New-York tribune., 1896-11-29
STUDIES IN SOCIAL LIFE
THE "sHoDDY SMART INDIVIDUAL WHO
CONTINUALLY STRUGGLES FOR
PROMINENCE.
VALUABLE HINTS ON HOMO DEcoRAT1oNs-How
TO DRESS ON VERY LITTLE MONEY. AND
THE VAIL OF THE HOUSE
KEEPER ANSWERED.

KEEPER ANSWERED.
There Is a large class OF wef-known persons. gen.
orally q floating class. who may be designated by
the name OF the "shoddy smart people. who con-
stitue the frayed or ragged edge OF fashionable
society Just what this shoddiness. which Is alto
gether different from shabbness consists In 1t Is
difficult to say
The individuals composing this oet are generally
to be met with at all large fashionable functions.
Their names are In the social directory and are
often mentioned in the newspapers. Both men and
women dress extremely we'll They are very up 10
date. are apt to be sporty and in a way are recog-
nized by the really smart people; enough so. at all
events to impress outsiders with q respect for
their position. All this they utilize to tho fullest
extent, talking Of the people In such manner as
to lead new ecQuantances to suppose that they
are on intimate terms with "the hundred ana
nfty" and are. therefore, themselves very desirable
people to know.
Well. in the first place. they are generally impe-
cunious and although poverty is no crime in the
eye tho law II Is more or less. In soclai ethics.
That Is to say. It is like skating on thin ice TO
Skim over gulf Of debts and difficulties In which
ct any moment the luckless "shoddy smart indi-
vidual. who II apparently skimming so gayiy over
the surface. may be overwhelmed. This keeping
up Of appearances the world does not easily for-
give.
Another class that Is "shoddy smart" are those
who have money and who desire to be fashionaoie
but who somehow. have not had discretion or tact
In choosing their associates. These accept the
piuchbeck claims Of the aforementioned division as
pure gold while the latter. in their turn hndinG
tho opera boxes and dinners OF their new friends
most convenient are delighted to become intimate
with them Ci-devant fashionables. too with repu-
tatons more less the worse for wear IN various
ways are apt to drift into this debatable land and
become Its citizens.
It Is funny sometimes to SEQ the way good, re-
spectable. quiet people are taken In by these
pseudo-smart folk. believing that they are every
thing that IS fashionable and desirable. In the
summer these DAVIS with peacock plunage ofton
drift into quiet neighborhoods where. by right OF
their apparent familiarity with the notahiliiies OF
the great world. they become for the time being
autocrats OF fashion. enjoying the cakes anu aie
Of existence, as typihed In the hospitable enter
tainments given In their honor,
"And. departing, leave behind them
Footprints on the sands Of time
IN the sl,a ne Of sundry bills and unpleasant ruinors
from nfar
HOME DECORATIONS
Aithoueh 10 the iotet ~ the picturesque tho
Ettpits styie which Il ruw IN vugue seeins cold
ana father tnin,stestinr there is n certain dignity
ahsut Ne tbsfaetpt that 10 decided felief nftet
ths etetetuwhea decoration ~ the last Tea yents
faHitis lhe dtatea picture fiaiiesl the ttntrheh
jstaps W hHetsk,f,s, rnh he test ~ ne eherb
AHefy which iet ths iast aetade has heen tei'ulut
wlR ths itasses
I,,sI nav, beweeef, thHfe sse,Hs W w. faneef
ri esrFtne this ialtst egays Aise W. An t>lfesHe
II sbeuld ls TGmeHhp1ea thaI " la nipls sdsp'hd
only Tor GxpGnsipa fNTnlluie. theAp limitations AIp
styooIals and fay thsI reason ptnpn ~ moderate
msans should not attempt " siyo thaI 10 msgeIr-
clops II II is not altogether IN heeplns'