| Share page |
|
MANNERS. |
369 |
||
|
of rude jokes, and animal enjoyments, the other of a cultivated mind, delicate perceptions, and intellectual tastes, can find no pleasure in each other's society. The first will feel himself constantly rebuked in the presence of the last, and will be eager to leave him and seek the society of those like himself; the other will be shocked by the rude manners of his companion, and will remain in his society no longer than is absolutely necessary. Thus, impelled by two motives, a dislike of those who differ from them in taste and manners, and an affinity for those who resemble them in these respects, the several members of society are everywhere collected into distinct groups. In every populous place, there will be, of course, a circle, or society, consisting of the more intelligent and reiined. It is true that this may be, and generally is, sprinkled with the merely rich and fashionable : these, however, are admitted into a society where they do not properly belong, from the homage they pay to intelligence and refinement. The laws of etiquette for each town or city are usually established by this circle of fashion, or what is called, as often in irony as compliment, good society; but this draws its edicts from some higher source, as perhaps from the metropolis of the state, or from some one of our larger
x |
|||