Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1885-09-03
SOCIAL DEAD BEATS"
HoWLlNG SWELLS WHO LIVE ON
THEIR R.CH AoOUAiNTANcES.


New York Cor New Orleans Times Democrat
There are any number of young fellows
who live apparently like the sons OF million
aires on ths small salaries they get for
"clerking" in some Wall street banking
house. They ara bowling swells-and yet
don't make enough money TO pay for the
clothes they wear. How do they do il, you
ask. Why, they sponge on society. You can
count almost on your fingers the few society
people who are able TO entertain elegantly
the rest are the entertained. To this class
belong all tue bowling swells land their
number is vast who live on an income al
most nominal compared to the show they
make.
How can they afford it, you ask. How
can they live as they do, 60 into society
and belong 70 a swell club on a pittancei
Because by going into society and belong
ing % a swell club, they actually economic.
They thus get for nothing what would other
wise cost them tenfold their income. A
man OF good manners who can get credit
for dress suit at fashionable tailor's can
live for almost nothing outside his club
dues he is invited 10 dinner parties dur
ing the season on an average OF five times
week. Therefore he lives most OF the time
ON the fat of the land for nothing. All the
utUittnu oi ului III i
that when he comes 20 them TO be fed he
will behave himself properly and make
himself agreeable. BY the same people he
is invited to the opera and the theatre.
From his box seat he can look down upon
the people far wealthier than he-perhaps
one of the partners of the house which pays
him his pttance Of a salary.
His holiday in summer he divides between
his friends yachts and country places A
cruise costs him nothing; a fortnight at
Newport only his travelling ts>peasss there
and return IL be has "a smaa h'.> ., ard
does not have To "clerk, SO muSA t. better,
for he can sponge on his rich societv piends
all summer instead, like the clefking swell,
only choosing his holiday. IL is in summer
that the Scleyking' swell derives the most
benefit from his club-presupposing, of
course, that he doesn't play cards and run
the risk of being cleaned out in one night
for be can get his meals cheaper at the club
than at any restaurant
His club connection has, moreover, the
general utility of enabling him TO get credit.
lie can go 10 fashionable tailor and dress
far beyond his MEANS and yet keep the duns
at lay by small payments on account The
same tactics can be employed with other
tradss-people. He can actually get along
and be in good standing with tailors, haber-
dashers AMI florists by paying for about 10
per cent Of what he purchases.
There is another class Of bowling swells,
viz: Those who, on the strength of their
prosperous appearance, simply cheek il, and
contract debts which they never expect to
pay, and rely for safety on our loose laws,
which favor the debtor rather than the cred
itor. Such one CANDLES doesn't pay when
he loses. and is sure 10 collect when he wins.
He is usually lively and entertaining, and
his friends like him well enough 10 put up
with his lack of pecuniary responsibility,
and will lend him a couple Of hundred even
if they know that they will never see it
again. They are simply paying him for
amusing them. The ladies know nothing
| of his loose methods, and SO his standing in
society is not impaired.
Such are the two classes of bowling swells
with limited incomes. The latter, those
who cheek IL and never pay, are the dead
/ heats Of society; the former though not
quite dead beats. come within 10 per cent
of being such. The 10 per cent live almost
entirely on the bounty Of Others, the gen.
uine dead beats entirely. Both are the
tramps of society, but instead of being put
Off with crush and a scowl. they are well
coined with Terrapin la Financiere and a
| smile All the same they are ira sps