The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1891-12-18
IN THE SMALLEY SET.
The Ambition of a Life and How
it Was Realized.

Very few of the women in Potts
town could have told you. if suddenly
questioned, what were their aims in
life. They tried from day to day and
hour II hour To their duty to husband,
children. home and the church.
But Mrs. Lopcr had one ambition,
one clearly defined purpose. 1t was to
be admitted To the Smalley set. She
probably never put this desire into
words, even to herself, but it dominated
lcr life.
Now the SmaIlcy clique did not by
any means comprise the most scholarly
IT refined or best bred, nor even the
wealthiest. people in Pottstown. Their
claim To- social distinction was based
solely upon the fact that they had
lived in Pottstown longer than their
neighbors. Outsiders wondered why
anybody should stay in the little smoky
mill town who could get ont of it. But
these people. simply because they had
lived for thr-e generations in its smoke
and CRIME, held Themselves haughtily
aloof from later concrs, whom they r.
garded very much as the mobiles of
Saint Gcrmain did the canai,lc OF Bona
parties day.
Mrs Loper was a newcomer. She
was descended from a good Old revolu
ionary family. Her husband was
avyer of ability: his cloquence has
aimed him reputation throurhou'
he state. He was man of intcgrity
much distinction in manner an'
haracter; he was able to support hi
life in comfort even luxury. Bu
Irs' Lopcr. coming to live in Potts
own a few years after her marriage
elt herself to b. one of the canaIlle.
Mrs. Smalley did not cali upon her.
There were many other women ir
he town outside of this exclusive cir
le Mr.. Judge Pierce, the stately old
ady in the great house on the hill,
Iad quietly withdrawn from it She
oolled with cold disapproval upon
Mrs. Smalley and her fast, foolish
:oterie. The Langdons gathered a
musical, literary group about them and
zeenly enjoyed their social life There
were many Earnest, devout people, too,
who were wholly occupied with chari-
table and religious work, and never
spent a thought on their fashionable
neighbors.
Mrs. Loper knew that She could find
congenial companions among any of
these peopIe-in her secret soul she
sneered at little Mrs. Smallcy's igno-
rance and vulgar prctcnsions-but she
was wretched as long as that arhitcr of
society in Pottstown did not call nor
invite her to her receptions
For. although the Smalley set was
pretentious and under bred, it was ac-
llnowledged to be the hdU tOH of Potts.
town. If You had a card to Mrs.
Smalley's receptions, you belonged to
society If your house stood upon
the hill on which she and her friends
lived. il was worth several thousands
more than if it was in pleasant quar-
ter (Of course it is only in PottStown
that this absurd condition of affairs eX-
lists in this country.
Mrs. Smallev appreciated to the full
the power which circumstances had
placed in her hands Her favor was
not easily won. Years passed and she
had not yet recognized Mrs. Lopers
presence in the town. In that time
Sarah Loper, who had much strength
of character, would have accepted and
submitted TO any other misfortune
blindness or a lame leg, for example.
She would not submit to social ostra-
cism-
II must visit in the best society or
not at all, - she told her husband.
She worked her way into a chari-
table organization in order that she
might meet Mrs. Smalley on the COM
mittees Next, she gave up the pew
which they occupied in the old church
and took a costly one in the new edi-
e Ia n in On 70
were members
Now, her husband protested vebe-
mently.
II am deeply attached to old DR.
Mailing" he said. ''He helps my soul
on its way to Heaven. As for this
fighty boy in the new church, | can
not hear him with paticncei he = shall
low and inexperienced. | will not
promise TO go with you. Sarah
Mrs. Loper was daunted, but only
for IL moment The prize was SO great
for which she played. To gain it Mr..
Loper might submit to be bored for an
hour on Sundays, surely
She took the pew and contributed
largely to all church expenses. When
after n month or two, some of the ex-
elusive set called upon her, her
triumph was so great that she scarcely
noticed that her husband remained at
home on Sundays and by degrees be-
came indifferent to all church work.
When they were first married they
formed the habit of studying a chapter
in the Bible together every morning.
But Mrs. Loper's time was so occupied
now with her social duties that she
h.
her husband sitting alone with his
Bible. her heart gave her wrench
pain, but after few weeks he, too,
gave up the habit
In other ways their lives We're
affected by her new ambition. They
had nourished high hopes for their
children, and made many anxious
plans 10 insure them sound heath.
sane. strong minds and noble char
acters. When Bob was but year old
-. l.