The sun., 1891-05-03
THE SUN, suNDAYs MAY s, 1891.

10 the distinction which wealth alone con-
fers. A women are the leaders snd rulers
and makers sof fashion, tbey hope 10 b
more succeesful than men have been
In elevatinR colonial descent. TO q title
to social superiority. Their notion is
that somethine Of the character Of
IN aristocrscy ought to pertain to
women who trace their blood back to the
moro distinguished Of the colonial families.
They think that II they band together, so-
clety win eventually recoRnize and honor
their distinction Of birth, and that they win
become the centre about which the highest
fashion must revolve. "a. ,StHt' q'
!. They have another aim. ss the Cincinnati
and the Sons Of the Revolution have, and IL
10 the honorable and commendable purposo OF
preserving and cultivating patriotic Atneri-
can sentiment. That much they may do; but
their attempt to win social proSminence
simply because Of their colonial descent will
b. no moro successful than have been the
similar efforts Of men Of the same inheri-
tAnce. The insuperable difficulties In the
way are the circumstance that the great
majority Of tho families 30 descended
are now poor or in very moderate
and humble circumstances, and the un-
questionable fact that fashion and social
leadership necessitate. the possession Of
wealth, Even the oldest sristocfacies fall
into contempt when they lose their money;
for money no less than birth 10 requisite to
the maintenance Of their pretonsions and 10
the grandeur with which they must sur.
round themselves to stir the public imagina-
tion. There arc aristocratic cab drivers and
milliners in England, but II all the
English aristocracy werS forced 70 earn
their bread by daily wages. the glamour Of
the order would be sone. They must be
rich to keep up their distinction. They
must constitute an elegant and luxurious
society. and the first necessity Of such
. soclety Is an abundance OF money. It
must have grand houses. rctinue Of
servants, costly equipsges, bravo attire,
and means to lavish money on its en-
tertainments and It's pleasures. Distinction
OF birth is valuable, but money Is indispen-
sable. Even the Prince Of WALES must have
great means and extensive credit to keep up
the glory Of his position % the First Gentle
man. He would fall into contempt II he wsro
actually poor and incapable Of raising cash.
) Many women who are entitled by their
descent to join the Colonial Danes are
necessarily far removed from the possibility
Of association with the elegant society
which 1t is proposed to form. They have
never entered the world Of fashion and
are entirely unfamiliar with its ways.
Tho grand Colonial Danes would not
know what to do with them, They
might not care 10 be seen In their
company, or, at least, for We hope they
are not snobs, they would have no social
sympathies with them. Even II the poorer
Colonial Danes have ever 90 much social
cultivation and aptitude. they have not the
money to assume the obligations and enjoy
the pleasures Of luxurious society. They
do not want 1t, and 1t does not want them, for
it wants nobody who cannot contribute to
its sayety or its substantial maintenance. 4
Hence there is no need for fear that We
shall have an aristocracy Of birth in this
republic. The Society Of the Cincinnati
could not establish It, tho majority Of those
entitled to wear Its ribbon being now humble
and powerless except - American citisens
dignified by the privilege OF voting. Tho
order lessons rather than increases In conse.
quence - the years 60 on. Neither can the
Colonial Danes do any better, and
for the same reasons. Their pur.
ppee esems tQ b tQ Ees!st the sup
ppssd social dominxncS of the society
known as the Four Hundred: but in that
society arc already included, or With It arc
ad1liated. an tho families Of colonial descent
who have brought down OF accumulated
money enough TO enable them to stand MP
under its burdens, and who have the tastes
and experience to meet its demands, along
9TH ho In f1ov, ~ Ay.knr {ks ~{v,olA
That society. however, Is In no sense an
aristocracy; and it is fortunate that no
mere distinction Of birth Is sufiOlsnt to %.
cure social preaminenoe In this country. Il
ID sooiety composed Of people who have
tho leisure which the possession of wealth
gives for making business Of luxurious
pleasure. and who have the DESIRES tastes,
aptitudes. and ambitions which 1t them
for the pursuit. Such society necessarily
changes In Its constitution as time goes on
and fortunes vary. and, therefore. It. is not
dlscofdAnt with the spirit Of our social and
political system. Nor can 1t be brought
under subjection by tho Colonial Danes. foc
1t has its stronghold In tho wealth which |
forahss every elegant society Of the world.
-~ vi,
The Jews.
Tho Paris correspondent Of tho Herald has |
had IN important interview with Baron
H1RscH, the opulent and benevolent Aus
trian Jew who recently established fund Of |
$500 900 to enable the Jewish refugees from |
Russia to 70 to some part Of America. This |
fund ID large enough to pay tho passage of
tens Of thoussndS Of psople across the |
Atlantic and to assist them afterward. /
In February last the Baron put this fund |
In charge of Board Of Trustees In this |
city, and portion Of 1t has been disbursed |
lc