The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-04-27
BOSTON SOCIETY.
IL J. by No Means So simple m ors'n'1"
tion That lie who Rams May hea"'
Special Correspopdence

Especial Correspondence
BosroN, April 22.-Boston society Is oy no
m.aus 50 simple an organization that hs
who runs may read its aims, It's resources
or discover It's hidden springs OF acton.
A half century ago or Whereabouts there
was an element not unlike that Of the NOBLE
Faubourr St German in Paris, to wnich
the entrance was by inheritance, not grace
Neither beauty, nor genius, nor wealth.
could Of itself pass the charmed portal IL
usas the element which is now vaguely re-
forrel 10 as the "Old BostOnian." It's espe
cial claim to superiority is not quite clear,
unless it rested on that truth Of Goethe's that
man IS accepted for what he gives himself
ont to be, only he must assume to be some
thing. Toward genius this social element
assumed the attitude II patronzing encour-
agemont.
Even marriage scarcely suliced TO open the
door Of this exclusive circle Extended
inquiries into this aspect OF social life reveals
that its wealth was founded on the India
trade.n The men appear 10 have been strong
In enterprise and integrity, and the women
10 have been delcately nurtured in the ac-
complishments OF the period, and polite
etiquette. with as little knowledge OF tho
world outside their small and ex-
elusive circle as that Of the com
vent women in medieval ages. Fair,
sweet and digniied. but 50 c0nserva-
tive and conventional that no creative
power could spring in such dollhouse me-
Nor was this desired Tho writer, the
PAINTER. the actor the artist In any line who
worked for money, was beyond the limit Of
the ar,tocratic. fellowship. He might Dee
tolerated and patronized and even encour-
aged. but he was not eligible to any equality
OF companionship
But the evolution Of life has broken down
many of the Old conservative barriers and iet
To- new light on that social exclusion which,
after an. ends in excluding itself. I'm these
days Bromheld Carcys son goes into business
with Col. Iaphom, and ends by marrying his
daughter. and Miss Lapham, Of Franklin
Square at the South End becomes the reign
ing mistress Of Back Bay home
There is the intellectual aristocracy Of bos-
ton. whose leading spirits include Mrs. Julia
Ward Howe, Dr. Holme- Mrs Edwin J..
Whipple, Miss Anne Whitney, poet and
sculptor Rev. Herbert D. and Mrs. Ward
Elizabeth Stuart Phelps, Col Higginson,
Ex-Governor and Mrs. William Clahin, Pro-
fe-sJr and Mrs. Palmer alice Freeman,
Mrs.. Clara Erskine Clement Waters the
Ticlnors. the poet Aldrch, Mrs James T.
Fields and Mis- Jewett. There is "a fashion,
able Boston. too, and a semi-literary Boston,
and Boston society of idealists and reform
ers and iev0tees 10 ideas in general The
most vital center of uationallsm is in Boston,
and Rev Dr. Edward Everett Hale, ,ir.
Edwin b. Mead, Mrs Abby Morton Diaz
and Miss Anne Whitney are among its
chief leaders Then there might, too, bee
almost termed dstnctlyoly occult society
Of Boston; a society that has It's professors
Of asir00gy. its lecturers ON Christian science
and metaphysical healing and faith cure,
its medumistc or trance speakers, q s0-
ciety that has its horoscopes east by Pro-
fes.0r Anderson and prole. or Oliver Amcs
Gould, that takes its Sunday religious
instruction from "Airs Lakes Guides
through the trance Medium,hip of Mrs. Lake
at the First Spiritual temple, ON Nowlury
street. aud goes to Mrs. Piper, another co.e-
brated mciium, for guidance in temporal ai-
fairs. Beside the crodulOusly occult, tnere s
q large following of the scientific and nv,sl-
eating occultists, SO 10 speak. the great audi
enccs that attend the monthly meeting, OF
the Boston Psychical society, of which Pro-
fcs5or William James, of Harvard university
brother of Henry James Is the president
and Richard H0dg-0n, Ill. D., the efficient
and accomplished secretary The number ot
them actively and theoretically interested in
these speculative regions of life is iucrels-
ing rapidly here. But Boston is the paradise
of ideas. Lillian WHITING