THE FASHIONABLE.
THAT the Leading Journal of Liberal Conservatism should devote its columns to criticism on the "fashionable intelligence" of the Ame- rican papers, is a proof of the degree in which our journalists lack subjects. Not that there is any real destitution of subjects ; there are" questions" enough amongst us "movements," projects, plans, and improvements ; but the long talk about them with so little of action, has made everythingstale and irksome almost in proportion to its admitted urgency. The public is like a party looking out of window at a long procession, when some obstruction in front keeps the same objects tediously before the eyes, until that which was the idol of admiration becomes the laughingstock of ennui. There is an obstruction in front, and the gallant pageantry of "Reform" inell its shapes stands before our window, as helplessly incapable of getting on as the men in armour of a Lord Mayor's show, or the Cardinal Virtues of an Elizabethan pomp. In such circumstances, the crowd begins to while away the time with jests on something else—anything that is new and convertible into jest ; and the Court Newsman of the Yankee Republic is as good a sport as any. OUT philosophical contemporary began, if We remember rightly„ with a very grave purpose in this roasting of Republican "fashion. Somebody had vaunted the multiplicity of "best possible instruo- thra " in the United States; on which the English journalist looks into them., sees "fashionable intelligence" by the column, and straightway infers that the American papers are rubbish; espe- cially as the fashionable reporter speaks with impertinent minute- ness and familiarity. The process of showing up the Yankee proves to be amusing, and so the English journalist perseveres at it for its own sake,—as the youthful Spallenzard of some English boarding-school scoops out a toad's brain from scientific motives, and then perseveres because he finds the antics of the victim divert! jnig. Thus, the Hondas Chronicle scoops out the brains of the Y, e toadies, and sets them dancing before us. And it is diverting—at least to us the English public of the Silver-ink School, who are so extremely versed in the refinements of high society. It mast be highly diverting to any Lord Mayor who exchanges evening parties with the Prefect of the Seine and the -Queen of England indifferently, to see the curious capers which the Republicans cut when they become fashionable. It Is not only the manner of the reporter, but the thing reported. Here are a few figures from a fancy-ball at Cape May in Pennsylvania. "Miss Chisholm took the character of the Child of the Regiment. Her costume was a white jacket, with scarlet skirt, inexpressiblee, gaiters, &c. "Mr. Parkinson was dressed in a beautiful costume, representing a French boatman in his holyday rig. "Mr. Tobias appeared as a Spanish private, wearing a costume on which were embroideredAura emblematical of his calling. "Signor Blitz, the celebrated conjuror, was present, attired as a magician. He carried in front a board, upon which to perform feats of magic. He was accompanied by a youngster whom he termed his imp. Wherever the con- juror went he had a crowd round him, and many side-invitations were ad- dressed to him to amuse little knots of ladies, who were too modest to crowd around him while in the centre of the room.
"Mr. T. B. Peterson wore a Spanish court-dress. Mr. P. is a fine-look- ing man, and in his costume he looked Wee a prince of a don. "Mr. Levistein wore a Tyrolean dress, and sang several Tyrolean airs in the course of the evening. Mr. L has a fine voice, and Inc vocalization would do credit to a professional singer. "Colonel Wallace appeared as the Count of Monte-Christo. The Colonel's tall figure looked more stately than ever, and his conversation made him everywhere an entertaining guest. "Mr. James Parkinson wore a beautiful brigand costume, made for the occasion. The material of the jacket and smallclothes was blue. "Joshua Price, a member of the Society of Friends, and belonging to one of the first families in Philadelphia, was attired as a jockey. He was all life and animstion.
"Mrs. Toinsend, of New York, was present, but, being in mourning, did not enter actively into the festivities of the evening."
