The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-07

The Onlooker (New York;
There is a theory popular with the public
that social solecisms are restricted to that
set of aspirsnts known as new rich" The
error of this belief is obvious to those ia
miiiar with the outer fringe of and on bow
ing relations with the inner circle. a man
considered socially may not be considered
seriously or he becomes ridiculous from a
human standpoint, but to the women of the
opposing factions all honors are due to her
who is lately arrived" She who is newly
enriched must from the very nature Of her
hopes cultivate breeding, refinement and a
honey tongue. She must be equipped to
dure the merciless limelght which olazes
upon her from every quarter of the social
horizon. The merest pebble of a peccad!lo
past will attain to the proportions of a
stone wall erected by her enemies to close
her path. Wherefore must this daughter
of duty be of clear mentality, faultless
manner and irreproachable past. Not 50
happy being is permitted TO be as bland of
morals as she is guiltleSs Of brains and
spitefu of nature as her tastes or her linn
itationS dictate She may be selfish
greedy and dull as an alligator and there
will be those who will HE to the swamp
TO worship her If one would taste the
friendship of her who is on probation and
whose interest it is to be attractive. There
is a dame of this town whose blood is so
blue as to be fairly purple and whose
plethoric purse is distended beyond even
the spending possibilities of danseuse.
This parsonage has a soul for parsimony,
and likewise delights in thinking up ways
for making her friends uncomfortable. Per-
haps she despiseS them because they are
her friends or so profess themselves to be,
and revenges herself upon their syco-
phancy. It's the pleasing custom of this
very rich dame to give an occasional din
ner and then upon the remains thereof to
next day lunch some dozen of her fashion
sisters. Faded flowers and broken bon
bons decorate the board, which is further
enriched by haShed and rewarmed ViandS
washed down by sparkless wine. These
graceful feasts are attended by women
some of whom would gladly walk from the
Battery 10 Harlem to win an invitation.
One wonders why it is that a handful of
people find conversation an art so arduous
that they can make no effort to entertain
themselves. Professional singers, dancers,
cake walkers, mag1cians and bores of
divers kinds must be on hand to while away
the after-dinner hour devoted to digestion
The frugal dame on whose hospitality we
comment desires, like sister hOSteSseS, to
provide a SIDE show for these inert feeders.
Under her roof they ever fail to feed TO
their usual repletion, but the principle of
ennui is the same. They stand in need of
entertainment from outside. and profession
ais have unpleasant notions of barterlng
their talent for fat checks only. So this
hostess contrives to reconcile the frugal
with the artistic by tossing her glove of
patronage TO some young and starving
musician, who plays at her house for the
sole recompense of fame. So does one live
and learn how the true aristocracy exc out
existence, and that the wise guest turns
his back upon the Knickerbocker threshold
to jump at the bidding of her whose riches
are recent and whose lord may be an in
ventor OF chewing gum.