The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-06-06
Social Position.

This is a difficult subject to treat in
country where the very idea Of
frank is secuted and despised. Even
in Europe it becomes less easy to define
the term ''social position for the
homage once paid to rank is fast
diminishing. Mr.. Gladstone has no
rank; Mr.. Bright has no rank; but
there are fifty members of the House of
Lords who have not a tenth part of the
consideration enjoyed by those gentle
men.
Tell me plainly what social position
''is," says young lady subscriber;
''and please don't talk fionrth-ot-July
about it. Is it money? If it is not
money, what is it?''
We will not say one word about the
Fourth of July, nor the Declaration of
independence, nor the rights Of man,
nor Jean Jacques Rousseau, but will
answer the question just as if we lived
in Asia, London, or Berlin.
First of all, there is such q thing as
social position. In every civilized COM
munity on earth there is a small class
who live more agreeably, more elegant
ly and more safely than the rest.
In a well-ordered state this class is
composed of persons who have succeed
ed in serving the community better than
others. Out of thousand merchants,
fifty have known how to accommodate
and oblige customers better than the
rest Out of a hundred artists five have
been able to overcome the difficulties of
their art, and produce works that de-
light and satisfy. Out of fifty who in
herited wealth, ten have resisted the
temptations to idle self-indulgence, and
dedicated their leisure to public uses.
These, and such as these, compose the
natural aristocracy of an advanced
country. They are tie persons who
have won measure of wealth, ease and
| leisure by surprising competitors in
honorable pursuits. They enjoy social
position, and can even confer portion
of it upon their children. The child OF
q great man naturally and justly en-
Joys consideration, until he forfeits it
by misconduct. The daughter Of a
lady renowned for genius or good
works, we could not help regarding with
interest and favor
In republics as in monarchies, in an
Indian village as in Fifth Avenue, the
aristocrat is the Uictor. In barbaric
ages the victor was a soldier, and hence
the aristocracies of Europe were mainly
founded by victorious fighting men,
made rich by the spoils of war. AS q
country advances in civilization, other
pursuits are honored, and able men can
gain social position by excelling in the
gentler and nobler arts of peace.
when an American sneers at a man
because he has served his country, so
well in butter, in cheese, in cotton, in
ony honest pursuit that his country
men have rewarded him for. it with
wealth, that American proves thereby
that he is one of the vulgar. He would
have no social position if he possessed
all the Fifth Avenue, both sides of the
way. In the United States-yes, and in
all the more advanced countries social
position is composed of three ingrc.
dents: Competent income-honorably
earned becomingly spent.
In Queen Elizabeth's time, Lord Bur.
leigh, one of her wisest ministers, de-
fined nobility to be ancient wealth. y
We have advanced from that. Wealth
in reasonable sufhciency is still an ele.
ment Of nobility, and it we're folly to
deny it. But we no longer demand that
it shal be ancient; we require that it
shall be fairlyswon and well used. So
cial position, in word, lis character and
the results of able and good conduct -
Xoutts' Companion.