Birmingham age-herald., 1895-04-14
BIRMINGHAM SOCIETY.
What Will Be the Future Passport Into Social
 Circles?
By D. B. Grace.

The general who overlooks a battle can tell more about how it is going than if he was engaged in the thick est of the fight. have never been a devotee of society, but have always been a deeply interested observer. and perhaps am better able to express an opinion on the subject than one who has been a more active participant.
 The social visitor to Birmingham in- quires at once if society here is divided into sets. The lines of demarcaton are less clearly drawn in Birmingham than any city in the south. This fact perhaps induces some people to move here who have been tabooed at home because of some sin that society condemns. The nearest approach to Q set in BirminG- ham Is that of the older settlers-the moss backs" as the newcomers call them It is natural that these first settlers should feel a sympathy for each other; for did they not fight the cholera together? Did they not endure with patience the revilngs and jeers that were thrown upon them when they claimed that Birmingham would one day be a great city? Hardship binds men closer together than prosperity.
 The next nearest approach to di- vision is between the dancers and non- dancers. Those who attend the ger mans feel a bond of sympathy that is forged in mutual enjoyment If the wis., iting young lady dances her earnest de- sire Is to meet the young men who will take her out to the germans. There seems to be such a. fascination in the dance that it's devotees will forego any consideration of prudence or economy for it's sake.
 On the other hand, the young men who do not dance feel that there is a gulf between them and the young ladies who a N1,axy lxv,n hot 1n 10ifn anr,f ar.d dissipation of the dance units the young ladies for more quiet social en- joyment, and they hesitate about ten dering their services.
 There is another line of demarcation which culture draws. There is in the city a coterie of choice spirits who meet and discuss art. music and literature. Their conversation would be as un- intelligible to some of the light-heeled gentry as was the Grecian language to the wild barbarians of the north. Some people move In good society who do not care to enter fashionable society.
 It is a widespread impression that wealth is the only necessary requisite for entrance into Birmingham society. This is great mistake. Some of the richest people in the city do not move in society. Many of them do not care td and many others could mot if they would. Some of the cultured rich do not care to enter society because it in- wolves personal inconvenience, is drain on their health, and because they feel independent of the recognition of society. Other rich people cannot en- ter the charmed circle because they are low-born, uncultured and groveling in their tastes. The rapid increase in wealth in Birmingham has enriched many people who would be as. much out of place in drawing room as Satyr among the fairies. On the other hand many social favortes are rich only in birth, intelligence and personal pulchri- tude, and many others have nothing but brass. Even now wealth is not the criterion of social standing, and I think will become less so in the future, for wealth will become so generally diff fused and rich people so common that it vii be less regarded. Familiarity breeds contempt. It is hard to say what will be the most desirable social quail ity in the future It may be birth culture, wit, position, or some qualifi- cation of the kind. I know what should be the criterion-it should be ''personal purity" Let society banish from it's portals the woman who has