New-York tribune., 1903-01-17
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1T GOES ON A SEARCH FOR THE ELUSIVE
SECRET OF GOOD BREEDING

Having talked about social offenders at our last
meeting" suggested Mrs. Weldon. suppose to-day
touch upon the vexed question of good breed
ing. Do you think 1t springs necessarily from
good BIRTH"
"Unquestionably yesw said Mrs. Wright
''Emphatcally nor said Miss Merfvale. in the
same breath.
''WenE' laughed Mrs Wynne you two are evi-
IDENTIFY at opposite poles of the subject. I'm in
clined to side with Mrs. Wright. Birth and an
cestry will tell. Even with animals. what
will do. And the very words good breeding
tell their own story"
Birth has something to do with it." assented
Miss Merivale, but the argument from animals is
unsound. In the case of animals there Is moth
ing to consider but heredty; in the case Of human
beings we have the two mighty factors of environ
and Individuality, which-in connection with
heredity-produce character; and character is the
supreme human attribute"
Would you call good breeding-as under
stand the phrase part Of character?' asked Mrs
Wright
YES 1 would It is character on the social side"
'It is hard to Define" remarked Mrs. Weldon.
Yes. and hard to explain. I've encountered it in
laundresses and princesses: in expressmen, poll
tcians and priests. And in all these. and more
I've found 1t lacking"
Have you met many princesses?" asked Mrs
Weldon. laughing
Not many have laundresses." retorted
Miss Merivae. But L imagine good breeding
lacking in a queen
1t certainly doesn't go with money!" said Mrs
Holmes. with a sigh.
Pride of purse is insufferable" said Miss Meri-
vale. but. tell you there lots of wealthy
people who enter the kingdom, in that respect I'll
tell you presently of charming example of good
breeding on the part of an outrageously wealthy
woman"
Isn't it funny" said Mrs. Outing that we
expect anything good of very rich people?
If millionaire writes good book does any
thing else with brains in it surprised
as if we generally expected a millionaire to be an
idiot"
Every one laughed at this and Mrs Weldon
said presently:
II think pride of birth often makes people, as
silly pride shall forget family y,, who
them. They never forgot Who they We're, con-
and YET sot they es yf of
family but the fact had gone to their heir heads OF
FSefpon t being 1 d g Until a it
After that of course was not alone for a mo-
mentT Now, Edith Merivale, don't laugh. She
I'm LAUGHING I at your eharmingy in 1 novel m fit ct fin i'll
birth and breeding are two things, not one,
Mrs Wynne were those of an old colored woman
knew in my early youth: She was gentle, dig
you know de reason some o. dem folks that goes to
see de poor cant git on wild 'em? Cause dey ain
knows a lady when dey sees her.
said i Miss te MerVaIe were those Of the very
wealthy woman to whom have just alluded You You
a world her feet she is natural, courteous.
sd Of & 9ne orse ae her eF cea and can9 1
her perfect poise her gentle courtesy And yet she
tnnte s o 9ne and roystY of o charaeter It's
Character and kindness of heart" said Mrs
good manners? If unselfsh, we can't Of
No not even if we don't know which fork to
use first at a big dinner