New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-03
SOCIAL ENGLAND.
THE RAGE FOR sMARTNEss-RECENT
HOMILIES AND sCANDALS-THE
OLD FASHIONED GRACEs
AND VIRTUES.
London. December IL.

beatitude. Of smart in the world Of English
fashion. 1t is the mystical sign OF the highest
distinction in human life II Is the one word
which describes the survival Of the 1ttest and
sums up the privileges OF the few and the as
pirations Of the many. To wear fine clothes
with conscious air OF setting the styles. yet
or remaining unapproachable and unique: 10
know the right people and TO be In Of the
best sets; to live luxuriously and to find recrea-
ton In pleasures not too enfeebling. after ex.
hausting the resources Of human experience;
and TO have the subtle incense OF publicity IN
society journals breathing upon ones finer
senses-thls 1t Is to be smart and IT Is the
chief end Of man and the supreme distinction Of
woman. and II is to be enjoyed go long there
is money TO pay the bills.
To understand this ldolatry az "smartness"
one must live in London and listen 10 the jan
Cling changes rung upon the word. He must
hear IL pronounced with bated breath and
whispering humbleness" by the envious and
ambitious and with easy going Hlppant famlli-
arty by those who have passed from the outer
courts and been admitted into the nnermost
shrines. He must read diligently the society
journals. In which the word is used forty times
on a single page OF fashionable intelligence He
must take note OF the weekly chronicles OF the
:,
impressed with the prediction that the next
fancy dress skating carnival Will be extremely
amusing because it will be very Smart" He
must study the details Of the smart" house
parties gathered for the races or for holiday
reves He must go with the society para
grapher on the daily round Of keen observation.
catching gmpses row Of a Duchess. young.
slim and smart" Again. Of well-dressed ma
irons elegant and smart in black velvet and
sab,es or Of bellies always handsome and
smart" in fawn color or prettiest red. and so on
to the end Of the page. Beauty, graceful man.
ners charm Of conversation. Intellectual dig
nifty, refinement, even wealth itself-what are
these in comparison with the Incompatible gift
Of "smartness".
What is especially noteworthy Is the fact that
the very journals which minister to the vanity
Of "smartness' constantly protesting and
inveighng against the foes selfshness and
emptiness Of certain fashionable circles. The
moralists are strong effective preachers when
ever the divorce courts supply record OF wan
ton heartlessness and immortality in Vanity
Fair. or whenever there is a startling revelation
Of the degeneracy Of gilded youth or social lead
ership Trenchant and bitter are the homilies
when a we'll born scapegrace goes from Cam
bridge to Monte Carlo by way OF an ineoriats
asylum, and en0S MS l1lOuC career III d sldtc VI
beastly intoxcation after a sham duel. leaving
his fortune to a penniless flower girl; or when
the ambitious titled leader OF social set lives
beyond his means. falls into the hands OF money
lenders and entraps rich officer Of the Guards
into signing promssory notes under false pre-
fences Then It is that the vices Of society and
the senseless frenzy for "smartness" are con-
demned with fine irony and virtuous indigna-
ton. The Importance Of such exceptional incl
dents. however may easily be exaggerated The
social morast's real ground Is the ordinary
course Of Smart society with Its low Ideals
and Unsuitable thirst for notorety.
Lord Charles Beresford, the other night. IN
his vigorous indictment Of the corruption or
society by money power. did not supply Dill
Of PARTICULARS but II was not difficult To per-
ceiye what was In his mind when he declared
that rich men were buying their way into the
highest social circles The wealthy young or
fcer who signed the promissory notes so III
petuousy between the folds OF the botung-
pad was a type of large class that Is hatterea
by the attentions Of smart people. lie hao
been taken up by one who had been leauer
In a fashionable set, and all went well Until
ne found out that his social privileges were
costing him too heavily. Ordinarily the Tolls
are paid without reluctance Admission INTO
smart" circles is considered cheap al any
price for those anxious to secure social recos-
milton.
When Lord Charles Beresford invegned
against the sordid tendencies Of English sociai
life. he probably did not have In mind sol-
tary instance Of money obtained under lalse
pretences by a lord in financial straits He was
referring presumably TO the chances for invest
ment with which stock promoters and specu-
lators can bait their social patrons. vast fort-
unes have been made in London by compina-
tons financial deals and various schemes OK
stock reorganization. and many OF those wh"
have acquired wealth rapidly are able to fur-
hish their friends with useful cues for enlarg-
ing their incomes by Judicious investments
This is a familiar illustration Of the FACILITY
with which compensation can be offered for al
mission into come OF the smart" sets and for
social patronage and favor. LORD Charies
Reresford Is generally right in his facts and 10
not in the habit OF firing amessly into the ar
Whatever may be the precise effects OF traftio
Of this kind in lowering the tone OF fash'ohao'e
circles. II cannot be doubted that the rage for
"smartness" Is demoralizing. II substitutes 10"
ideals OF life and social recreation for high
aspirations and worthy ambitions Ihere are
swarms Of mitators, who affect the arrogant
manners Idle pleasures and almless existence
Of more fashionable people above them iie'
may not enjoy the felicity OF seeing their c'o'heS
described and their doings chroncled IN soc'e'y
journals. but they are trying to be as sh'ar'
as possible. Since imitation Is seldom as sooa
as the original "seml-smartness' Is not ihife-
quently coarser and more heartless ana Vao"-
Gus than "smartness" itself Much OF the sFace
and elegance OF the manners Is vulSarzeu, anu
many OF the vices and follies are deepehed anu
exaggerated. The most serious charge wh'ch
can be lodged against smart society Is tha'
of debasing and discoloring the outlying circles
which are closely in touch with II. II PROVIDES
low motives OF living and amusement for those
whom II powerfully influences.
,rN-.o 49,, Ia no ora Yer mistake however, tnan