New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-05
HOME AND SOCIETY.
CHAT OF THE SEASON.


CHAT Ot HE SEASON.
THE WORLDLY LIFE-A woMAN's AGE.
rhsre are people who regard a society lke as
.mhodvinr the froth of cxistence-not exactly
harmful but certainly frivolous, and not main
tanning the highest aims. While this Is. In meas
ure. true. in that people who live for amusement
more or less are apt to be selfish ana narrow
stiu II is nevertheless a fact that more good can
no done by conscientious living in the worio thah
nv n withdrawal from it's temptations and ASSOC
cations. A young girl leading kindly unseihsh
life among her fellows. young man win suohs
principles, a matron charitable In word ana deeu'
and Christian gentleman who is at the sans "me d
man of the world. living up to his standaru VI
dignity and honor will leaven society to very
large extent, and do far more good than III 'hey
withdrew entirely from worldly connections ohe
recalls the typical lives of q prominent man anu
his wife-two fine souls who have now )oheo 'he
great majority The one was a churchmah' d
statesman a gentleman Of the highest culture a
man OF the world, and even man OF iasnio"' WINS
ont however, the least faint of snobbshness' whose
Negotiable table ever spread ior ir'enus vi
every degree and whose natural and simple u,s-
nifty was beautiful to see. AS for MS peo'eu "e'p
neet-what words can describe her goodness her
tact her Judgment. her beauty OF face ana soui IN
the harmonious setting OF luxurious anu ue'sn'-
full home? This woman reckoned her Social ou"es
among her chief responsibilities and discharged
,na,, ono and all with the most minute care and
conscentiousness She certainly never bettied THESE
natural results of her social posiuoh anu ner
influence was as far spread as II was pehehciai
The world is the better for the lives Oh such as
these and 1t is pity that the type Is not more
of,an developed In England 1t is growing more
rore as the standard of English social life becomes
lower in tone through the fin de siecie Innovations
which have obtained such ascendancy IN LONDON OF
late years.
"soc,al climbers" although they may be regard
Cd ne n distinct species In our modern ciViiza-
ton are subdivided into n number OF dinereAt
classes First there is Materfamilias. who hopes
to see her sons and daughters enter the sacreo IN
ner CIRCLE although she herself has never pene-
trated further than the outer courts. Such one
gains her end by association Her childreh are
sent to the most fashionable schools and colleges
where although they furnished with rather
more than the average amount OF pocKet-mohe!'
she is too clever to allow them to be vugariy os-
tcntatious and where they are encouraged 10
form friendships with children the position OF
whose parents is assured in society. In the sum-
p,er II she is able to afford 1t, she takes mouse
In some good neghborhood-a small and exclusive
watering place is the best ground to work upon.
There the advent of newcomer is sure 10 at-
tract a certain amount of recognition. and fairiy
nice people are apt to obtain a social 1ootho"'
particularly If they interest themselves at once in
church and local affairs. Such strategist never
commits the blunder of taking her family 10 sum
mer hotels. where they can never hope 10 OBTAIN
any individuality and where they may be thrown
with undesirable people. 1t is better that her
own life should be somewhat dull than that her
children should make questionable acquaintance
.Totu Went a point a qui savent attendre'
and soon or late the tactics of this good mother
are rewarded and her boys and girls VINO nave
grown up to be well-bred wel-educated young men
and women take their posltloh "i'iiii TIC i""e'0>
circle
Another type Of this aspiring ssterhood Is the
pretty young married woman. who desires the
good things of this world for her own especial in
dividual delectation. With her it is no waiting
race for her youth and beauty will not score to
her advantage for many years. If she is wise
she will seek to gain women friends rather IMAM
those of the opposite SEX and 1t goes without say
ing that she dresses exquisitely and entertalns
with consummate skill She is clever enough to
see that well accredited foreigners are good cards
if well played; and such woman is apt TO go on
TO Washington and to make the acquaintance OF
members Of the Diplomatic Corps. and the upper
strata of the floating population OF the Capitol
which has a sort of easy exclusiveness OF It's own
on her return to New-York her progress is COM
0aratively easy She is known, she Is admired
She has been discreet Perhaps some ambassa-
dress visits her. some English person OF dis
tnction Cards are left by the most exclusive
people. whom she Immediately invites to the most
charming dinners. and VOLTA the game is won
Not SO easy is it, however, for the aspiring
maiden who feels that she. too, would like to be
Dsmart' in the latest acceptation OF the term
and whose family not only have no ASPIRATIONS
but seem aggravatngly unconscious that they are
in what she thinks is a second-rate set. Hopeless
OF carrying her people with her. she chmps
rung after rung of the social ladder alone she
is a good companion sympa thetic when 1T is worth
her while, very good friend 10 those "hose
friendship she thinks il is to her advantage 10
cultivate or retain. She is an amusing taiker.
Her hostesses find her useful at their dinner par
ties and she has the facility which is so desir-
able in making things 'go off WE'LL She IS pleas
ant 10 look at. but has not enough beauty 10 cause
rivalry AS she gains experience, she becomes
more and more useful to her married friends she
Is Invaluable at house parties, her resources are
,nNri,e she is always to the fore at yachting
parties at the races. at pcnics at jolly festvities
OF every description. She floats everywhere on
the froth Of society and yet not one-quarter Oh
the people with whom she is intimate know her
family She possesses an individuality all ner
own she is popular, she is interesting, and the
world does not ask or care for more.
But "yanitas vanitatum" saith the preacher
surely this striving is not worth the candle. Ana
vet with many the desire for social prominence
Is such an all-absorbng passion that 1t becomes
10 them the chief aim and end of existence. ana
thew would sacrifice anything for that. which, af-
ter all is but the shadow of a substance
One Of the distinct advantages accorded 10 woman
in these days is that the period OF youth Is
greatly prolonged. and she may virtually De any age
sire likes to be-that is at least. any age she looks
and feels. Happily for her. the time when II was
considered an evidence of vanity and bad taste 10
dress and act youthfuly after she had passed an
accepted Rubicon has gone by; woman may
follow her feelings in these particulars WITHOUT
exciting censure OF ridcule, any latitude Dens
allowable. always providing that she VIII Keep up
to n certain standard In youthful spirits anu app
nearance 1t certainly seems unreasonable that
when woman is conscious of no decay either
mental or physical; when the JOY OF living Is
inst as intense and all pleasures are just as eagerly