The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-02-05
ON AMERICAN SNOBS.
The Last Letter Of the Late La
menfed Ward McAllister.
HOME PRODUCT 4 LARGE ONE.


Following II IRE last letter OF the
1afe Ward 1IcAilisfer. from the New
York World OF yarzlary ~ lie made
his living ty writing stuff Ike this.
As we are turning Gut yearly a large
crop OF snos,x. IL il well t. recall Taack-
Gays definition Of a snob before pro-
ceeiing to q discussion OF tais ifseress-
ing topic Thackeray defines snob as
"a vulgar person vino affects 10 be bet
ter. richer and more fashionable than
he really is; q vulgar upssart. one who
apes his ss1periorz .
It will be observed that this definition
Is twefosd II Involves the idea, 6r9t,
df q ssrson Of vulgar breeding and in
ferior qualities who pretends 10 be just
tho opposite. and. secondly. IL suggests
eervfie AnitatioH, dependency and
fawning. No one. therefore. according
10 Thackexay's definition. can be COM
pIets snofs unless he combines both
these characteristics
There are many persons in society
commonly known as snobs who would
then In reality not be deserving OF the
essential elements of snohAery. For
example there are numbers OF fashion
able men and women Of undoasbtsd
breeding. who. nevertheless. owing TO
various cireuu1sf aIces and often to their
own Inherent natures. are at heart the
nrsst arranx fiatterefs. toadsss ard para
Sites. They are never 30 happy as
whan fawning upon Others whom they
regard AZ their snperiors.
Ga the ether hand. there are indie
pendent persons in society. endeavoring
10 maintain position by mere effront-
sFy, who. &c Thaekeray's definition Is 70
Be held good. would have no title what
ever to a fasIlionabie standing. This
ltter class, however. is frequently in
csnded in the general appeiiation OF
es.ssb.
Ally definition OF snob. however. diff
faFs In one important respect from that
Of Thackeray All OF Tnackerays snobs
arc vulgar, but a spob Is not necessar-
sly vulgar. He IS often clever and
agreeable and In many ways a pleasant
acquaintance. aad still his heart is snob-
bisF - the core. Ny definition OF a
enob is:
One who sinks his own originality,
adopting and initiating some one whom
be fes=ss= e In a higher sphere than him
SELF as model"
] well remember q brilliant young So
efssy woman who possessed an irorsi;A
nAte ambition. throwing herself at the
feet ef one OF Our leading society DANES
AMI exclnimihg:
oh. II could only be Ike vou~.
Beautiful woman as she WAS. she had
not then attracted 70 herself sufficient
q society.s attention To satisfy her.
In order to find genuine specimens OF
enebbery and toadyism one must natur
ally seek Tor them in society. II Ii not
dificut b discover them. In fact. the
real trouble Ii 60 avoid them, as they
are exceSssseiy repagnant to men and
women OF real refinement and caltu~.
Here We meet with an extranrssn..v
contradiction Ia fashionable life. tn
cannot Be denied that persons of true
breeding. education and culture are the
chief ornaments Of society. At the
same time II cannot be- Disputed chat
the fashionable life OF New York Is Ia
tzaife extent composed OF genuine snobs
--ssobs In every sense of the word of
my definition. This il not pleasant
Tact 10 contemplate. but 1t would be
Idle - attempt 10 gainsay IL.
II we look back into history we shall
md that snobbery ard toadylsm have
been 20 a great extent the most impor-
fasat props OK fashionable circles. IL
would be impossible 10 conceive of a
court In the tsre III Louis XIV. or
Henry VIII. Elizabeth and many other
ssssereigna whose cuurticrs did not con-
sist Of the most servile fawners thar
the imagination can conture up. More
over. the entire English social system
relies for its support upon toadylsrn,
and there is no nation on earth that
contains a greater number OF perfect
and successful snohs and toadies than
Great Britain.
In England you never see a nobieman
Without one or two toadles They al
ways travel Us pairs. the toady depend
Ing upon the noblesnan for social ana
often financial support. while the noble
stsan leaks "a htsn for that considera
ten and taaayism which add SO much
to his comfort in life.
Tn show the extent To which this
seasiysssa Is practised I may mention
that while visiting In England last sum
tnsr | went 70 see friend who had re-
tired from business soma years ana
was. ] Judged. living on a very small
cosnpetence. Imagine tny surprise when
] found him surrounded by all the CON-
ferts and Injuries that uaoseg can
buy. Observing my aStonishzlfent he
laughed and said:
Don't fsr a moment think that I
rely upon ms own resources fer ali this
comfort, The fast ~ the matter 10 thar
my friend ItothsehIla provides my
luxaTiee"
/ subsequently, discovered that DUR
Ing essh year Rothsehiid was in the
habit os sending han notice that ne
had made some small investment far
his benefit. that these bad turned out
assvansageaasiy AMI that he lneloses 8.
check representing the profits. These
cheeks anncstnted - mere than - eaa
certainly q handsome tribute az
.sgsieadship"
Mr. Rashschsa has no more devoted
worsalppeg In Europe than this retired
business man. l regret ~ aid that he
IS an American, and that this custom of
tsadyists - ORES Sap&riSrs. val..h
Ashsrto has been alnost entirety con-
fired to the old easiatrv. Is rainiar
ground rapidly in the Uagtea States
Stssee 81 the wts~, 1eScrtpttan are c~or,-
Ping oas on every hand herr, aud SO.
elety AZ present Is SO crowded with
saein That. SO ! have sptisnased before.
one hiss IN b. on his guard constantly
Il he wishes to avoid shen..
To ny fafrs,f shers Ia ~. D. ne. -.