The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-24

New York Sun
The experts in the matter Of social de-
pertinent have observed a new fashion
which marks the summer OF 1902. 1t Is
year Of great cordiality of manner and
warmth OF feeling.
Nowadays it is distinctly bad form in the
sets that think they know more than any
others about good form to criticise or say
any harsh things about anybody. Every
woman must be thought at least charming
is she is manifestly too plain TO be called a
beauty; and IL there be the least ground
for IL she must be called beautiful.
All men are attractive, whether they
are rich or not. Every entertainment
from the duIlest dinner to the dance that
has five girls to every man, must be pro-
nounced a complete success. and 1t Is I'M
forgivabIe in the tenets OF this new style
ever to be bored or 10 intimate that life Is
not just the gayest. happiest. most de-
Iightful thing that ever was known.
That is the viewpoint that prevails to-
day in society. That it will continue, no
body believes. 1t merely marks revul-
sion against the old manner of criticising
for a while considered a mark of having
To be bored then was a sign of safety
To be constantly critical showed that better
things had been enjoyed At least IL was
the Intention of every person who adopted
this pose while Ii was in favor 10 give that
impression.
that there was bound to be revulsion
against the cynical way of talking and
thinking: so they began the new pose. It's
success was so great that everybody who
urno ffa1 off fvnff OF cd
Now there Is nothing but optimism and
brotherIy love TO be found on all sides. 1t
Is to-day as virulent a fashion as the other
mood OF cynical criticism used TO be.
Another reason for the popularity of the
new fashion was the introduction into So
ciety OF a number of persons of great
wealth who might not always be found up
to every other standard. In the matter of
breeding, for instance, or possibly Of their
social relations, there might be ground for
criticism. The desire to see only what was
attractive in them made IL necessary to be
optimistic or at least charitable So every
circumstance helped the vogue Of the new
fashion.
1T is amusing to see the attitude of per-
sons who are using the new pose toward
those who have not or cannot learn 1t, .
said woman who noticed its effects re-
Gently at Newport. 'I was at tea one after
noon at a woman's house and there were
also there half a dozen others.
"One woman let out few spiteful cracks
ar another who was not there and although
her and fewer liked her, the woman who
made the remarks must have felt as IL she
were in the midst of the woman's most in
innate friends. Some of the women received
what she said in chilling silence while 9TH
ers said they were quite astonished to hear
that anybody felt that way about Mrs. X
She was as warmly championed by the
group as II she were the most intimate
friend of them.
"AS a matter Of fact what the woman
said was in this case the truth. But she
got what her friends would have called
the marble heart in a way that made me
feel sorry for her even If she had brought
the punishment down upon herself by hel
gossip.
:" Did you see those women? she saiC
to we were leaving, 'raving over thai
common Mrs. X when every one of then
knows that she is impossible and would no
dare to come here if her husband had no
a million a year. Yet everybody is so good
hearted and amiable nowadays that / haC
TO be sat on for saying what every one o.
those women thinks herselfr
"She was right But Ii was necessar,
for her to learn her lesson and not to have
known the new style In manners would
have been OF the greatest disadvantag,
10 her. So, perhaps. IL was after all tn,
best thing that could have happened
She won't make another mistake of tina
kind"