The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-04-23
VIRGINIA HRfsTOCRdCY.
Mr.. Pages Claim OF Family Superiority
Again Attacked.

That vas striking article in The
Times Of the 9th instant by Mr.. Carlton
Mccarthy criticisng a paper Of Mr.
Thomas Nelson Page, in which it seems,
from the review, the latter had made
some invfdious distinctions in undertake
ing to classify the people OF Virginia by
families.
Without intending TO give a side shot
in the battle which seems to be ION" be-
tween the two gentlemn, l trust / may be
permitted, through the courtesy of The
Times, to take advantage Of the oppor-
tunity the discussion affords TO express
a thought which 1 have long entertained
on this subject. This ! am the more
inclined to do from the fact that Mr..
Page is not the only man in Virginia who
has made a similar mistake.
Another ambitious scion Of worthy
stock said there were only thirteen first
families Of Virginia. OF which his was
one. | believe that a little study must
drive reflective minds to the conclusion
that such a classification of people Is
unwarranted by the facts of history or
the principle OF science.
1t may be promised that Mr.. Webster
defines aristocracy as 1.-The nobility or
chief persons in a State" According
to this definition. the fact that man had
an ancestor who was a chief person"
does not clothe him with the rank; he
must be chief person" himself, as
he cannot inherit a title OF mobility"
under our form OF Government This
common sense view would seem to dis
pose Of the question, but 1t may be an
swered that he inherits his ancestors
blood.
That blood Is inherited cannot, think,
be denied. but ! MAINTAIN that II Is sell
dom transmitted for long periods In par
ticular families. We already see this
evidenced all around us in the decay OF
so many American families. This de-
generation has taken place, notwithstand-
ing the great advantages which the on
spring Of men In high positions have over
others Of being educated and trained.
Perhaps II is these advantages more than
inheritance which furnishes some APP
parent exceptions to the rule.
Among the causes OF this retrograda-
ton may be noted the effects OF unscfen-
tific selection in intermarriage. Men,,
saws Herbert Spencer care compare
lively little for erudition In woman, but
very much for physical beauty, and good
nature. and sound sense" Love is a
lever that levels top rails and gives bot
tom rails chance. Frequent interiors;
ing In marriage either checks the evolu-
ton OF specific characters or scatters
them when accumulated II hfnders
Heterogeneous and promotes homoge-
neous development Of race. In this
way II lifts the masses on a higner plane
81 civilization, and confers the greatest
happiness on the greatest number. The
man who claims to stand on the top
round of the social ladder should be care
full how he throws stones to-day at those
he conceives to be beneath him lest he
hit tomorrow his own posterity.
other powerful influences are continu-
ally at work in promoting social revolu-
tion. not the least of which are wealth
and poverty. It has been said that ut
takes three generations to make a gentle
man" Perhaps less than three may make
one, the change being wrought by the
effects Of the conditions Of life to which
usn ere exposed during several gsnsrar