National Republican., 1888-03-19
iT DEFIFs DEFINITION.
The ort-Uscd, oft-Abused, Aii-signin-
cant Word "Society."
There ia no word In the English langui

There is no word in the English language
which so utterly dcfes definition as that o I
used, eft abused, all significant word,
society TO attain to the distinction of
becoming recognized leader, or even mem
Der of the same, the most extayagant meas
uro will bc resorted to. After all what is
society," or what doest consistp Simply
collection Of. wcll-dressed people discussing
such eruditc problems as the state OF the
weather, past, present, and to come, the
prospect Of success attending Mrs Blanks
lauglable efforts to float herself into the
swim of the current on stream Of checks.
Possibly this Is portion of society,"
an inilnitcsmnl portion of u mighty whole
too vast for one feeble, brain TO deine--a
noun Of multitudeY Well, perhaps; but
something more which, ever looming before
the puzzled investigator, produces "fata
molginan Society is not simply the com
bination OF birth, refinement, and wealth, for
often in our very best society is seen one of
these qualities IN the ascendant while the
Others are conspicuous only by thor alb
sence. Some one has made the bold asser-
tion that the one absolutely inds-
pensable quality necessary to secure
recognition frOm society is arrogance. One
may lie. as rich as CrGsus, or as handsome
| as Apollo. but II they have not
arrogance they will in every case be crowded
to the wall by those who possess this quail
| ity. In no city of the world is the word
''society" possessed Of such complex mean
ings as in Washington, where with each
/ succeeding season, IL is assuming a more
! cosmopolitan character. II Is literally i'm
| possible to give in writing an adequate idea
I of what season in Washington really
| To tIn MI oil ,ly,
! correct description would seem far too over
| drawn to bear oven the semblancc of prob
| ability, while those who have taken an active
! part In the bCwildcring, maddcning whrl of
| eaicties ard tasted to the full the fascna-
| tions which 1t surely possesses, that same
description would seem insipid and color
| less--altogether flat, stale, and Improbable.
OF all bold phrases that of speaking Of one
MS having claims to consideration beacusc
| they belong to the "bcst society," Is the most
| utterly absurd when one comes TO sft 1t
down and inquire into the true inwardness
of things. The inquiry is repeatedly made,
what is best society An incongruous gath
ering, composed here and there of family
who can truthfully trace their lineage back
! to some English or continental ancestors,
side by side, albeit scOrning the unavoidably
close contact, with the butcher, the baker,
and the candlestick maker before whom
the lesser mortals-i. G., the world at large,
| l1CSIlilc lHtlnetlNtb III 1--WE VI lllc
vast accimulations of gold of which they
ale the fortunate posscssors and by means
of which they have boldly Won place of
prominence.
Society has not even time to stay FOR one
pityiug smile of consolation. ''rhe king is
dcadl Long live the king!" is the cry the
world over in society. 1t Is well enough to
assert that the world takes man at his own
valuation. That is true only in measure.
Each year the fact is growing more and more
palpable in Washington society that unless
coupled with the arrogance born Of great
wealth one might as well not try to enter
the swim, for two to one they win go to
The season. Family Is desirable all
iunct, but by no means an indis.
ncnsable one. Who ever heard
inquiry us to the ancestry Of King Midas.
The fact that he existed and that his Won
derful art of converting all he touched into
gold was unfailing What matters It II in
Washington society where fashionable
crush is given whether or not the hostess has
any social pretensions? She very often is by
no means the principal attraction; quite a
subordinate figure, in fact. II is the qlYlity
aud quantity of the feast prepared that is
the real object of moment. True, upon zen
tering one greets the hostess, but 1t is scant
c0urtsSInuHen grudgingly of necessity. Thet
- g, on, with word.bet. and
nto The receiving party, until finally
= with sigh of suprcmest satisfaction and re-
lief they find the supper room.
Perhaps not an altogether pleasant pic,
, tlre; peihaps not, but, nevertheless, II true
one. The stranger comes to Washington n
the outset of the season possessed OF t.nod
crate means and the proud consciousness
that he belongs to family as old as thu
hjlls and Of as unquestioned staudi ~. They
~ c fortified, moreover, with sundry letters
of introduction 10 some of olu bes, society
who thereupon welcome them with opci
aims. Alas before the end of the first sea
son they realize the mistake they made IL
dashng so boldly into the vortex. If theii
family is of acknowledged standing
then they cannot well be ig
nored by their being tolerated and
endured, while arrogance and wealth ride
rough-shOd over everything and everybody
Each season society has its new set of play
things, and, like n spoiled child, after sub
iectng them to many bumps and thumps
the Punchinello loses its power of amusing
and is cast aside as worth no further notice
Society has extracted all there was to them
and loudly demands fresh invoice, for Il
there is one objectionable otlense in tn,
fashionable world 1t is that of being bored