New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-10-02
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
Mr.. FAwCETTs LATEST SATIRE.

1omo PIP VI, 36S. Tieknor & Co.
The readers of THE TRIBUNE have already
enjoyed these vigorous sketches originally contrib
uted to our columns, and they will be glad to nave
them now in shape suitable for preservation
There are few of Mr.. Fawcett's writings which
better deserve a place In the library. Although
their form is that of short, disconnected studies,
they constitute in reality the most serious and
carefully considered of the authors attacks upon
that circle of New-York society of which he has
constituted himself tho censor. Never has this
country behold an aspect Of fashionable lfe.whlch
deserved more savage ridicule and never nave
our social frivolites and shams been scourged with
q more cutting lash. Mr. Fawcett seems to have
found his chance. In his early novels there was
perhaps a lack of definite purpose. lie was sus-
pected-perhaps unjustly-of burlesQuing real
persons with too slight sense of responsibility ana
too keen sense of the market value OF his expert
ences. But here he has reached the high level OF
the genuine satirst who exhibits types rather tnah
individuals, and turns the laugh OF scorn against
the vices of q community without looking into
private lives OF course the gossips who are never
happy but in detraction of their friends Will fancy
that they recognize portraits in more than one oil
Mr. Fawcett's "Silhouettes but that cannot be
helped The real mert of the sketches Is that they
are accurate descriptions, not OF exceptional per-
souapes but of classes large enough TO give
distinct tone to the society in which they.hgure'
When we read such admirable papers as The
Young Gentleman who Succeeds" or A Typical
New-York Man." or A Nephew OF Mine," we 40 not
try TO identify any model who NAV have SAT LOT the
nIcture bnt we catch the reflection Of scenes which
TO any one who knows the streets tho ciiUs' the
cafes and the drawing rooms of Ncw-York must be
painfu,ly familiar. In the best of his papers Mr.
Fawcett stirs us with the accents of generous and
burning Indignation; and it is part of the secret
of his strength at such times that he has gone
deeper than the surface folles of society, and has
discerned tho reaction of fashion upon character
He Is not castigatng then the afectatlons ana
absurdities which we shall live to be ashamed OF,
but the mean habits of mind which lmporll our
whole future.
OF New-York society in general he expresses MS
Judgment in no measured terms. New-iorK' ne
declares. is the most unrcfnod city, in proportion
to it's size and civilization. that has probably ever
existed 1t is about as positively snobbish city
rs the globe possesses" "Any man whose life has
chiefly been passed in the haute role of New-York
circles may be said to possess meagIo experience
of educated people, His gallery of specimens Is
certainly we'll chosen, to illustrate this sweeping
description. He does not concern hlmsef wholly,
or oven very largely, with the new-made rich whose
ostentatiou is a common theme OF ridioule: his
fayorite victims are the Knickerbocker families and
other people of " blue blood" who pride themselves
upon ancestral gentlity. None of his men aud
won en- are more Extensively vulgar ttan those
who have an inherited right to know better 1t is
obvious that in his American scOrI of caste he
carries his denuncation of class much too far;
vet there is broad foundation of truth even for his
most cruel exaggcratons. 1t is impossible to lash
snobbery ignorance, mean ambition, coarse display
and rude manners in New-York society without
hitting great many of the "best people" Good
breeding the product of character no less than OF
association and that the character OF our entire
population has been moro or less unfavorably
affected by the rapid growth of an aristocracy OF
mere wealth no careful observer Will deny.
The case, however. is not so hopeless as Mr.
Fawcett seems to think. He denies us the pallia-
ton of youth which is SO often pleaded for our
deficiencies century, says ms Mark Manhattan,
is a great deal for nation like ours. We were
never born like other nations ave had no
Language to develop, no barbarism to cylllze, no
fcudalism to break down. Our one centnry should
have been what five were TO ancient Rome We
had nothing to live down and everything to live up
to- Socially we had uncounted European blnnders
to almonsh us and keep us on our guard And
therefore he believes we ought to have exhibited
long ago a splendid example Of culture and refine
Inent But culture and refinement are not acquired
by developing free political institutions and study
ing European blunders The graces and elecances
of life the love of art ana literature the science of
social intercourse the hundred amenities and
accomplishments which distinguish ripe civiliza-
ton, are only found in their fulness among COM
muuities where there has long iiourishcd q large
class of mon of leisure. Hitherto nearly everybody
In this country has worked hard all his life the rich
men as hard as the rest; and leisure has been
thought scarcely respectable. But change has
already begun. The number of those who stop
lOQt Ia nv
ing life is becoming large The idle class will not
long bo satisfied with frivolous and demoralizing
amusements; but the best of them will naturally
seek the company of the leaders in professional and
public life and of those active men OF affairs who
have never allowed business to absorb them. 1t is
ont of this combination that we may look for social
culture.
In the meantime he is a most unfortunate New
Yorker who does not know houses in this feverlsh
city where every refinement of good manners and
education has always ruled; where hospitality is
craced by the gentest of women and the most
courteous of men; where bright, intelligent and
cheerful people gather around the table; where
conversation touches upon high themes without
pedantry and plays about the triiles of life with
out impertinence or folly. He is unfortunate who
cannot recall entertainments at which 1T was
privilege to sit and table-tak which for wit,
delicacy and a wide range of knowledge could with
difficulty DO surpassed in any car ital OF the world
Mr. Fawcott has not described such houses. 1t is
curious that he rarely sketches educated men and
women without allowing himself to fall into
travesty Even his Mark Manhattan. the cool and
.atirical observer of the "Shouettes,' is deplor
able failure when he gets upon what Mr.. Fawcett
must allow us to call his fad" namely, Herbert
Spencer aud evolution and the discussion between
Mark and Mr.. Crisprecordedin The Gentleman who
isGlib" is a wranglc which could hardly have taken
place at a respectable dinner table. Nevertheless
though may not be the business Of the satirst to
SEQ it, there is circle OF highly educated and
accomplished and agreeable people among us. whose
society illustrates the best conditions Of tie gem