River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-08-23

breeding and the like; but what it most
requires is wealth Nobody can be a
Hewportef, in the social sense, without
an ample fortune, and having that, UNI
less there be very serious objections the
way is easy. Newport is, judged by
its Iletense, a downright sham, ana
cannot be otherwise; for il pretends to
be community of the est kind of per-
sons in the best kind of circumstances.
The circumstances must be admitted;
but the persons cannot be, without great
discrimination and numberless excep-
tons. Some very fine, highly cultured,
most estimable men and women may be
found here, Of course, but
many of their associates
are of very different order, having
neither birth nor intellect nor training
nor delieacy nor tact to recommend
them. But they have abundance of
money, and have acquired such knoWl-
edge of customs, forms and external
manners rs passes for breeding in what
styles itself good society" Society,
nowadays, is necessarily mixed all tbs
world over, particularly so in democ-
racy like ours. 1t is, in any large sense,
none the worse, but rather the better,
for this mixture, since otherwise, it
would be inane, monotonous, dull to stu
pidity. But this is not the idea. indeed
it is the very reverse Of the idea, of the
summers here. They claim, at least in
ferentlally, that they possess all the So
cial virtues, and that anything and every
thing akin to meanness or vulgarity is
foreign to their nature-a claim which
obviously cannot be allowed. 1t would
be easy TO mention, if one were lima
tured, certain Well-kno%ft men and wom-
en-, prominent in social circles here,
who are the antipodes of what they pre-
tend to be. Their acquaintances-it
would be untrue to say their friends
laugh at and criticise them privately; but
they receive, and fatter them publicly,
because they are rich, and because it
would be both imprudent and inconven-
lent to offend them. Thus Newport So
clety is an epitome and reflex OF socl-
ETY. abroad and at home.
The Recommending cottage or villa
life--is as gay as money and elaborate
preparation can make IL. More Tillas
are unoccupied this year then Were last
year, or the year previous, IN conse-
quence of their owners being abroad,
and of other causes; but the absent ones
arc not missed in the endless round of
formal festivty. Every day there are
very expensive and very ambitious
breakfasts, luneheons. dinners, dances,
receptions, parties, indeed, of every
variety; each person trying to Guido his
neiehbor, and, in his own opinion, sue
eeeding. This is called gaiety, and is
such, according to social definition
though, to persons not professionally
fashionable. it would be extremely tire
some, If not repulsive. 1t is tiresome,
unquestionably3 to those who participate
in it; but they are glad to tire them
selves in what they consider SO good a
cause, and are content to pass their
years in this pompously empty manner,
The chronicles of the day read very
much alike Mrs. John Jacob Aston
gave an elegant luncheon yesterday to a
dozen of her most intimate friends. |
Mrs. Paran Stevens will give a german
at her elegant villa tomorrow evening. |
August Belmont drove a party of his |
friends in his drag to his beautiful farm
in the adjoining township last Tuesday. |
William r. Travers has invited a party |
of his New York friends to dinner at |
the Casino next week. James r. Keene |
will give a magnificent fish breakfast |
next Wednesday to several English cap |
italists now in town. James Gordon |
Bcffnett will take Ia cruise in his yacht, |
which has .fust been refitte | at enormous |
expense, toward the close of the present |
month. So it runs. day after day, week !
after week; the season" closing as if be- !
gan, leaving everybody fatigued and no
body benefited.