The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-05-13
4@Is: Sssssa< Ia Co.,
M(lljl Eagle
BOSTON SOCIETY.
It Is by No Means So Simple an Orsaniza-
ton That BE Who Runs May Read.
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It Is by No Means So Simple an Orsaniza-
ton That BE Who Runs May Read
Especial Correspondence
Boston, April 21.-Boston society is by NJ
means so simple an organization that h
who runs may read its aims, its resources
or discover its hidden springs of action.
A half century ago or Whereabouts there
was an element not unlike that Of the noblt
Baubourg St German in Paris, to which
the entrance was by inheritance, not grace
Neither beauty, nor genius, nor wealth
could Of itself pass the charmed portal. II
was the element which is now vaguely re
ferred to as the "Old Bostonian." Its 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
out to be, only he must assume to be some
thing. Toward genius this social element
assumed the attitude Of paTonizing encour-
agement.
Even marriage scarcely sufficed 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
In enterprise and integrity, and the women
to have been delicately nurtured in the &C
complishments Of the period, and polite
etiquette, with as little knowledge Of the
world outside their small and ex-
elusive circle as that Of the con-
vent women in medieval ages. Fair,
sweet and dignifed, but SO conserva-
tive and conventional that no creative
power could spring in such hothouso life
Nor was this desired. The writer, the
painter, the actor, the artist in any line who
worked for money, was beyond the limit Of
the aristocrat1c fellowship. He might be
tolerated and patronized and even encour-
aged, but he was not eligible TO any equality
Of compauionship.
But the evolution Of life has broken down
many Of the old conservative barriers and let
in new light on that social exclusion which,
afteT-all, ends in excluding itself. In these
days BromGeld Carey's son goes into business
with Col. Lspham, and ends by marrying his
daughter, and Hiss LaphaIn, Of Franklin
Square at the South End, becomes the reign
ing mistress Of . Back Bay home.
There Is the intellectual aristoCracv Of Bos-
Ton, whose leading spirits include Mrs. Julia
Ward Howe, DR.. Holmes, Mrs Edwin P.
WhiDple, Miss Anne Whitney, poet and
sculptor; Rev, Herbert D. and Mrs. Ward
elizabeth Stuart Phelps, Col Higginson,
Ex-Governor and Mrs William Claflin, Pro-
fessor and Mrs Palmer alice Freeman,
Mrs. Clara Erskine Clement Waters, the
Ticlnors, the poet Aldrich, Mrs James T.
Fields and Miss Jewett. There IS a fashion
able Boston, too, and a semi-literary Boston,
and a Boston society Of idealists and reform.
srs and devotees to ideas in general. The
most vital center of natioHalism is in Boston,
and Rev. DR.. Edward Everett Hale, Mr..
Edwin D. Mead, Mrs. Abby Morton Diaz
md Miss Anne Whitney are among its
chief leaders. Then there might, too, be
almost termed distinctiveIy occult society
of Boston; society thar has its professors
of astrOlogy, its lecturerson Christian science
and metaphysical healing and faith cure,
its mediumi5tic or trance speakers, a So
ciety that has its horoscopes cast by Pro-
fessor Anderson and Professor Oliver Anes
Gould, thar takes lis Sunday religious
instruction from +'Mrs. Lakes Guides.n
through the trance mediumship of Mrs. Lake
at the First Spiritual temple, on Newbury
street, and goes 10 Mrs. Piper, another cele-
brated medium, for guidance in temporal af-
fairs Beside tho credulously occult, there is
a large following Of the scientific and investi-
eating Occultists, SO to speak; the great audi
ences that attend the monthly meetings OF
the Boston Psychical society, OF which Pro-
fessor William James, of Harvard university,
a brother OF Henry James, is the president,
and Richard Hodsson, Ii. D., the efficient
and accomplished secretary. The number Of
them actively and theoretically interested in
these speculative regions Of life is increas-
ing rapidly here But Boston is the paradise
of ideas. Lillian WHITING.