The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-01-09


right to demand what Mrs. Harrison is
going to wear On the next grand occasion
at the White House. But we emphaticaily
deny that the public wishes to know what
Miss ANY body wore ut the cooking club
There is a common law against obstruct-
ing the public highway. The public has
the same rights in regard to the columns
of newspaper. Perhaps the reporter is
largely to blame for it, certainly no beau
tifuI woman, with graces and charms, daz
cling or simple, requires to be heraIdcd in
the newspapers. Men do not go to the
s. society column to hunt wives. At best
this publicity only gratiies vulgar van
ity, and is plainly an element and evidence
of weakness. Society is full enough OF
vanifies and folles without being cheap
cncd after this fashion. Society has it:
own laws, and has as much as it can dc
to take care Of itself in its own quiet and
orderly way. Let us have some enjoy
ment, some special right to the beauty
and blooms in our own households, and in
our own circles of friends and acquaint-
anccs What is the use of sharing it
with the shop-boy? After we have drank
the wines and finished the supper let us
clear away the table, have the dance out,
and be done with it. Let the firtations
ripen if they will; let the Young men pay
for their hacks if they can; let the hap
piness come of it as much as there may
but let US keep it all to ourselves. Be as
sured, this newspaper notoriety is wholly
American.
American society is, in a measure,
unstable, but it is not true that Eve have
no society," The possession of wealth
is undoubtedly essential 10 that leisure,
which is as essential to social eujoyments
as we'll as to the cultivation of the graces
and amenities of life. Wealth does not
leave families in America so rapidly that
at any one time no members of the Old
Guard are left 1t remains with them
long enough moreover, to impress on them
all the tastes and qualities which belong
to a sef-rcspecting body of people who
represent here that society which, in Eng
land, for example, carries in it all the
principles of honor and refinement. This
kind of society, which has gained these
qualities by experience and tradition pos
sesses common sense and Judgment or
instinct, which gives to each member SIM
plicity of manner and a safe-cOnduct in
matters Of etiquette. Its principles are
higher than such as are based on wealth.
however indispensable wealth may be for
certain purposes of society. On the bor-
ders of this lifeand in its shadow, are
those whom misfortune has overtaken,
those young men not seen at the parties,
but who are struggling to earn bread for
,;..l,.o -, oh,
the old traditions. In this border land
live the maidcns who have all the sraccs
and charms that dazzle in the parlors they
never visit. Linked to this circle proper,
is this obscure society of true gentiitv.
The living part OF it, that which enter
tans and moves in the fashionable world,
is considerable and unostentatious. 1t
does not need, and does not wish. to
display itself in the society column. y
We have only suggested Il topic which
the glib writer's of the Northern magazines,
who contend that We have no society. may
reflect on. AS to notices in the newsPa-
pers of the movements and actions of
people, there are many matters OF lcgiti-
mate news. Tie noting of the departure
Of many people for watering places in
the summer. may, in fact, be and is 4 mat
ter of interest, and convenience to Il
sufficient number Of readers to make it
desirable information. In the case Of Il
society man. of the inferior type, who is
n debt, it certainly affords some sort OF
amusement to his creditor, and awakcns
some admiration for his debtors sublime
check To record the movements OF such
man AT Saratoga is TO interest she tall
ors and bootmakers. But we are about to
enter on a branch Of this subject which
is too attractive and too large field. a
description of the methods, and inner and
outer life of this society, must be left TO
some future AIphonse Daulet