
Ucnceiorth, like Buddha, no has naught to do but
to suffer the gaze OF the world
The "Boyr is totally different species of the
vounr American. There is no sham, no apng, no
Iackadaiscal exclusiyeness IN him. His fold is poll
tics not fashion lie is apt to be oud-mOuthed in
his contempt for your city Swells; indeed, ho Is
Ioud and vocferous and dogmatic about everything.
He is pushing, sharp, tricky. He and his congeners
are burryiug into this city by the hundreds every
year TO "show the people of New-York thing or
two in trade" or arc rushing by thousands to the
Vests to get the rcins of management of the
new States into their own hands. There is
nothing winch he does not know better than
Won. He can give you the latest gossip
concerning a popular prlma donna; and he
s so well ACQUAINTED with tho workings of the
universe that he las no use for tho Almighty in it
ot all aud so leaves Him out. lie tends naturally to
notifies be is the outspoken hearty delegate to the
urinary electons-already ho is fondly dubbed
Jack or Bill in grog-shop caucuscs-already he
rockets his pickings and stealings-in word, ne is
an incipient Boss.
Now. have We cause for discouragement when we
sum up the number of our young men enlisted in
these three troopsf There they are, indisputably
and they show, as does the eruption IN fever the
noxious diseases attacking our social life. How
shall we account for them' What Is the reason
that American boys, the sons of hard working,
sensible God-fearng parents, instead OF develop
ing into qniet olear-sighted, helpful men, as would
be expected from their parentage, and as the world
needs. should limp weakly forth Cads and Dudes
taking their standard of perfection from the tailor.
the English fop or the professional athlete, and
their religion from Colonel Ingersol
We would have right to be discouraged If this