WHO ARE THE MIDDLE-CLASS?

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 98, 20 January 1920, Page 2

WHO ARE THE MIDDLE-CLASS?

NICE DISTINCTIONS. Who are the middle-classes?, This has become an absorbing question in Sui'bitoji. Surrey, where the formation of a branch of the Middle Class Union 'is.creatine..a social upheaval. In less exclusive idistricts and in manufacturing towns frankly bourgeois, the Middle Class Union has made rapid headway But in Surbiton things are somewhat.different. . Known by its own pcomVas a riverside resort near London, and bv outsiders as a suburb, Surbiton ■ nossesssR 1 •« nice sense of social'dignity. Owingto the elforts of the ambassadors ■of the-Middle Class Union,-who are now engaged in nn active canvass for mem.bers, residents,. probably for the first time, in their lives, arc asked to come forward, into the daylight of publicity and declare for all to see and rend their sodial standing. ~'....'' Itis not the ideals of the union which are in question, huf the name "middleclass.".. The confessions of "a woman Middle Class Union canvasser recently show the cpm.ploxities of .the situation. "Offensive." "Whila I have added iv good many names to our membership in the past few days," she said,' "I, find that the name 'middle-class' is apparently offensive to-some residents. . In fact, in some cases I have met with iey reproof. One woman .whom I approached listened to my arguments in • rather an uncomfortable silence, and when I had' finished said: "Are- voir aware that my'husband is a stockbroker?'..' "I dinlonlntically-pointed out that'the union also embraced the upper. middleclasses, mid that in any case the name could be used in a very wide sense. This -.was of .no avail. A stockbroker was not middle-class. ■ ' "One.of the questions lam frequently ftplcod is: 'Who has joined?. Ts Mrs, So-and-so a member? Well, if she calls herself middle-class. I do not see why I should not.' Or, 'I am surprised that llr. Blank should class himself .with the middle-classes.'

.. Baronet's Daughter Approves, "One ■of the easiest captures was the daughter of a' baronet. 'A jolly good idea.' she said. We middle-class people should stand J>v each other. Naturally, her membership has assisted in the camDa isn. "The following list gives a roiifrh idea of the.various classes.of people who have ioined and those who have taken exception to the title of 'middle-class.' With reirnrd to the list of objectors, individual incidents only are quoted, and I do not mean that ilic class I hey represent hnvo refused in bulk: Objectors; -Members. A company pro- ,T)oe/or.-'. mater. Tradesmen. • A. barrister. ■ • Solicitors A. lioiit.-colonol. .lournalisls. A farmer. • Architects. Small landowner. Surveyors. A clergyman. House nse.nls. A retired gentleman Army captains. An author. "So far-1 hose members who have joined are workinß most harmoniously inErethcr. ;md it is hoped thai when the nrciudice wears down we, nhiiH have a slromr and powerful membership." Meanwhile there is difficulty in finding n. proper definition of the word "middleclass." . A nerson learned in iho laws of nrecedence described-the middle-classes us hcimr I hose folk who come below Ihe iieenißP but do not have insurance cards. -*'l)ailv Mail"