Page:About people (IA aboutpeople00well).pdf/231

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
CASTE IN AMERICAN SOCIETY.
225

kettle-drums, and two evening receptions, and did not meet the same person twice. The larger the city the more conspicuous is this variety of circles. Where is society? At each door there were carriages, and each house was well appointed. Some would fold their napkins; others would throw them crumpled on the table. Some would have wine, others water. In one house it was etiquette to remove your bonnet; in another, to wear it. Here "gents" were invited; there, "some of our best society." In one the men carried opera hats, and wore white cravats, and bowed deeply; in another, frock-coats and flat scarfs, and shook hands. All and each averred they knew how, and all and each secretly feared they didn't.

The outcome of all this variety is that while there is caste there is no ruling force. The most exquisite kindliness and the freshest bon-mots are met with among people forever unknown to fame. Clever talk and story-telling

This article is issued from Wikisource. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.