The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-04-30
iregg and Hobson ascribe to it. so

Gregg and Hobson ascribe to It. so
ciety means an aggregation of per
sons who have money and leisure, and
whose pursuit is chiefly pleasure.
There is nothing inherently wicked in
the Idea. although Senator Kern and
Representatives Korbly Padgett. Ma
con, Gregg and Hohson seem to think
SO. IT is in itself an agreeable thing.
an ornamental life which ought not
for the good of the state. 10 Include
too many persons. The passport to Ii
Is not merit; some of the most merito-
rfous men and women who ever lived
have no qualifications for IT, and lin
general rate it a its true value. which
is not very great. When women earn
their own livelihood. they voluntarily
and In general. willingly give up any
aspirations toward what may be called
society, for two excellent reasons.
One is, that to go into Society" re-
1uires money; the other is. that so
ciety is an exhausting pursuit. and
II they use their energies In Society
they would have none for their work
This does not mean that they give up
social pleasures: it only means that
they give UP the pleasures of society
because these pleasures are not com
patible with conscientious wor More
over, self-respecting women are dis
inclined to accent social pleasures
which they cannot return. and to con-
stitute themselves n body Of dead
beats.
If Senator Kern and Representatives
korbly, Padgett. Macon. Gregg and
Hobson succeed in their endeavor TO
have every trained nurse. stenographer
and companion in Annapolis invited TO
tho Naval
lization among the trained nurses.
stenoEraphers and companions of An
napolis VIII be complete With their
nights spent in dancing and their hard
earned money sNuandered in ball gowns.
gloves, slippers, cabs. and all the
paraphernalia which balls require. and
their days passed in sleeping Off the
effects Of these balls. woe betide the
the unfortunate patients and employers
OF these trained nurses, stenogra pliers
and companions! Luckily. this highly
esteemed class OF workers among wo-
men. have much sancr and sounder
ideas on the subject OF society" than
the Senators and Representatives who
are trying to force them where they do
not wish to 60 Also, they have not
the exalted idea of society which
these Senator's and Representatives
think of such tremendous Importance
They regard 1t as 1t truly is-an as
ISOLATION OF persons who have taste
and time and money to spare. The
nurses, stenographers and companions
are not half as much crushed and humi-
Hated, beca use they are not in Society"
as those Senators and Representatives
think. AS matter of fact, they are.
In general, perfectly Indifferent to 1t.
and recognize much higher idea OF
social life, which means an exchange
Of COMPREHENSIVE and courtesies within
their means. within their time, and
not recurring them to work all night
as well as all day. for society" means
hard work both night and day
However, there is silver lining to
every cloud If Senator Kern and
Representatives Korbiy, Pndgett, Ma
con, Gregg and Hobson had expended
the snme amount Of folly on Federal
legislation ms they have. on Miss Beers,
1t would have been a good deal worse
for the country. 1t has been said
that, under The Constitution @of the
United States, every citizen has il right
TO make n blankety blank blank fool of
himself. Some people abuse this
privilege.