Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1894-11-22
ARIsTooRArs IN Trade.
From Hstbetic seclusion Into the Arena
of Commercial Conflict.

From Estbetic seclusion Into the Arena
of Commercial Conflict.
Not so very long ago the line between
the aristocracy and other classes of the
community was very decidedly drawn
at trade. A poor family might lay
claims to gentility, and one or more Of
Its members might now and then figure
at, say, country ball, but n trades
mans family-never. Now il is other
wise, the aristocracy themselves having
stepped over the dividing line. Lord
Shrewsbury and Talbot, for instance,
who takes precedence of all other Earls,
unblushingly became a cab proprietor;
Lord RayleiRh" is the inscription that
may oe read on the signboard of one or
two London dairies. The marquis of
Londonderry is prepared TO deliver
coal by the ton. mo agents"-such
are the final words of this nobleman's
advertisement, put in just as any trader
born and bred might put them in. This
decent from aristocratic seclusion into
the arena of commercial conflict is not
confined to the male portion of our
nobility. Titled ladies under disguised
names carry on millinery establish
ments and run cafes. Their dainty
fingers, too, are not above manipulate
ing flowers for profit. SO generally,
indeed, has the sacred thirst for gold
infected the upper ten, that whereas
they were won't to be accused of living
In idleness, they are now accused OF
taking the bread out of the mouths of
those who depend entirely upon busi-
ness for their support.
Far beneath these noble ranks can
be traced a similar descent Street
music, for instance, used 10 be dis
coursed by the utterly abject and
broxen-down; now men and women,
warmly clad and well fed, go about
with organs Troupes Of men sing,
rattle the bones, and do a breakdown
in the public thoroughfares TO the
tune of not less than the
better part of sovereign a day per
man. Two hundred pounds year in
an assured situation was the salary
that one young man threw up last sum
mer TO join nigger troupe at the sea
side, and he doesn't regret it. At the
end of the season he had more money
than he ever had before and during the
season he ate better dinners and drank
better wines than he had ever eaten or
drank before Hawking matches, or
laces, or any other trihe In public house
bars used TO be and still is a way Of
evading the law against begging. In
deed the custom OF singing on the
streets arose out OF the same necessity
for those In want not 20 incriminate
themselves. Now you will be in the
saloon bar Of a first rate refreshment
house. In comes a top-hatted, we'll
dressed man with bag. Some success
ful stock broker, you think, II II be in
the city. You fancy you are the victim
OF delusion. Here Is this man, as
well dressed as your principal, holding
his open bag before you and asking you
10 buy box OF vestasi Well dressed
women are going about from public
house TO public house pursuing similar
callings. They speak WELL too, do
these people, betraying fair amount
OF education II tradesmen have any
grounds for complaining of the aristoc-
racy trenching on their territory surely
the poor and needy have grounds OF
similarly complaining Of having the
instruments OF their profession thus
confscated by an apparently superior
class OF course, with such a down.
ward trend the poor and needy are
driven lower still, and this in q meas
ure rs seen In the ever increasing char
table institutions, relief agencies, souI
kitchens, and 40 forth, and the ever in'
creasing strain on the resources OF such
establishments - Cassells Saturday
journal