The Tucson citizen., 1902-08-04
EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT
a NEN TERROR TO SOCIETY.

!. -aA appears that the mcganhone
has uluA,u INTO exclusive society.
lsi,pa,ghe. from Newport describing
a recent Wedding at that resort of tho
Four Hundred state that man
equipped with one of these tuneful
instrument, called the carriages of
the guests. The innovation proved a
daY ane success. and many compli-
mrutS we're paid the person who
launched the megaphone upon the sea
Of aildcd society.
Society is so shy and bashful and
shrinking in the hannts frequcnted 5y
the Four Hundred that possibly the
megaphone may not prove the blessing
which it is now proclaimed to be by
some OF its most enthusiastic adm =
ers Everybody familiar with the
conditions knows that the section of
society which receives so much atten-
iion from the puhAc really abhors no.
terjety. Its most prominent charac-
teri-tirs are It's modest reserve, its
ahomination Of anything like yulgar
display lis warnings for privacy. its
desire to revive the beautiful simple
ity of o}len days. II gives a luncheon
10 monkey occasionally rather
thau cultivate The acquaintance of
loud, coarse persons who are
detarred from membership in the
-Four Hundred. 1t provides banquets
for poodles OF aristocratic descent in
order to. avaid contact with piebeians
who do not handle their knives and
forks with the grace and dignity OF the
elect. The monkeys and dogs can not
talk. and thus the Four Hundred ar"
protected from notoriety Animal
guests do not boast of their intimacy
with the leaders of the most exclusive
society, whereas thoughtless plebeians.
intoxicated by the honor of dining
with the Four Hundred, proclaim the
glorious tidings to all the world.
If our most exclusive society desires
to preserve its exclusvpneSs and It's
reputation for quiet elegance it will
not adopt the megaphone as its official
mOuthpiece. 1t will be impossible
for il TO keep its secrets and 10 main
tain its aloofness if it delivers itself
over to the tender mercies of nunkcy
equipped with a speaking trumpet that
can he heard for miles All the beau
tiful and refined rites and recreations
OF the select will become public prop
erty and viii be derided by the vulgar
populace. Those rechershe feasts 10
members of the simian tribe. cultured
specimens OF the missing link" will
become public property. Those de-
lightful banquets 10 blue blooded ca
mines will become town talk among
the wicked and unregenerate. When
the fiunkey roars through the mega
phone to the coachman to come and
take Mrs \ from Mrs. Us monkey
tea. or Mrs, W. from Mrs. rs dog
lunch, how can the secret be kept from
those rude and ignorant persons who
are not capable Of enjoying canine and
simian society, 1t is plain enough
that the megaphone would prove the
undoing Of the Four Hundred break
down the barriers of social exclusive
ness they have erected and rob them
OF their most alIuring charms. Hence
the proposition to adopt the loud
speaking trumpet is one which re-
puires the most serious consideration.
A rash decision might result in
knocking the Four Hundred off their
pedestal and undermining the founda-
tions on which our most ornate soci. I
ETY. is based.
1t has been said in the foregoing
that the reading characteristic of the
-Four Hundred is their hatred OF noto
rl"ty. There Is abundance of ,roof TO
establish the justice and propriety Of
this assertion. Perhaps the latest in
cldent recorded may prove interesting
to those who follow with admiring
gaze the momevents of our social par
aeons. A few days ago ther. was a
brilliant wedding at Newport, the |
groom being a transplanted member
of a millionaire family in our neigh |
boring State of California. The bri
1al party. after the ceremony, hast /
ened to Boston. They did not regis
ter at the hotel at which they stopped.
but their presence was suspected A
meek and lowly newsgatherer, it IS
stated, spoke to the bridegroom in the i
lobby of the hotel. He paid dearly
Tor his audacity and presumption
Inc publicity hating gentleman laid .
violent hands upon the man who had :