New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-04
SOCIAL HOURS.

Early to bed and early to rise" Is Phila-
delphia proverb Ever since the days Of Benja-
min franklin that city has enjoyed repute as
a place of staid virtues and moderate habits.
People were not supposed TO go there ut the
pace that kills. But II seems that Philadelphia
has lately been losing its beauty sleep. and
movement Is OH foot among its social leaders
TO restore the good old days of Poor Richard. so
that young men and maidens may have bet
ter chance to grow wealthy and wise.
Whether the late social hours against which
Philadelphia rcvolts are late absolutely or only
relatively we do not know. 1t is possible that
the Philadelphia brain requires more sleep than
the New-York or Baltimore brain, and that
very mild social dissipation may be too much
for Quaker placidity. 1t is perhaps true, how
ever, that all social life Is carried on at too
late hours, and that everywhere devOtees OF
society are suffering for lack of sleep. and Phil
adelphia true to its soporfc tendencies, was
only the first to realize the fact and enter pro-
test II that Is the case, Philadelphia is en-
titled to credit, not least because Of the cour-
age required as some of the Philadelphia
papers point out for n town with Philadelphlas
reputotion 10 start movement in favor Of
more sleep Color is given to the view that the
which the movement receives from the social
leaders of Washington. One woman OF prom
inence there says it is a pity that young men
who have to be at the office early in the morn
ing should be compelled to burn the candle at
both ends in order to enjoy any social HE. AS
for herself and other women, who have
chance to make up sleep in the forenoon, she
does not like TO lie abed all the morning, and
/, oil so of Inn
Now it may be answered in behalf Of the
true butterfly theory of society that society
does net exist for the sake of, but rather to
get rid Of the young men who have to ne be-
hind the counter at a. m. and that people
with Puritan cOnscenccs, who are shocked AT
any "wicked waste which contributes to the
gayety of society, have no reason for being in
society Imagine the company Of Carlton
House or Versailles arranging its plans because
somebody had To be ut the office in the morn
ing or because il was a waste of time not TO
he ND with the lark. What woull young
Charles Fox have said If somebody had told
him that a public servant. Member of Parlia-
ment and Under Secretary. should 20 to bed early
so as to have a clear head for the public bust
ness? That Washington has a society which
regards the next mornings claim on the but
ter1y's time and attention shows how far we
have departed from the Old World idea OF So
cial life We have, indeed, made water and oil
to mix when we have what a Philadelphia
paper calls the very cream OF society not
only welcoming the young men who have To
keep office hours but actually confcssing that
II considers their convenience and needs.
The counting room young man has long peen
in society but it has been n pleasant fiction
Of some of the "cream," and often Of the young
man himself that he was not there. and IT
has often been pitifuI 10 see the young man
and the cream" both pretending that neither
had any connection with trade or anything to
do hut dance and talk and sleep till noon. The
young man knew he could not sleep till noon
and that no valet would prepare his bath, but
that he must leave the boarding house promptly
at 1870 O'Clock and the cream knew it also
But II long persisted in boring itself with
pretence of idleness and responsibility. 1t Is
good to see Philadelphia and Washington facing
facts. 1t may yet become fashionable for the
cotillon leader to say. frankly: II must he at
"thc teers window on time. and so can't stay
.out later" But that is n long way from the
fashion that makes serious responsibility I'M
fashionable We hope ii will prevail, for 1t is
straightforward and honest II suits n country
where everybody works better than society
which lives on the prctencc of general idlencss,
such as Louis XVI knew. but which does not
exist here at all.