The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-10-02

IN point OF arcnltectural perfecbf0n ana
monumental beauty; but it can no longer
boast Of society" It is overrun by Is
raeite financiers and passing tourists. Up
on whom ii hourishes The Elysee re-
ceptions are made up Of regulation Of
ficlals and Of ever-chsngfng politicians.
in no way brilliant and certainly not
fashionable; while the Faubaurg ST.
German, or what remains Of Il, is so
restricted and exclusive that. though its
elegance Is not easily rivalled, ii is
practically unknown to most men Of the
world and myth for others. The bar
barrie magnificence Of the court at ST.
Petersburg is so much the personal af-
fair Of an autocrat who disposas at
pleasure o. the entire revenue OF his
empire. it is made up of so small a circle
that itcannot be considered as a mani
feStation OF social hfe. At Berlin, be-
yond the extremely stiff and formal
courtand officious functions there il no
social movement TO speak of. In Vienna
aSain, what there is most enjoyoole are
the gemutnlich, but by no means smart
bourgeois gatherings, the members of
which are unfortunately for them
selves, / was goingto say-hoffahig. i. e.
not admissible TO the three or four re-
captions at court-some Of the least en-
joyable functions know OF. The vi
ennese aristocracy, on the other hand,
Tell-meaning but naughty, narrow.
ard resourceless body Of men, taboo the
bourgeoisie and any foreigner bold
enough 10 frequent their society.
r md hrr, In. -1r IL
steady reform which has marked the
entire history Of England, has achieved
in social life also a measure Of success
quite unprecedented in point Of extent
and brilhancy. 1t possesses the capt.
al advantage Of court which, while
magnificently maintained, is controlled
by regulations that are reasonably dis
eliminating without being absurdly an
tiquated or glaHngly unfair. II is led by
an aristocracy worthy of the game,
combining, as it does, historic descent,
personal talent, and great wealth. n
includes the most fascinating literary
and artistic circles, as free from pose az
they are untainted by the more vulgar
aspects Of Bohemianism. Occasions on
which these various elements may be
seen blended together, such as the an
nual banquet OF the Royal Academy, the
receptions al the Foreign Office, or the
garden parties at Marlborough House,
present a spectacle of refinement, bril-
liancy, and merit which can De match
ed nowhere else.
AS things stood some four or five years
ago one might fairly have said that. as
far as perfection was possible in human
society. II had been attained in England
For without the assistance of arbitrary
denarcad lions, line was understood to
be drawn az certain limits, Z which,
though undefinde by rigid rules and con-
sideraoly elastic, yet served the purpose
OF keeping out Of society undesirable
persons and Objectionable practices.
Rich parvenus, vulgar viveurs, tainted
regulations. and pushing nonentities
there always existed, but they were held
at arms length. The walls, indeed, sur
rounding the aristocratic coteries in the
early Victorian days has alread crum-
Died down; the rather comic and decid-
edly hypocritical tenet Of the upper mid
die class had given way to habits less
strait-laced. Nevertheless, society was
still pervaded by that air OF decprum
which is inherited, not assumed. and
which makes all the difference between
a fourishing and decadent social order.
Now. however, II must be omitted that
signs Of decadent movement are un-
m1stakably prevalent. Although London
society has grown enormously, not only
III volume, but in splendor, activity, and
positive enjoyment, its general tone has
been sensibly lowered, and it's very es-
sence has, when closely inspected, lost
in quality and composition. With the
exception Of small and daily shrink
ing coterie. the very smart and very ex-
exclusive set, every social circle il now
practically open to any rich vuIgarian
who is willing to pay his way into it.
In fact, il may fairly be faid that now
the millionaire controls society. Money
has, no doubt, secured 10 It's possessors
a greater influence in all parts OF the
world and in every walk OF life. But
there are two main reasons why plu-
tocracy has imposed itself upon arictoc-
racy in England. The first is from agri-
cultural land, on which rests, with but
few exceptions, the power OF the the ar
istocracy, and hence the vast number Of
country seals which are LEI for a sea
son. il not permanently practice for
merry held 10 be incompatible with the
dignity OF great landlords. The second
reason is the simultaneous increase IN
the luxury and costliness OF fashionable
life. The enormous and rapid growth Of
wealth from -ornmer-a and ;r5,,1,-fe1
pursuits introduced ex,ravagant ana ex-
pensive habits, and the former planners
OF living OF a large section Of the COM
mUnity gradually gave way 10 the mode
CT life which prevailed with only the up
per ten thousand. OF these the less
wealthy were driven by the ostentation
OF he newcomers in 10 social cumpeti-
lion, 10 adopt unwonted eXpedients in
order 70 hold their own or even save ap-
pearances. Il is thus that the vocation
OF ladies of rank undertaking, for A
more or less explicitly
stipulated. to introduce and pilot into
society rich parvenus. has grown into a
recognized. il not publicly averred, pro-
feSSion.
The selt-infiic:ei degradation. on the
che part, and on the other the cynacisn
which a part OF this kind necessiiates,
could not bring into social intercourse.
eiemtns 50 diverse in habits and tradi-
lions without; entailing further lower
ing Of me code % morals. An Empower
ishej lady Of rank. who accepts mater
Ia reward for social services. soon dis
covers ,hat A nouveau richie is ready 70
pay handsomely FOR such other tavors "a
may invas, him with the kind % pres
;iSs which Is ordinarily the prize Of per-
s0n3l and Unborn qualities. while a wo-
man. once possessed by the passion t0r
social distinction. VIII n0c only pa. with
mjney which does no; return. but VII
make sacrifices Of a kind which re-oups