The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-05-01
Honesty and Good sacIety.

1t will seem rather curious to most peo-
pie that a newspaper in good and regular
standing should seriously discuss the ques-
ton whether or not honesty is in good
taste. But that is the subject of an edi-
torial article in an esteemed contemporary.
And, on the whole, it is not so absurd after
ALL
1t is often said that 'crookedness" does
not, in this age of the world, bar man out
Of good society; that morals have little to
do with society affairs, and that the rich
rascal is tolerated by aristocracy, while
the honest poor man is barred out This
statement is made SO often and so earnest
ly that it is impossible not to believe that
there is something in it, though the con-
clusion of the contemporary aforesaid is
that, after all, man must be honest to be
social success.
To discuss first the reasons for barring
out the worthy poor man and admitting
the rich rascal df he is admitteD: it must
be conceded that what we know as society
is more or less a pageant, show, thea
trieal amusement. kept up not so much for
the employment OF the participants as out
of respect for traditions. There is no
doubt that many princes and princesses in
Europe, to say nothing of lesser mortals,
would drop the whole social rigmarole and
live according to their own sweet will, IL
they could do so without unpleasant conse-
qaences. There are others, however, In
the same circles, who would rather die
than cease TO live after their accustomed
manner. They are like stage folk who,
with three generations of the drama in
their blood. can no more help acting than
they can help breathing. and would be mis-
cradle without the excitement. rewards
pains, and pleasures of the life behind the
footlights If this pageant, which We call
society, is to be a success, manifestly those
who play a part in it must understand
their business and provide proper cos
tunes. If they have not the money for
training and dress. they cannot act, and
that is the whole thing in a nutshell
If the rich man without principles contri-
butes to the success of the play, II ne Is
clever and amusing. or otherwise desirable
there may be some reason for letting MIN
in. But it is not his lack of honesty which
makes him a society man; he becomes one
in spite of his "crookedness."
There is. however, considerable doubt
whether this rich rascal ever does get into
really good society. There is an inner cir
Gle in every large city and small town oil
the land which has its own high stand
ards. and into which no man can buy MS
way. Sometimes this circle is composed
of descendants of old-time aristocracy, oil
men who held honor in such high esteem
that they would die for it; OF women
whose delicate sense of truth and right
was as pure and unconscious as an open
ing flower. To these people it makes no
difference whether a man has million
dollars in his bank account or works on a
minute salary, If he is a gentleman; ana
a woman may not have penny to her
name. but she will be received by them'
II she is a lady. 1t is a curious feature oil
our civilization that now and then the en-
Move moves in circles where the employer
cannot come. To these highly-bred, true
hearted gentlepeople, the man who en-
beetles half a million dollars is no more
to be admitted to intimacy than If he stole
the family silver. 1t should be noted.
moreover. that these true and genuine
ideas of honor and honesty are by no
means confined to a class. One may find
families in the poorest country towns,
families in which the men work with their
hands and no servants are kept, who have
this tradition of gentlehood; and that is
another feature of American life which is
worth noting.
Again, there are degrees and degrees OF
entrance into society. and a man may be
admitted to the outer rim of ones &C
auaintance, but not by any means to
friendship. Most people of limited means
would not care to receive an invitation to
a magnificent masquerade ball, or to a
dinner where all the other guests were
miIlionaires; but that would not prevent
their being admitted to intimacy with the
! giver of the ball. In ways which would
benefit both 1t is also higher honor to
| be the friend on whom one leans in time
| of trouble, or who is called to rejoice with
one in time of joy. than to be the casual
acquaintance invited to a dance or recep-
ton where all the fashionable world may
come And that, again, is worthy fea-
| ture of our civilization; and it should be
more common than 1t is. All things con-
sidered, it does not seem that the rich
rascal gets anything which is really worth
much trouble.