The Northern Pacific farmer., 1883-08-23

breeding and the like; but what it most
requires is wealth. Nobody can be a
Newporter, in the social sense, without
an ample fortune, and having that, un-
less there be very serious objections the
way is easy: Newport is, judged by
its TlSsense, q downright sham, and
cannot be otherwise; for it 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-
tions. Some very fine, highly cultured,
yost estimable men and women may be
found here. Of course, but
many of their associates
are of a very different order, having
neither birth nor intellect nor training
nor delicacy nor tact to recommend
money, and have acquired such knowl-
edge of customs, forms and external
manners as passes for breeding in what
styles itself ''good society,"" Society,
nowadays, is necessarily mixed all tbs
world over, particularly SO in den1oc-
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
1t Ii the very reverse of the idea, of the
summers here. They claim, at least in
terentially, that they possess all the 90
cial virtues, and that anything and every
thing akin to meanness or vulgarity is
foreign to their natures claim which
obviously cannot be allowed. It would
be easy to mention, if Ole were ill-na-
tured, certain well-known men and wom-
en-, prominent in social circles here,
who are the antipodes of what they pre-
tend to be. Their acquaintances-i
would be untrue to say their friends
laugh at and criticise them privately ;but
they receive, and f]atter them publicly,
because they are rich, and because it
would be both imprudent and inconven-
lent to offend them. Thus Newport So
ciety is an epitome and reflex of soci.
ETY. abroad and at home.
The season meaning cottage or villa
life-is as gay as money and elaborate
preparation can make it. More villas
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 festivity. Every day there are
very expensive and very ambitious
breakfasts, luncheons, dinners, dances,
receptions, parties, indeed, of every
variety; each person trying to outdo his
neiehbor, and, in his own opinion, sue
ceeding. 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. It is tiresome,
nquestionably, to those who participate
in it; but they are glad to tire them
selves in what they consider 80 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 Astor
gave an elegant luncheon yesterday to a
dozen of her most intimate friends.
Mrs. Paran Stevens will give 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. fravers has invited party
of his New York friends to dinner at
the Casino next week. James R. Keene
will give a magnificent fish break fast
next Wednesday to several English cap
italists now in town. James Gordon
Bennett will take a cruise in his yacht,
which has just been reftte at enormous
expense, toward the close of the present
month. So it runs, day after day, week
after week; the season" closing as it be-
gan, leaving every body fatigued and no
body benefited.