Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-09-13
FRATERNITY OF BLUE BLOOD.
Little Chance for PIebeians to Get in
Fashionable Society.


The qualification for admission into
this great association, says the British
Quarterly Regiel0, is chiefly by consangu-
unity, and also, in a minor degree, by
affinity with noble families. From these
relationships follows a recognized social
claim, more or less determinate, to pri-
ority of place and position in society, to
favorable consideration, to Difference, to
honors and precedents of various kinds,
to the entree to the most fashionable
houses in London, and to kind of
fellowship which, as a rule, is ac-
corded only to patricians. The ambi-
tiOus plebeian can with difficulty
struggle into the charmed circle.
1t is no eXaggeration to say that
those who are not rborn or married into
the circle of privilege are weighted in the
race OF life. For them there is no handi-
cap which will thoroughly neutralize the
advantage of the blue blood. Public ex-
aminations have, doubtless, come to the
assistance of the multitude standing out
side OF the circle of privilege, and, so far,
1t is well. But examinations do not touch
or regulate the subsequent fortunes of
competitors; and privilege soon resumes
its influence. If the bestowal of the most
enVied distinctions is examined, it viii be
"
powerful he may be, is bound to recognize
the claims of the great mobiles, though they
may have rendered no important services
to the country. The exalted orders of the
Garter, the Thistle, and st. Patrick are
exclusively conferred upon nOblemen.
No English peer below the rank of an
Earl is thus distinguished by the Garter,
and it is said that the late Lord Palmer
stOn was the on by Viscount who was ever
so decorated. In some cases ancient line
age, blue blood, and eminent services
combined to obtain the much-prized rib
bOns. Such were the circumstances of
the Earl of SALISBURY, for whom no
earthly honor can be too high. But an
examination of the orders proves at once
that high rank and other personal or po-
liteal circumstances, and not great ser
vices rendered to the country, are the
qualifications that have for the most part
obtained these hOuOrs. That these great
pefsonages would deem themselves neg
lected and injured if the minister over
looked them, and bestowed vacant rib
bon on man of humble position, no mat
ter how great his scientific or literary or
Parliamentary services may have been,
we cannot wonder. They are taught even
in the nursery that they are privileged be-
ings. They are almost worshiped by the
people who are about them. The private
tutors at Eaton are too apt to regard a
young nobleman as a gOdsend. The patri-
clan boy Of noble family is humored
and pleased, and so induced to
praise his tutor. If he proceeds to a uni
versity, he is toddied and flattered. He
discovers in a thousand ways that it mat
ters little whether he works or plays, see
ing that privilege is pleasant substitute
for industry. And when be emerges into
the world privilege follows him every
where. Some nOblemen pass through
the fire of flattery unscathed,
and place before themselves a
high standard of duty and re-
sponsibility. But if the greater number
are spoiled by their surroundings, it is
the natural result of obvious causes.