The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-12-02
PRESTIGE FOR SALE
MARKErABLE COMMODITY NOT
 PECULIAR TO THE PRESENT.
The Intrinsic Value of Assured Posi- ton-People Ever Ready to Buy and Sell It-A Candid Offer
 From the West.

Social ambition as a marketable com mcdity is not a stock in trade peculiar to the culture of the present day in New York. Mir. Decimus Junius Juvenalis used to poke satire at his fellow Romans for failing they had of giving each advance in the 'smart set' at Rome in days of Emperor Hadrian an intrinsic valuet and the satirist has left the information for future generations to work on that the patricians took good care to draw on the persons. they helped to social advance | ment in. good -sesterces of the realm. However, Juvenal does not mention the fact of any of, the socially ambitious Ro- mans of his day candidly advertising | their hopes and offering to pay we'll for the attainment of them. The use of the advertising columns of the daily papers for the purpose of exploiting ones ambi- tions for advancement into the holy-of holies of the fashionable tabernacle at so l much per agate line appears to be prod | uce of modern culture. Thackeray could have found fine "stun" for a>cutting chapter to the Book of Snobs' in the modern personal column.
 England has furnished some spectacular | instances of the intrinsic value of social position and the price or advancement in the fashionable ranks during the past few | months. Just before the coronation Of King Edward an advertisement appeared | in London newspaper. in which peer offered to sell his rights to whatever rivileges his inheritance gave him in Hvestmir ster Abbey. Another peer ad- vertised for an American wife who could, | as his wife sit among the peeresses in the Abbey, If she would guarantee to turn | over to him a certain number of her l American dollars The latest instance l from across the water came in a dispatch from Londcn a few days ago. which said I that an English woman advertised that | she will soon start for India to attend | the DCrbar at Delhi, and that she would chaperon an American or English wo- man. The terms for four months chap l eronage are placed at s2,000 and. as an inducement, the advertiser added that. having many invitations. she would be able to give her charge a mighty good time. The advertisement was palpably aimed at rich Americans, in forgetfulness of the fact that it was a rich American girl who. not long ago. went to India 1 as the wife of the Viceroy himself and re- gardless of expense.
 New York cannot show anything just like that, although it Is a matter of his- tory that not long before the Patriarchs expired some invitations to one of their balls were advertised for sale. Even in later days some guarded charges have ! changed hands for considerations, and the instance of the advertisement for $50 of an invitation to the marriage of Miss Consuelo Vanderbilt and the Duke of Marlborough is still fresh in tine memory of the persons who follow society mat ters at all.
 Four years ago a person either suffer- ing from an especially aggravated attack of social ambition. or with an aim to at- | u at1lya nf society, inserted this advertisement in a morning news paper of that city:
 "A lady of undoubted refinement and
 good presence. also a good dresser. will
 pay 6, 900 for a bona fide introduction into
 New York's Four Hundred. Only respon-
 sible persons need reply, as this is done
 in good faith"
 It Is not known whether or not the lady
 with a social bee in her bonnet got her
 expensive introduction. A carefully word
 ed answer elicited no reply and no forged
 numbers were seen in the ranks of the
 Four Hundred during that season
 There is at first sight something pa
 thetic in the advertisement which says
 that "a reduced gentlewoman" of the
 highest culture would act as chaperone or
 companion for young girls. or widows
 going abroad" but the reduced gentle
 woman is legion and does not hesitate tc I
 led to believe, therefore, that the wo-
 man who has descended two or three
 floors on the fashionable elevator.is part
 ly a mercenary person who regards the
 former social accomplishments as SC
 much working capital. The following ad.
 vertsement which appeared on Sunday
 seems to bear this impression out:
 "A refined woman, dignifed presence
 agreeable disposition, wishes position as I IAha
 leading actress or invalid; accustomed tc
 society here and in Europe: has had
 Court presentation; Is good linguist; read
 CT and amanuepsis: capable household
 manager, highest credentials. A. C."
 It was hard to understand the motive ot
 tho woman who advertised for dinner
 guests flor the following Sunday evening
 as four of the ladies invited had contract ed grip and had to decline,' until an an
 swer brought reply that showed an ul-
 terior design far removed from anything
 like accepted social refnements, even oi
 the sort that upset Colonel Watterson
 One would feel the same perplexity ir
 the advertisement that reads:
 "A lady would like to meet other la.
 dies for afternoon whist party
 until one found out.
 This sort of advertisement cannot be
 the expression of a real. healthy amhi | IlOn TOT great things III society SuCT
 as the following one out of the West
 breezy and candid:
 "A Colorado banker. highest standing
 wishes motherless daughter. IS. charm. , ing. educated abroad; introduced into best
 New York society; confidential arrange.
 ment desired with lady undoubted posi- ton; willing to'launch her.
 Now, this appears to be the honest ex-
 precision of some one who yearns for the
 smart set" and cannot master. or has not the patience. more likely. to master the long initiation that prefaces advance } ment to the fashionable front in the con. ventional way. There is a report current
 that a matron of undoubted standing ir
 polite society. but with slim purse, will | become the sponsor this winter of a : charming young Western woman with 8 l good education, several accomplishments and a large exchequer, and give her charge the benefit of her long experience | and wide acquaintanceship in New York;
 best drawing rooms. There may be g
 connection between the candid "ad' and
 the needy lady.
 All of which goes to prove once agair . that assured social position has an in trinsic value and that there are plenty oi { people who are ready to buy this sort oi goods when 1t comes guaranteed. The Size of Atoms.
 : | I opdon Times