New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-11-20
" SWIGGER.
From The london Spectator.

We may take IT rs established that. for the moment,
At any rate. swaeg.r Is not the msno H sIhIr 81.
the consciousness OF personal merit ana possI"" mr.
perioriiy. l. as strong In human nature ~ iri
most pecte conented TO acluesce III ',e fSeco
edge OF the fact. and are Wiling not oIlN 10 ,n
the particular form OF Its expression winch Is ho. :.
"swagger, hut even TO live without .Hpsessin 1s
ysiby AT all. The most ObNiOu> ana ul>hEI''a".s
form OF elrasScrtiOn, which consists III nahlhs os w.
people conscious Of their intrrory by Intensity ui
been dead and done with ms "A social claim for hall
generation The high born and wealthy heroes OF me
Old novniss. who too great to speak at the nm
with air OF high bred nonchaance" eAst no r
WINS "I ps9hap sT the last Of Them hut swageer in IT'S
minor and more amusing manifestations Is so 1?' rs
and though II IS premature 70 wfe t o rs de-
cay. one OF the later forms OF swngscr ni9cl a,nv
by men OF the bachelor leSrcd clas' ana aIS %as
tho nil admlrnri attitude. IL had quite vogue Io'
time. and In addition to conveying m "aer
men who had seen life spared the effort OF hear
Ing about 1t again and young men VINO hau , hoy
were enabled TO convey the Impression tla. ~ y,
had This form OF swaggcr had positive merits ~ :
negative form II is still In weapon against
the bore but fashionable cult Il exists no io1ss'
IL Is rs dead Ms wigs and powder The lelsured caSs
such does not assert sr b. any "ape, ' sst be-
fore Il ideal o, the plain man In Us dealings Win
swacgcr nowadays Is mainly limited TO people
living In little worlds OF their own. Contact WIN he
big word and realities rilbs II away. Petty ccln,ry
squircs buried IN remote nciglborhoods. otten g t
themselves airs hnost comical 10 behold by those caipo
Of comparing what they with what they claim ne, 10
be. The bumpious scientific gentlemen Wisy ""nss
Nude their class n bywor the boatei hnancier, ana
the ovcrgrOwn shopkccper. even when success rs Nv.
tanned are only the verge ~ The world "here
their training should begin. Their time ias D'sn
otherwise aud. let hope more nroftablv; ocrloui'
and II they d. not reform. their children probably WIZ
and Will do t'pir best to reclaim ther errilg parrL
For there Is 20 lesson which that increasingly WIS.,
Young person. the yOIIng man o. his promotion, ',s
laid more IL heart than that swaegcr,' o." ~ hc
prefers TO call II. sidc.' does not pay; ana wha'r
his private opinion 10 his own merits he di,,'u
Il. bot hn Frnr
pay. and udirious self advertisement which CO..
Moreover being an educated young person win Sonis
claims to coed taste he l. discriminating even N mo
means he takes to advertise himself. having Hconr,e
only ms last and doubtful resource 10 self-asscruoh
or cccentrlcllics Of dress and manner. .,.
Probably the strongest guarantee for the cohi'uNs
decline of swagger T. the giOwth Of iraakness tpr'
merly to refer TO money consideration IN aclon
was considered III bred. That form Of swacger i GER
taiuiy a ting OF the past Nothing Is more commps
thnn 10 hear the remark. 81 wish could ahorl u:
II can't afford it, or more surely. but not less
pleasantly al have been lucky lately and can amor.
It," No doubt the last Is capable Of abuse Iut INC
admission into conversation ~ these comniohpa re-
aties must still further hasten the RAPID decay !"