CONQUERING SOCIETY. Social Rise of an English Woman Determined to Win.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 193, 5 March 1887, Page 5 (Supplement)

CONQUERING SOCIETY. Social Rise of an English Woman Determined to Win.

W» are a nation of flunkey?, and we bave a sincere respect for successful flunkeyierav Who has not watched with, interest and amusement the career of some middlo claw English woman, rmrried to a man who rolls in money (honestly or dishonestly made is a rosro dtuil) and who is bitten with the social crazs? Her first step is to have a nica homo and a good cook. Ic is easy to pick up a few men. Her husband can put them o.n boards as dicfcoiv, or 3he c-t.0 3crape acquaintances with a few \vhelp3 at Sand'uvn. or some such place. These &he gets to dsnner. One or other of these has a wife. The wife is obtained by 3 little adroit manacremanfc, and one wife secures others — "co n'est qua la premiere feinme qui coute."' Her dinners aro "so nice," and she always takes care to flea that Mr — eits by Mrs -~. By pursuing this course she eventually gets very grand people, who like to eib by each other, to coma to her dinners. By degrees she receives invitations to official omnium Katherums an d cru3hes more numerous, perhaps, thaa select. She now professes a great sympathy for some middlea«ed nobleman, who, in retuvh for sympathy, gets her invited to one or two really good houses where be nas a firm footing— hia wife's, psrhap?,or somebody else's wife's. The time has orao for her to give a ball. The sympathieicg no'leman puts her into the hands of some lady of quality, who, for a consideration, a&ka the guests. The ball ia lavish and ia talked about, and it is followed by a few concerts, where the beat artists that money can procure discourse music. She now joins the Primrose League at* a the committees of a few charities, to which she subscribes largely. Finally, thi gives a ball, at which Ehe herself invitoa the guests. All the profosBional beiuiies are there (this is a matter of a little money or a trifle in jewellery), and it is graced by tb.9 preeenco of royalty. This is speedily followed by a few Sunday picnics at her villi in the country (Aacofc or Maidenhead, for preference). She is now made. She has attained her goal. She is on the highest rung of ber ladder. She cutd her old acquaintances (this, indeed, is a painful necea&ity). She can refuse to invite this or that person to her parties. She c^n deplore the number of upstarts thxt 'nanage to fiod their way into Bocic-ty. See is respected, admhed, and envied. Her only thorn is her husband, who w dull and^ vulgar—a mere money- making machine. She makes him subsciibo largely to the Tory Party funds. This assutoa hia 6lectiGn to the Garlton Club by tin committee as an "ominent Conservative." A second subscription leads to his election as a Tory member by a constituency. Between the club, the H-mso and the city, ho is not much in hi3 wife's way, and when ho fa at home he discreetly hoJJs his tonguo. It she aspires fmthtr, she buys hitQr a Baronetcy by taking a financial interest in all exhibitions and testimonial buildings, and by the proffer of a very substantial bum at) a moment when funds are wanted for a gai eral election. Were I consulted by one of these aspiring dam&a aa (&. the best ioarl to "society," 1 should pay : Above all things a e that your husband is % Conservative, anil aa socn as possible, look out for a Primrose habitation, with a good many society ladies in if, tor yoursalf.— "London Truth. '