The sun., 1897-06-13
WHAT CONSTITUTES GOOD soC1Err,
A Few Reflections on Social Prcjudices ana
Eccentricitics.

Few Renections on Social Prcjudioes ana
Eccentricitics.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir. I write
this in no carping or ironcal spirit, but simply
to place the subject of II before your readers In
such manner that may have on answer to
tho query which heads this letter; for that this
question is not TO bo ignored, no one who has
noticed tho many different ideas Of late brought
forward upon 1t can but acknowledge 1t ques-
tion Of great social Importance.
Task, therefore. what constitutes good society
What, in fact. is tho basis Of 1t, or what the
magic talisman which finally opens the doors OF
the select TO the former OF poltoff
or course we have no classes, rs such, In tho
United States as exist In England, where sharp
line In drawn between tradosmen, gentlemen
there q generic term-and tho nobility. Still,
We have hero tnor can 1t be gainsaid) II not
classes, at least a certain boundary which places
one either within or without the pale OF the
foolishly called -Four Hundred" What, in
fact has contributed to make these distinctions
for that distinctions exist 1t is useless to deny.
Many OF those now in the flrst rank Of society
were Of comparatively humble. though highly
respectable. origin. For example, one Of the
founders Of the De Peyster family was sutlcr
at tho frontier posts of oswego and Niagara
ta or his alleged S d0eSn eSnyoes dealings With the
Indians before the New York Colonial Assembly
is yet matter OF record.
OF our public libraries was. It is said, drayman;
Commodore Vanderbilt. the head OF the family
pt his little RF aen "nd
New York; John Jacob Astor, the American an
oi'iSf of 6s ear rveed through
western territory With Rnck on his PaSk % SHf
tho Indians and early settlers in exchange for
furs; Jay Gould for several years traversed
New York State often surveying farmers
OF the asS amy Ill Wing III here IN the
ecendants one OF the frst families of the present
day. and Marshall o. Roberts. as he himself told
fmeston i these sc Ii Instance, Which could be In:
definitely multiplied, In no disparaging spirit:
On the e1n,rary the greatest OF praise shofld
and perseverance which enabled them. by over
coming all obstacles. eventually to bring some
MARRIAGE BY re nobility Of Enelsnd and France:
generations. we should doubtless find that at
that time all Of these people in their humble be-
Recognized by the -Four Hundred " Of that day.
| Again, to follow this vein still further, under
Of ES .sndns
families in neieb6oring. State; grocer's
family Of historic fame; and the child Of one.
who before he became a millionaire, was q day
\
wife Of one of the most distinguished diplomat
lists OF the day. And numerous other instances
OF a similar character II were easy to mention:
| Now, as have asked, where 10 the line to be
drawnf 1t is true that in the cases above cited
these daughters had become, by the wise and in
| telliRent foresight Of their parents who gave
| them the very best education procurable. highly
cultivated, refined and accomplished women
! them for any station in life even that Of an en-
| press; much moro so indeed. than that of tho
| beggar maid who became the wife Of that
French Monarch whose adventure in this re-
Still. this brings me to my first query. Is It
| education, or wealth, or fortuitous circum-
eition in what is called tho first society r Is
| 1t culturel Assuredly not; for some sixty years
since tobacconist who was among the upper
ten" OF that day. drove through the streets Of
emblazoned on the panels Of his carriage. given
him by some wag "Quid rides" (Anglice,
Why Dc yon lsughr'l Is 1t In being gentle
man, with all that that much abused word i'm.
society, the true test OF a gentleman. consisting
Of selfrespect and chivalric regard for tho
feelings of others, is often mistak ken for the
veneer and varnish of a mere knowledge OF con-
ventionslities.
1t is currently said that in Boston the :" Four
| Hundred, before admitting newcomer into i s
charmed circle. ask =" What does he knowf In
delphia, Who was his grandfatherr Still,
these questions are purely provincial or. rather.
perhaps more properly local In their characte-.
Enally any one Of your readers rs can can furnish S
especially as In the United states all ranks and
conditions are in such an inchoate state But
where shall tho line be drawnf As Patrick
Henry said in his memorable debate before the
MOUNT VERNON, May. 1897.