The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-07-25
LONDON SOCIETY.
Revolution, Degeneration, and CONT
mental Reputation Its Fate.

rum Ndully Fdlr.
There are those who would have us be-
lieve that London society-that thing at
once so delicate and refined, so exclusive
and selects still in existence. They
have an idea that within the mansions
of the "haute noblesse" none but those
who can boast of pride or birth, or even of
pride of deed, can gain admittance They
even cherish the thought that those writ
ers who have pointed out that these are
the days of the snob and the plutocrat are
wholly mistaken; and that, save in few
instances, our aristocratc families still
keep more or less to themselves; that
there Is still a society in the true sense
of the term. BLOOD will still tell' they
cry, and they cry the truth. But its tale
is a curious one indeed-the story of its
own weakness, of how it has been almost
washed away by the waive of vulgarty
that has flooded our English capital these
last few years.
We do not hesitate to say that London
society exists no longer. 1t simply is not;
and the thing that does duty for 1.-THE
large coarse substitute for what was so
delicate and so refined-s merely hide
GUS caricature For proof of this asser-
ton it is unnecessary to go far. 1t con-
fronts us at every step, in every one of
parties. Vulgarity in all its hideous glo-
~, holds the high place; and ancient birth,
honored titles, fail down and do it hom-
age. This is no fairy story, no result Of a
perfervid imagination, but a solid, I'M
wholesome, indigestible fact THE old or
der changeth,' indeed. Where once men
and women were proud of their blood and
of their family they would now lay claim
TO no higher honor than that of being
smart" where once they rejoiced in
wholesome exclusiveness they now revel
in a bonhomie which threatens to become
disastrous. They are bourgeois gentil-
hOmmes, indeed.
In Rome, in Vienna, even in republican
Paris London society is becoming a
laughing stock-a very byword 1t is look
ed upon as the receptacle for continental
refuse. the rubbish heap on which many
a dusty character can be shot No one
can deny this; for half the world knows
that men and women, of vast wealth and
no antecedants have been ousted from
continental society," only to be received
here with open arms, to be even petted
and caressed and made much of. Blood,
pride of race-what are these nowadays?
Money, above all the willingness to enter
tain, entertain, entertain-these are the
keys to what was once a fortress to be
stormed by birth and birth alone. Even
good character is not essential; for if
wine be good, the room handsome, and the
orchids beautiful. what matter antece-
dents?
Women with pasts, and men with moth
ing but very shady presents-are they
Stunned? Not if they entertain, not if
their table be ever ready laid the wine al
ways flowing. HE does you so WELL"
that is the password. A banknote will
break open almost any door; the rich par
venu can gaze upon entertainments which
should be to him as hallowed mysteries,
can put his vulgar feet on carpets that
should fade under his tread. Even royal
gardens have become the Fairgrounds
Of Plutus and his satellites. Royal wine
is taken into stomachs meant for piebe-
ian beer; and pate de foie gras is MUNICH
ed by mouths created for Dutch cheese
and good red herring.
We write this with no feeling Of spite;
we merely wish to speak the truth. No
longer must people delude themselves
with the idea that London society stil
exists. because IL Is obvious on the FACE
of it that 1t is dead-dead a 5 a door nail.
The hordes of ineligibles whe have been
allowed within its one-time sacred pre-
cincts have doomed It forever There
can be no resusctation indeed, we look
70 see It gradually decline and decline
still further. The people that were not
admitted last year, this year are to be
found In every house The man who ten
years ago was looked upon as a vulgar
impossible is now claimed as the very
prince OF good fellows "Who was he,
or she?" is not the question that IS asked
nowadays. but. rather, rs he smart?"
whatever that may imply. And the ex-
PLANTATION OF the term Is usually to be
found writ large IN the bank book.
True It IS that there are stll a few
a very few-who cherish the old ideas;
who will not admit Mr.. So-and-So on the
strength OF his deep levels. and TO whom
the champagne Of Mrs. Van Pork Is as
rank poison IN their mouths. But thesa
are so small in number that they scarcely
count; and they are compelled 70 suffer
for their good taste by dull seasons, few
parties. ana the jeers Of even their equals.
Soon they, too. may be swallowed up IN
the vortex: tor daughters have to be mar
ried and even sons have TO be consld-
cred, and IN their own diminished set there
Is little left 20 be gained. They. too. viii
become SMART" and with their IAN the
last foundation OF society will crumble
away. Then the triumph OF King Bour-
gcois will be complete.