The Wichita daily eagle., 1894-03-16
CHILDREN AS SNOBS.
From the New York Tribune.

| From the New York Tribune.
People are quick to recognize snob-
| bishness in their friends, and some
times have an uncomfortable suspicion
that they are themselves not altogether
free from the Objectionable quality;
but they are not prepared to find snobs
among children. 1t seems so utterly
incongruous with wholesome child'S
nature, it is such a worldly, spurious
trait, that it Is unnatural to associate
it with the honesty of youth Yet it is
quite as common among the young as
among their elders From the small
girl who looks over new acquaintance
from top to toe, and gauges her by her
clothes, to the young collegian who is
anxious to be sin the best set," snob-
bishness, even more apparent and un-
lovely because less disguised than
among older people, is rampant. The
snob begets the cynic, and the fin-de-
steele society which develops either
quality in the young, ingenious, honest
mind must be injurious Children cad
motives with extraordinary quiclsness,
and it is quite impossible that the for
uer should produce the latter.
Did you see your old friend B. at
Harvard?" said a mother to her son
who had attended class-day with some
friends.
"Yes: and it was rather good fun to
see how he changed from frigid cold to
genial warmth when he saw that was
with the right lot" answered the boy.
SIT was the most evident thing 1 ever
saw" he continued. 81 happened to
See him first with a crowd of his class
mates, and l rushed over at once with
the most cordial greeting. Although I
could not say he was actually rude, his
manners were decidedly cool, and he
evidently feared that might fasten N.Y.
self upon him for the day. When
saw how it was / walked off and Joined
c. and D. in my own party; they knew
q number of fellows belonging to the
best set in Harvard, and they were very
civil, so that the next time 1 saw B.
was quite in it. while he evidently was
not. This time he joined me with great
erus1oh, ana was most piofuse IN his
offers of services of every kind 1t was
Harry, old boy and How are they all
at home?' and so on ad nauseam."
"Milly, go and play with that sweet
looking little girl" said an unworldly
young aunt to her little niece of six on
the beach at Newport II don't know
her." said the mite, drawing herself up
with great dignity.
A boy who attended one of the most
fashionable schools of the day struck
up great friendship with a gentle
manly young fellow, who, as the little
snob said afterward, seemed to know
every one at home" and accepted an
invitation to spend week with him at
Easter. Great was his disgust, how
rver, when he found that his class
mates people" did not exactly belong
to the smart set" in the neighbor-
hood. Not having the worldly wisdom
to conceal his dissatisfaction, he rem
dered himself ridiculous with his airs,
and completely puzzled his honest
conrade, who was too simple and
frank to detect the worldly leaven
that worked the change in his friend.
well, Maude, why did you not get
the baby house?' said Mrs. Cholly
hn1Cher DoCSer 10 ncr SHlth Oaug ntsrs
fin-de-siecle maid of ten
''Oh, mamma, how could -" ex-
claimed the child. There was chef
In the kitchen without a kitcbs, maid,
and a colored butler in the dining
room, which was bad enough; but the
worst thing was a white footman in
the hall. dressed in scarlet livery, and
the lady's maid wore cap / should
be quite ashamed OF such an esta blish-
nentI'
No one who has been mixed with all
sorts and conditions of men for the last
twenty-five years can fau 10 notice that
snobbishness is greatly on the 10
crease Perhaps it IS the unavoida BILE
sequence OF q more extensive knowl-
edge of the world or less provincial
society, and is a necessary evil attend
ant on social growth; but when il
comes to the children one longs 20 CRY
! haiti They, at least should not be
taught this diabolical invention OF
gentilitv," which. as Thackeray tells
is kills natural kiadliusss and honest
friendship" and which must also
greatly injUre the youthful sense Of
. honesty and seif--espcet'