New-York tribune., 1901-08-12
PIAZZA TALKS
THREE CoNGENIAL SPIRITS DISCUSS TIL
UNGENTLE ART OF sNUBBING-

UNGENTLE ART OF sNUBBING-
NV dear" said the Dear old Lady TO the
Bright Girl II noticed young girls new
Corners. who went down 70 the golf grounds thiS
morning Who are they2
T don't know. aunty; no one seems 10 know
They look rather nice"
What did they do?~ asked the Clever Woman
who as usual had drifted toward the corner Of
the piazza where the Dear Old Lady sat IN
state
They sat while, and looked n. and then went
away" answered the Bright Girl
Interesting record. Ny question meant What
did you do with them"
oh nothing at all In fact" said the Bright
Girl who is nothing II not frank, I think we
snubbed them"
May 7 ask why"
"You may ask but 7 can't give reason, for
there IS none They were new, they were outsd-
ers We knew nothing about them and thought
nothing about them
80 YOU treated them as II you knew all about
them. and the all was totally bad You girls are
worse than the law. which treats person as IN
nocent until he's found guilty"
Vow. Mrs. BrownsUlith you're snubbing ne!
"Oh no: I'm not doing anything nearly so III
bred as that. But I'm threatening 70 lecture you,
which is almost equally rude. after all, for
haven't the authority. You lecture her. Mrs. sii-
vercrovn. Il it can be proved that she really
snu5bed the poor little strangers
Tt was very unchrsrian, my dear, II you do
said the Dear Old Lady.
y [
severe enough and know # all by heart before
hand Mrs Brownsnith, III promise not 70 be
offended If you give a sharp talk on snubhlng.
for I don't really mean 10 snUb any one But
people do IT, you know and its contagious I'd
ike TO have your ideas on the subject
VERY well then; well divide the lecture into
firstly secondly and thirdly, Ike oId-fashtoned
sermon And frst wem take the high ground that
snubbing is unchristian and uncharitaoie and
III leave that branch Of the subject 10 your aunt
and PASS on at once TO secondly. which is-that
srubbirg is vulgar
But wait; can't you make a distinction and
say unnecessary snubbing2 Surely IT'S an absolute
necessity at times"
The snub which is necessary. my dearly be-
loved is so rare that afford TO leave II
out Of the question II is true that intrusive per
sons have 10 be htly-welI-discouraged, but IL
can easily come short OF actual snubbing, which
IS always GlscoCrteous And that IS enough 10
say. Let courtesy be the first rule-everywhere
and with every one-and the rest will take care
Of itself. The snub is the hallmark OF The s1Ob.
II TO protect your social standing you are obliged
10 use contemplate shield. the said social
standing is itself coutemptioe.'
Dear me yol can lecturer said the Dear Old
Il hope So when the subject is one that 50
nearly concerns the difference between true breed
ing ana false prelensions- II ms true hat Pr opie
majority, bat show our qla4ty by our unialtIns
courtesy II We have any quality II can endure
/ only be injured from wltnin-by arrogance and
/ The Dear Old Eady nodded her head approvingly-
! That's excellent lecture she said. II ye
/ through life without snuobing people, unless
! they first suubbed me. and don't think my small
world thought less OF me for treating folks
If they human beings"
But you don't mean 10 say, alnlyz that any
I ever snubbed you exclaimed the Bright Girl.
/ oh. dear me yes said the Dear Old Lady You
/ know. you some people who are afraid 10 say
I 'HOw-ce-dO' 10 any one
For fear youl think they're not swells.'" put
! They'd snub the ghost Of George Washington II
Il didn't bring credentials from the Sons OF the
f Revolution said the Clever Woman. And that
brings me TO my thirdly: That snubbiug Is bad pol
: icy. It's a fearful risk. in fact, Il you don't know
. whom you trying to put 10 death socially I
knew a woman M a woman
4 whose social reputation based solely upon her
4 practice OF the ungentle OF snubbiEg She was
/ approached by a modest looking girl with some
simple request. and afterWard the girl naturally
ing bow The woman looked up and down and
everywhere 10 avoid these salutauons, as II say.
4 Really. presuminE upon slight
I ground acquaintance The girl took the hint
/ and avoided her. Afterward this amiabe woman
I discovered that she had snubbed one OF the lions
. the rash snubber, with the question, Have you
met Mrs Blank2' The girl kept her right hand at
ber side bowed coldly and remarked I have not
I that plea sure in tone which sufficiently ndi-
/ turned away. and II Mrs Blanks turn 10
/ ioox in vain for a passing nod
Very goodt' said the Bright Girl. Il Won
Z believe in reprisals. however.
Socially yes reprisals inevitable. All
/ ,.,o,,vre 70 this that the woman Of her own
J f..T1snLs for the lecture III AT and over
1 uyhelrn the strange girls with golfstcks and
1 candy and-yes. I'll introduce them TO our Only
/ Man"