Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1894-08-08
SOCIETY"

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practicing his maxim. Whether
they love it or not, it is certain
they are hunnbugged IN many ways
and perhaps in none more excuse.
lessly and hurtfully than by So
ciety, falsely so.called. Its pre-
tensions are SO great and 80 un-
questioningly received by SO many,
1T exerts such power over certain
minds, not few in number, that it
lis difficult to believe that the whole
thing is a hollow nothing, the very
chiefest of humbugs, without basis
for its pretensions or leverage for
it's influence. We know of certain
Methodist parents who fear exceed
ingly lest the disapprobation of
society should blight their chill
dren's prospects, and who make
great sacrifice of money and COM
fort, and of things more precious,
as of faith and conscience, to get
and hold them in it, who will find
it hard to believe this statement,
and for their disillusion let us look
at the thing in a clear daylight
and see what is in it.
Upon what is it founded?
Upon blood? Manifestly not!
If in a land like ours there can be
any claim to aristocracy on the
score of lineage, those entitled to
it are not to be found in large num-
bers in society" certainly it does
not require pedigree as a condition
of entry. The vast majority of
these know nothing of Revolution
ary decent, are strangers to blue
blood, and in their own expressive
phrase Gas they speak of new
corners who have not been among
them long enough to feel at home,l ]
shave come up from nothing"
Upon intelligence? Intellect is
not requisite for fulfilling any of
the functions Of society" You
have but to sample. it anywhere to
be convinced that it's thought and
culture are neither broad nor deep
In the main its reading is confined
to the trashy fiction of the day.
It's nowledge q f ff.histtory or sciierse,
for occasionally as a fad it dips
into such matters, is Of the sort
which may be gathered from the
cyclopedia., Upon any question of
solid interest and concern to man
you will hardly find denser ignor-
ance than iu this circle.
It's most enamored adhsrent will
hardly claim moral excellence as
its basis. Nothing in it's favorite
occupations is calculated to engen-
der any strict or high morality,
while much in the opinion of sober,
sensible people, tends in the op.
posite direction. Its sympathies
are narrow, it's selfshness pro-
nounced. Equally, surely, it is not
based on spiritual character, for its
atmosphere proves quickly fatal to
spirituality.
Perhaps you think it is founded
on wealth? But no, it is notorious
that many, frequently the majority,
of society" in any given place are
living beyond their means, and
have wrecked their credit in their
effort to meet expenses too great
for their fortunes. Because of the
manifold dishonesties growing out
of this, defalcations, forgeries, ETC.,
ever and anon we are shocked by
hearing of a suicide Sin society,""
It is not founded upon any OF
these things upon which an aris-
tocracy might presumably rest its
claim.
A certain outward grace of man
ner of the sort which may be learn
ed from a dancing master, knowl,
edge of certain rules of department
more or less silly, seem to be all
that is needful to a place in the
charmed circle; if in addition one
can lead the dance with grace and
is fairly adept at gambling, leader
ship is attained.
Tracing back to source, we find
that society takes its cue from the
Prince of Wales and his set-a
source so corruptas to be an offense
to all decent morality-loving people
in England.
If from the question of its basis
we turn to examine its products,
we find society" equally con-
temptible. It produces no leaders