The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-09-11
The british -AristoCracy.

| Inc Brltisn -hTIstOcTaCy.
ARrsrocRAcY IN ENGLA.D. BY Adam Badeau
New York Harper 4 Bros. Chicago: A.
McClurg & Co., Wabash and Madison
Price 81.
How many can define the word aristocra'
CIV? 1t means something different in nearly
every country where one can think of an
aristocracy as existing. In ancient Greece
it meant the government of the best; and
we in America, who are not without a more
or less secret admiration for the system,
hatter ourselves that our coming aristocracy,
such as is to be, will be of "the best" In
modern England, however, as some one has
said, 'rhe term seems tie have fairly turned
its back upon itself and to have become the
antithesis to its original import; even as the
beldam (or belle dans) formerly expressive
Of female beauty, is now defined by DR..
johnson as "a term of contempt, marking
the last degree Of old age with all its faults
and miseries'" The comparison is apt, as
the facts Of Gen. Badeau' book fully bear
out.
1t is indeed strange that an institution
which has so long outliyed any usefulness it
may ever have bad should be still so firmly
fixed upon the society of England. 1t plays
an important part in English government
and her social structure, but it cannot be
said that that part is a desirable one. 1t
has opposed every reform projected for hun
dreds Of years, it is n burden to the people,
makes the peasantry a race Of AFFECT sub
jects it sets no good example by word or
deed 10 the lower classes: on the contrary,
it is an incubus upon the people, a gigantic
bundle Of forms and fashionable red tapes
muneries extending from the Queen to the
meanest Baron Of the Kingdom. At the
head Of all this is the Queen and the princes
Of the blood whose sole duty TO the state is
to play the part Of first gentlemen of the
Kingdom They must keep an engagement.
They must be civil when they are
worn out and gracious when they are sleepy
They must remember the names and faces Of
the tens Of thousands TO whom their recog-
milton is an honor for all this is their trade
This is how they earn their living That
is all Their Interference in politics is an
breach Of propriety which
will not be tolerated
Gen. Badeau's position as Secretary Of Le
CATION at the Court Of ST. James gave him
rare facilities for the study Of the English
aristocracy, and his book is a wonderfully
interesting presentation Of the subject His |
style is a model Of simplicity and easy-a
model Of fine English. He cuts to the quick,
yet is courteous and dignified, as charming
as confidential talk among friends over the
wine after dinner, as searching and mi.
mute as a scientists summary of facts.
mericans who believe an American aristoc-
racy would be good thing should read this
book and to those who watch the perform
lnces Of the would-be aristocracy of Ameri.
"a, whose business at present is to ape the
English "nobs," the Generals book will be
| delightful treat for nothing can more
thoroughly disgust one with the whole idea
If an aristocracy than Gen hadenus vivid
md picturesque characterization of the arts.
ocracy it is hoped by the Anglo-mOniacs
o transplant to trans. Atlantic soil
iING ARTHUR. Not Love Story. By VI
Mulock, author of "John Halifax &c.
New York; Harper & Bros. Chicago: a.
c. McClurg & Co., ll7-l2l Wabash Ave.
Price, SOC.
This is one of the serials from Uarper'S
Hdgdzme. 1t is "not a love story but it is
me Of the loveiest of stories, teaching one
# the best of 'morals' the duty of parents
o their children, a moral that is too much
reelected in these days. liking Arthur is
be heir to a baronery, abandoned rather,
old) to his mother at his birth and adopted
~ the wife Of a clergyman. How the boy
crows up brave, generous, noble man un.
Ter the guidance of the sweet woman he
,alls mother and the punishment of the un-
natural mother, who finds in her son n man
Who can but abhor her, makes one of the
weetest and most pathetic Of stories, the
eading of which is rs delightful as listening
o the pattering of rain on a hot, dusty day.
A copy of No. |, Vol. |, Of the Streator
)aiy independent is before us, and is about
he size of the Ottawa Times. 1t is fair
pecimen of a small daily and is as good a
'aper as small dailies usually are. If Dr.
.eRoy would disabsse his mind of the
nightmare Of a court house ring aban-
on his prohibition hobby and take some {
What more generous view Of the weaknesses
t humanity, he might get along more pleas
ntly. ,
The Hon. Henry Mayo of Ottawa will de-
iver a lecture in Harding, next Wednesday
vening, Sept 18th on the Benefits of the A.
}. L. W. Society. Peaches and ice cream .
will lie served after the lecture by the Soci. |
ty. All are cordially invited to hear wha,
&c has to say on the subject.