The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1897-09-24
because We despiscd opportunity
WHAT IS A SOCIAL POSiTION?

| II II II ~
People who belong to what is call
ed the chest societ7' in large towns
or cities, says Henry Childs Nerwin
in the Septembe" 10 !A4rn,1c, are usually
quite unee-~-1sciors of the fact that
-.ety is graded just IS minutely
beneath them as it is in the plane
with which they ale familiar. But, it
fact, every individual in complex
society, down to the be-sar in the
street or the tramp Oh tn, Highway,
has his social position. The city
missionaries of Boston report, with
some astonishment, that a great social
gap exists between the peanut-vender
on the sidewalk and the pei ipatetic
organ grinder, ard that the children
Of tie former are fol- hidden by their
parehts to play with the children OF
the latter. L is indeed asserted, and
with considerable truth, that mere
wealth is passpor, to the best society;
but this is less true in America than
it IS in England, and less true in
Australia than it is in America The
reason is that in England the best
society is State institution, and there
fore is more sure of its position and
can afford to be less exclusive-to be
more hospitable not only to wealth.
but also to intellect and originality
than is possible for the corresponding
class in democratic. Moreover, even
from the most aris,ocratic point of
view, a good reason can be given for
accepting wealth as 4 substitute for
| birth. The fact that man has made
much money implies as a rule, that
both his mind and his physical
strength are far above the average.
From " hat better stock, then, could
the best society be recruited? This,
OF course, is not the motive of the
rich man reception in good society;
it mi ht better be described as natures
reason for permitting the anomaly.
What is equality? IN what sense,
continues Mr. Merwin, can men be
called equal, when we consider what
vast difference there are betu cen them
in respect to character, and refine
ment? Two men are equal when they
meet freely and pleasantly, without
cond. scensien on one side or suspicion
on the other, and when the considera
ton which each shows for the ether
is not dependent upon or qualified by
the station or outward circumstances
Of either This condition prevail in
some Now England towns, especially
in those remote from the railway, and
| presume that it prevails also in
most part of the west. In such COM
munities, every man who is not a
criminal or an outcast does feel HIM
self to be in very real sense the
"equal' of every other man. Wealth,
though it is respected as source Of
power, is never thought of as conferr
ing "social position;' in fact. that
hideous phrase is not found in the
rural vocabulary; and as to the word
'ssnoh,' it would be difficult to make
its meaning understood among the
people whom | have in mind Among
them an employer of labor woald
of course except those whom he en-
ployed to obey lis orders; but it would
strike him as ludicrous beyond ex-
preston that his hired man should
wear particular kind of dress, touch
his hat when he was spoken to, and
in general comport himself as if he be-
longed to an inferior order. Under
such conditions wants to respect in
undoubtedly carried too far, bat
equality is attained; and that s.lf-re-
spect which the feeling OF equality
produces makes the best members Of
the community equal to any society
it gives them simplicity and sincerity.
Take them to New York CT Boston
and no maguificence or display, no
society of rich or eminent persons, will
nut them ont.