New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-08-02
NOT SATISFIED WITH NETWORK.
"NO REAL SOCIETY"


| "NO REAL SOCIETY"
| THE OBSERVATIONS OF A CYNICAL FRENCuMAN ON
THE PEOPLE HE MET HERE.
A Frenchman whose title though he il only Count,
goes back to the days of Francis l. who has moved
freely in the highest social circles almost every
European capital, and who has all the tact and the
power of qnick observation for wbch his cOuntrymen
are famous made Il visit to New-York not long ago.
He armed with excellent letters OF introduction,
aud he here during the height of the New-fork
season, he went everywhere aud formed his own con-
illusions. But like many other men OF the world the
Count never said much about hi. own convictions. de
observed and he reasoned, but he kept his views to
himself. Once back in his beloved Paris, however,
and expecting never again to visit New-fork, he ieit
himself absovcd to "a certain degree, ton tue vow OF
rcticcnce which had formerly closed his mouth and he
had less hesitation in telling what impression New
York society had made upon hum. One evening he had
been dining at of the Gales on the Boulevard with
Ncw.iork friend. Their table was near Window,
and they smoked their cigar they looked out on the
endless of pleasure seekers OF every age and
condition, which flows along that great thoroughiarc
OF an evening Thete had been a pause in the con-
ycrsaton, and then the Count abruptly exclaimed :
L.. not "a Bit like New-York Il it Where in New
York could you see night after night such crowd of
people bent amusement. and ready 10 be amused I
What curious people you Americans are Business is
your god. You worship even IN the midst OF your
recrcgtion."
there's nothing particularly in that remark"
answered the Counts Ncw-fork friend who was some
what netcd by this seeming uttack upon his country
men, " Americans have always glofied III being dis
tinctivcy business people
Yea. bat the complete devotion Of tho Americans to
business shows itself in some surprising ways, in your
New York society for instance"
ia like 10 know what you think about New York
society" sad the New l orker.
You shall hear said the Ficuchinan. " In one
respect New-Yo-k i, alone among the great cities OF the
world lt IL not a capital-it ia nothing but an I'M
mouse business centre. London Is the money market
OF the world but London Is also capital. The
lcgisl.ive houses meet there. 4 he cOurt and the
foreign Ambassadors reside there. Now TO have
sociciy-that ia what we Frcncimen mean by society
there need of courts or ambassadors or anything
Of the kind. But what IL most essential to the exist
OF II the prcrcncc Of people OF all sorts OF
different calings, ana representing all the various
forms of thought and phases OF experience. There
must bc and women Who have seen lie from every
point OF view. Unlc.s you have sdch material as this
YOU can't construct society society was invented for
the interchange of ideas and when people all have the
same views what can they intorcnangci'
Deliver from such a society" exclaimed the
Sew Orker.
OH Won Il nix II j. dull and stupid" continued the
Frcncalan " but listen. Would you have had halt
- much pleasure IA flirting i'm had,ne as you did
last night il instead OF being a FIcnchwVman with
ideas altogether new to you, she had been one OF those
New ork women whom | 80 much admire, but whose
life aud daily occupation you already know hom tn
n YOU convinced. 80 let us come back to our
argument. capital always does bring together just
these heterogeneous elements that needed TO make
a real socIeiy. There you md politicians and dpio-
nat-ts, soldiers and sailors, travellers, authors,
painters Ia word all the diercnt areties OF civilized
humanity How IL 1t ia New-iork Im afraid that
'New-i DIRK society are words with no corresponding
reality. was unable 10 lind u real society IN New
York. ioIr men are all business men, They are
ccyer-smart, you say. l used to enjoy talking TO
them. But thoy haven't much Ia say To one another
4 natural 4 hroker % Produce Exchange
a broker your Stock Exchange cant entertain each
other with many new ideas he same Is true )f an
insuran aad "a railroad man. OF dry goods
merchant and merchant. What's the result
Why New York and women don 90 into society.
They leave society TO the young people and very young
people they are. Tho young people enjoy It, They
dance and they talk and hcv give Themselves all the
ARA OF men and women OF the world But that's not
society 10 tell you the truth, some OF those young
men used to amuse me- hey Try hard to be men OF
he world. They travel, but they don't travel IN the
r,ght way They have their little vices, but their vices
never instruct them. hey become base. but they
basc. not because they have seen everything, but
because they tiredoi awaysseeng the same things.
Oh. men OF tho world are agreeable fellows, but
they're rare Ia New \ DIRK society,"
well you're rather severe upon the men,. said the
New-Y orkcr, but perhaps they deserve IT, Now,
what do YOU think about New-fork women I"
oh, they're charming creatures" answered tho
Frenchman " lovely aud graceful But unfortunately
az soon as they gam little experience In socieya
little SAVIOR fare they marry, and from that mo-
inent most OF them dead Ia the world. Some OF
them however, continue to live q mondane sense,
and add to their beauty all that makes u woman at
ractve-tact wit and the power of adapting herself to
whomeyer she meets but then they form II tie class
apart by themselves They no longer part OF what
YOU cali society and yet they the most agreeable
society In New-York. The young girls, however,-the
deb1tantes' and those who to use your Newton |
expression are still in the market not particularly
interesting They haven yet learned how to taxi for
con srsaon Ii an art which ust be- acquired like any
other AIT They are sweet ana Desuuiui' Out thereH
ends.
WELL" said the American after vigorous puff at
his cigar. " am still unoonvinced; We have society
With wealth. beauty and BIRTH What more can be de- |
siredf We are satisfied.
Mon Dieu," replied the Count, at you are
satisfied l. for one, shall certainly not complain"