Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-02-21

VI JuuSluR III SuCn cases Anu at last
Mrs. Carey couldn't stand it any longer
and said she had an appointment she had
forgotten, and went home. And | know
she left her story half told too. | fancy
the rest of them knew it as we'll as | did
they IL try il again, some day, when they
want help a good deal. But she won't do
1t great many times, that way"
= 1t is what happens three times out of
tour, wherever a company Of women get
together, and are not oil quite of the same
social standing, if anyone knows what
that means, Pm sure dom ;or If some of
them think there's a difference. which
amounts to the same thing, and is in
deed, little worse. For some people are
born to be snobbish, you know, and some
are particularly successful in achieving
Sights for other people, and some have
the possibility thrust upon them with a
very, very, little advance of fortune 1t
is all so easily done, and yet the ingenuity
of it is something marvellous -
IF you keep enc servant, your neigh
Dor, who keeps two or three, and has her
own carriage, while you hail an accom-
mediation, will speedily make you aware
OF the fact. If you are your own maid
your acquaintance, who has a girl will
remind you of that difference, If only in
the plaintive confession that she has but
one. If you work for living the differ
cnce. in some peoples eyes, is immcasur-
able. Ana, queerest of all, the differences,
IT at least the distinctions, made between
labor and labor are 50 artificial, so in
tricate, and so rigid, that it is not worth
n - Ia, % .
distinctions and the attempted condescen-
sions and actual sights, OF so-called social
life, even in little place like this, are
simply unbelievable
But one need not be put down, or shut
out, in such wise, | said. ''It is much
of 1t an atfectation, and the snobs them
selves know it. l am not sure that they
expect to be taken seriously in it,
"A good many of them do she
answered, 'and, beside, one gets tired
lighting that sort of social mosquito"
And society is not all like that" |
protested. "Those are not the people
whose society we crave anyway. They
are only incidental. The really gentle
folk are there all the same.
Bat the other sort are what one has to
encounter. on the way she replied.
" And it comes to be hardly worth while,
any of 1t. Who cares to run the gauntlet
OF whitening looks, and cold salutations.
and distant recognitions, to say nothing
Of the really unkind and intentional re
mark to which any of us humber folk
are LIABLE for no reason whatever, from
people who, very likely, have skeletons al
home which would not bear comparison
Gaira fnn he
sake of some really genuine fellowship
End intercourse: Indeed, if it were only
the society of those like themselves that
they presume to guard, no one would rur
the risk Of their petty sights. The root
Of the trouble Is, that events frequently
seem to constitute them as warders, so t.
speak. of what is really very noble and
richly endowed region of mems lives,
and keepers, in a way, of an element
which few of Us can miss without actual
rmpovershment Of mind and nature NJ
woman has the light 10 say, in effect, I,
any other. Of equally good antecedents
character education, and breeding itself
perhaps in some of these respects, superior
to her own, that because your father OF
your husband works for his living snc
YOURS because perhaps you help in The
provision. because You live in a smBl
mouse, and wear a shabby gown, and for
spoth, you have not at your command
1.-THE of the pleasures and opportunities
Hc can command. you shall not have tn,
privilege of equal and congenial humaI
intercourse. except nov and then OF
evident sutIerancP, if l can help it,
II feel just as Thackeray did, - sait
Mrs Hotella naiyely, turning to he1
book again.
a. / can bear 1t no longer this diabolioa'
invention of gcntilty, which kills natura
Sindliness and honest friendship. Propei
pride, indeed Rank and precedence, for
sooth The table of ranks and degrees is
lie and should be ilurg into the fire.
Organize rank and precedencel THAI
was well for the masters Of ceremonies Of
former ages Come forward. some greal
marshal, and organize equality il
society,"