The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-12-22
SOCIAL CODE ANDLAW
By THE ARBITER.

lRBITER.
try. and in every other country. for that
matter, is made up OF the most educated
people, not literary folk, or scientists. or
artists, but OF the best educated people
and education. according TO the Century
Dictionary Is not only the acquisition of
knowledge. but mental and moral train
ing, cultivation of the mind. feelings. and
manners. 1t comprehends all that dis
ciplines and enlighteRs the understand
ing. cultvates and forms the manners
and habits; or. as Mr.. Clarke so aptly
puts il in his essay on self Culture"
1t Is growing up in all things to our
highest possibility"
II is obvious to all thinking persons that
man born OF gentle parents. with gen.
Grafton after generation Of cultured an
cestory behind him, and with every slim
ulous to make the most Of himself. stands
more OF chance to shine in society
than the Self-made man, who has had
but little opportunity for culture and i'm
provement But let the born aristocrat
neglect his opportunities, let him tie his
talents up in a napkin and bury them in
the earth, and he VIII soon sink below
the strata Of society in which he was
born We have proof OF this at our
very door in the counts and barons that
have become walters in New York cafes.
IN the princes and dukes that are herd
ing sheep on the great ranches in the
West, in the dead-beats and swindlers
OF the SS-o2s Transatlantic liners. So.
while a person of gentle birth is more
apt to be betten equipped for the best
society than his less fortunately born
brother his heritage by no means entities
MIN to place In that charmed circle. or
II his name and rank give him place.
1t is only during good behavior and until
he can prove himself worthy Of his cleo
ton.
A maiden lady of mincing mien de-
clared at this same dinner the other
night that she. for one. did not think a
person should be allowed to claim a place
in society who did not belong 10 the
ancienne noblesse. but when asked to de-
fine what constituted the ancienne
noblesse on this side the water. she was
quite driven 10 the wall. and refused 10
further discuss the subject II would
truly, be a difficult task for the most ex-
pert geneaiogist to determine who in
american are entitled TO be counted IN
der this grandiose title. Does il belong
to the descendants OF those profigates
who were sent to the colonies to reform
ana who paid in good tobacco for their
wives? or can this circle claim the chill
dren Of those devoted Puritans who fed
thelr fatherland 10 escape the ancier.,e
nooiesseE Surely the rights OF the sons
OF those brave VoyagerS, many OF whom
HfeNf Inc III.
not be overlooked; and what about the
gentry who made their colossal fortunes
In pork and have bought brave Italian
utles OF the ancienne nobiesse Of Italy FOR
thelr sons and cunning little dukes. and
counts and princes for their daughters
Nhat-pardon the XpressiOn-"Tommv-
rot to pirate OF the ancient nobility IN
America. except the ancient nobility If
character and soul. for. 10 paraphrase
Jane Field. they amt no ancienne
noblesse. in America at least. There
may be small cotorie. who look upo,
themselves as belonging to this order
but their claims are not recognized. and
they flock, when they condescend 10 flock
quite by themselves.
The best society. then. Is made nm 30
the best people, those who are best born
best educated. with the best character.
and best manners. Society generally com
prises many sets; there is the fast set
the slow set, the literary set. the hunting
set. the official set but before all there
is the best set" which draws from ALI
others The mere expression best sAtu
sounds snobbish, but such an element Is
Tar removed from Il. for those who form
this circle do not assume this title but
1t is given to them willy nilly a inst
tribute TO their excellence. When such an
interesting subject as the best society
IS preached one is tempted 10 test the
amiabiiity Of his readers TO the utmost
there is so much 20 be said. so much
mat IS interesting to be said. but the
Arplter refrains and leaves the exploiting
OF the best society TO those who have
recently been admitted TO it, for no class
Is as truly eloquent as the newly elected
to an order. just as converts 10 re-
hgion are more Jealous than those who
We're born In the faith
Apropos of the pretensions of those who
might be counted as in society. Mrs
Bloomfield Moore. in her book on -.Sensi-
bic Etiquette tells the following story:
A snobbish young man and his sister
after their return home from an evening
party. were criticising the company. quite
unaware that their sensible old uncle
was lying awake in his chamber. and
could hear every word from where they
stood in the corridor
Why even the Grinders were there
and you know their father was a grocer;
I was never in such mixed COMPANY
said the sister
And We will never be again. if I can
help II, answered the brother.
The uncle called out. Children. what
do you think your grandfather was? He
was boot-maker, and some people say
not very honest one. either. Now, go to
bed"
This brings to mind the case of a sue
cessful merchant, who conducted a. -four
ishing mercantile business in Pennsyl-
vania avenue some forty years ago. When
his fortune reached six figures, his family
insisted that he should build a house in
the West End to the end that they might
take the social position to which their
wealth entitled them. The papa died
most OPPORTUNITY shortly after the house
was built. but even his death. which re-
lieved his struggling family in n certain
sense. presented many disagreeable fea-
lures.
Only fancy what our new friends will
think said the son OF the house. If all
of papa's old friends come to the funeral.
and they discover that we were once in
trade,"
L Queston-Acting on the advice you gave 10 a
stranger in Washington who wished 10 see some
thing Of social life here | called the other day
upon the wives Of the Senators from my State and
was most pleasantly received by these ladies one