The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1902-12-31
SELL SOCIAL PRESTIGE.
A MARke TABLE COMMODITY NOT
PECULIAR TO THE PRESENT.
The Intrinsic Value OF Assured Position
People Ever Ready to Buy and Sell
It Candid Ofrer from the West
Has It Already Been Taken Up?

Has It Already been Taken Up?
Social ambition MS a marketable
commodity is not a stock In trade pc
culiar to the culture Of the present
day in New York Mr.. Decimus Juni-
us Juvenalis used to poke satire at his
fellow Romans for a failing they had
of giving each advance in the smart
set" of Rome In days of Emperor
Hadrian an intrinsic value, 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
advancement in good sesterces of the
realm. However, Juvenal does not
mention the fact of any of the social
ly ambitious Romans of his day can
didly advertising their hopes and offer
ing to pay well for the attainment of
them. The use of the advertising col
umns of the daily papers for the pur-
pose Of exploiting ones ambitions for
advancement into the holy-of-holies of
the fashionable tabernacle at SO
much per agate line appears to be
product of modern culture. Thack-
cray could have found fine stuff" for
a cutting chapter to the Book of
Snobs' in the modern personal col
umn.
England has furnished some specta.
cular instances of the intrinsic value
of social position and the price of ad-
vancement in the fashionable ranks
during the past few months. Just be-
fore the coronation of King Edward
on advertisement appeared in Lon
don newspaper in which peer offered
to sell his rights to whatever privi-
leges his inheritance gave him in
Westminster Abbey. Another peer ad-
vertised for an American wire who
could, as his wife, sit among the peer
esses in the abbey, If she would guar
antee to turn over to him a certain
number Of her American dollars. The
latest instance from across the water
came in dispatch from London few
days ago, which said that an English
woman advertised that she will soon
start for India to attend the Durbar at
Delhi, and that she would chaperone
an American or English woman. The
terms for four months chaperonage
are placed at $4,000, and as an induce
ment 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 forgetful-
ness of the fact that It was a rich
American girl who, not long ago, went
TO India as the wife of the viceroy
himself and regardless of expense.
New York cannot show anything
Just like that, although 1t is matter
of history that not long before the Pa
triarchs expired, some invitations to
one of their balls were advertised for
sale. Even in later days some guard
ed charges have been made that pri-
vate ball cards have changed hands for
considerations, and the instance Of
the advertisement for 500 of an invi-
tation to the marriage Of Miss Con-
suelo Vanderbilt and the Duke of Marl-
borough Is still fresh in the memory
of the persons who follow society
matters at all.
Fours year ago person either suf-
fering from an especially aggravated
attack of social ambition, or with an
aim to attach discredit upon the high
er ranks of society, inserted this ad-
vertisement in morning newspaper
Of this city:
A lady of undoubted refinement and
good presence, also good dresser,
will pay $4,000 for bona fide intro.
duction into New York's Four Hun
dred. Only responsible persons need
reply, as this Is done in good faith.
1t is not known whether or not the
lady with a social bee IN her bonnet
got her expensive introduction. A
carefully worded answer ELECTED no
reply and no forged numbers were
seen in the ranks of the Four Hun
dred during that season.
There is at first sight something
pathetic in the advertisement which
says that "a reduced gentlewoman" Of
the highest culture would act as chap
eron or companion for young girls. or
widows going abroad; but the reduced
gentlewoman is legion and does not
hesitate to dilate on her social ad-
vancement. One Is led to believe,
therefore, that the woman who has
descended two or three floors on the
fashionable elevator is partly a mer-
cenary person who regards her former
social accomplishments as so much
working capital. The following ad-
vertisement which appeared on Sun
day seems to bear this impression
out:
A refined woman, digniied presence.
agreeable disposition. wishes position
as chaperon. companion to society
woman, leading actress or invalid; ac-
customed to society here and in Eu-
rope; has had court presentation; Is
good linguist, reader and amanuensis;
capable household manager; highest
credentials. A. C.
1t was hard to understand the mo-
tive of the woman who advertised for