One of the things that " riles " the English critic, is the personal feeling which the reporter throws into it : he always hmts the "quorum pars magna fui": he will report to you that "the elder Miss Hall" has "a winning charm in her smile which it is difficult to resist" whence you learn, not only that the stern Republican penny-a-liner has tried to resist it, but that he has been conquered; a sort of vanquishing which has its glory—the lovely Hall thought him worth a persevering use of the eharm-fixings, and he falls into immortal glory. " Illa se jactet in aula": the more so as he "knows of several young gentlemen whose hearts are quivering between Miss Hyslop and the elder Miss Hall." These ladies are seen, among others, at a rout in Newport, Rhode Island— "Miss Hyslop is young, naturally gay, very beautiful, exceedingly fasci- nating, dances like a fairy, looks up at you like an angel, talks like Cu- pid' a fairest daughter, in Love's own bewitching language. She is very much admired, and always has a crowd of our sex in her train. During the day, after meals, she may be seen promenading the hall, with several attendini upon her ; and at other times of the day you may see her making some poor fellow happy, for the time bang, by having a cozy little dust with lam in the saloon. She has been in mourning for some time, and consequently does not appear often on the floor, in the evening, with the dancers. In the waltz she is very graceful and accomplished. "Miss Ellen 'Woodbury, daughter of Judge Woodbury, of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, is decidedly a belle, and many think that she may right- fully contest for the honour of being the belle with Miss Hyslop. Miss Woodbury is very handsome and very popular, dances well, converses de- lightfully, and is mach admired ; she receives a great deal of attention. The three Misses Stark, of New Orleans, are very pretty, excellent dancers, and receive much attention."
This is amusing—but what then ? Is it strange to see lovely ladies, distinguished gentlemen, reporters, and Signor Blitz, min- gled in the masquerade ? is it unanstocratic ? No doubt; but all that is matter of course in a country which is de jam and de facto democratic. Is it that the manner of the report is provincial? Why, the events were provincial, eminently so. Is it that it is verbose and "quizzical"? Not more BO than reports of provin- cial fetes at "the great house" in our own country papers. Read the report of the coming of age of the Honourable Edward. Spoon- bill, in —shire. The account of the Rhode Island rout reads not unlike Miss Byron's tales of the fashionable doings in the days much e same all the world over : as soon as the of Sir Charles Grandison. The substance of the utun is pretty aa
th
oted vam- ties and enjoyments of the village fete cower under the eye of Mr& Grundy, or rest their excellence on some competition in the mere means of enjoyment, they become ostentatious, tedious, and vulgar. When commonplace minds thus un- bend, the character of the relaxation is generally "snobbish." Only in more polished countries, as they are called, a certain per- ception of any obtrusive snobbishness gradually forces itself on the vapid mind of" good society," and each mannerism is sucoessi-vely vetoed until good manners are reduced to a consistent nullity; "easy deportment" consists in an acquired carriage divested of all impulse or intent; and then, in the reports of festivities that can- not but be "slow," the wearisomeness, as well as any little evi- dence of inextinguishable snobbishness, is disguised in that blank language which is the bienscence of our fashionable intelligence, and which is well imitated by the Morning Chronicle, as a contrast to the contemned Republican gossip. "Let no one picture to himself a mere line in the Aurora, announcing that Lady C.'s soirée dansante is definitively fixed for the 23d instant ; and then, three weeks afterwards, a paragoaph which grudgingly informs one that Lady C.'s soiree dansante took place last night, that the magnificent suite of apartments was brilliantly illuminated, that the company began to separate about two o'clock, and that among the distinguished guests present
we observed, &c. "
The English plan has the advantage of ooncealing vulgarity and tediousness in laconic dryness ; but is it so relishing ? is the Honourable Spoonbill likely to be so amusing as Signer Blitz? is it nothing to sun one's self in the eyes of Hyslop, or to be vanquished by the elder Miss Hall Give us the democracy, its canjurorsi and Olympian graces; • instead of a walk through rooms where these is no conjuror and nothing to report—except, perchance, things under the surface that must not be reported.
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