The Newtown bee., 1904-01-22
SOCIAL TOPICS.
PERSONAL F1rNEss.-BY o. o. WRIGHT


 Good society is established upon character, attainmentS, and personal worthy and fitted to enter into such fellowship. The natural differences artificial distinctions, and abuses of the social law are always interesting, often amusing, and sometimes ridicu- lous. AS matter of fact there are many grades of good society as there are various classes of good respectable people. The great law of association is fitness. The kind of society one goes in from choice depends upon the person. As rule people do as they wish to do, if they can, and go where they will be happy. People may as sociate because they are alike, or be- cause they are unlike. But in either case the effect is pleasing harmony; and to be satisfied is the chief thing.
 There are no doubt many ambitious persons who make it the grand aim of life to rise and shine in the higher walks of the social world. They try to get into circles above them just as they would plan to get into a show. They look upon society as a matter of external arrangements. They ignore considerations of personal fitness, and the spirit of fellowship. Therefore it is possible to get into society and not be of it, in spirit and in truth; which is folly, and failure in the end.
 Nature puts limits upon all things human. We should be content to go where we belong, socially, until we are assured that for some very good reason we belong elsewhere. We cannot be happy in any society which is so much above us in culture, attainments, and conditions, or so much below us that we are not in the spirit of fellowship and understanding with those we meet. To ride in the same carriage with the King might be mark of dis tinctiOn, but it would not in itself make us fit for the society of the no- bility.
 Society based upon wealth is a cheap, unsubstantial thing. Money has it's values and uses; but the best things of life are not for sale. Personal affec- tion, pure devotion, the moral virtues, and graces of the spirit, real friend ship, and all that goes to make real congenial fellowship are not in the market. Money can do many things in the social line, but it cannot alone insure personal fitness for good society
 It is amazing to note, however, the presumption and insolence of little wealth! What difference it does money and little else to commend them to social position. Indeed, money does make society of certain quality There are those who try everyone, and everything by the financial rating They seek those only who have the cash; they go only where the sign for dollars is on the coat of arms! And they reap their reward, such as it is, even in the abuse of the social law. For example, here are the A $, B's, and C's living in the same little com munity where they were born and brought up together under the same essential conditions. They have al- ways known each other, and in fact have always been good friends. Their parents and grandparents all belonged to the same class of people, and moved in the same social circle.
 But now the As reside on Golden Avenue; and keep carriage and two servants. They live in this way be- cause they have an income.
 The B's have no income, but good salary. They have comforta ble home on Mechanics Street; no carriage, and but one servant.
 The C's have good wages, but no sal ary, and no income; and Mrs c does her own house-work. They rent a tenement in Labor Row.
 Now these representative families, aside from the financial conditions be- long to the same class or grade eof so- ciety, and as to character, education, sympathies and family traditions are fitted to make each other mutually happy. But practically there is no completed social intercourse between them, as the world goes. The As go in the Golden Avenue set; the B's go in the Mechanics street set; and the C's in the Labor Row set. The A $ might be willing to exchange hospi- talities with the B's, but the B's could not return the compliment in kind, nor in degree, and perhaps nei- ther would quite enjoy the contrast. The B's might be glad to accept the courtesie es of the As but would not think of QfferinQ to reciprOcata in kind.