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official 〃introducer；〃 or master of ceremonies； and that the guests under his
guidance became known to each other； danced； rode； and married to their
own and doubtless to his satisfaction。 The further west one goes the more
pronounced this mania becomes。 Everybody is introduced to everybody on
all imaginable occasions。 If a man asks you to take a drink； he presents
you to the bar…tender。 If he takes you for a drive； the cab…driver is
introduced。 〃Boots〃 makes you acquainted with the chambermaid； and the
hotel proprietor unites you in the bonds of friendship with the clerk at the
desk。 Intercourse with one's fellows becomes one long debauch of
introduction。 In this country where every liberty is respected； it is a
curious fact that we should be denied the most important of all rights； that
of choosing our acquaintances。
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CHAPTER 34 … A Question and an
Answer
DEAR IDLER：
I HAVE been reading your articles in The Evening Post。 They are
really most amusing！ You do know such a lot about people and things； that
I am tempted to write and ask you a question on a subject that is puzzling
me。 What is it that is necessary to succeed … socially？ There！ It is out！
Please do not laugh at me。 Such funny people get on and such clever；
agreeable ones fail； that I am all at sea。 Now do be nice and answer me；
and you will have a very grateful
ADMIRER。
The above note； in a rather juvenile feminine hand； and breathing a
faint perfume of VIOLETTE DE PARME； was part of the morning's mail
that I found lying on my desk a few days ago； in delightful contrast to the
bills and advertisements which formed the bulk of my correspondence。 It
would suppose a stoicism greater than I possess； not to have felt a thrill of
satisfaction in its perusal。 There was； then； some one who read with
pleasure what I wrote； and who had been moved to consult me on a
question （evidently to her） of importance。 I instantly decided to do my best
for the edification of my fair correspondent （for no doubt entered my head
that she was both young and fair）； the more readily because that very
question had frequently presented itself to my own mind on observing the
very capricious choice of Dame 〃Fashion〃 in the distribution of her favors。
That there are people who succeed brilliantly and move from success
to success； amid an applauding crowd of friends and admirers； while
others； apparently their superiors in every way； are distanced in the race； is
an undeniable fact。 You have but to glance around the circle of your
acquaintances and relations to be convinced of this anomaly。 To a
reflecting mind the question immediately presents itself； Why is this？
General society is certainly cultivated enough to appreciate intelligence
and superior endowments。 How then does it happen that the social
favorites are so often lacking in the qualities which at a first glance would
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seem indispensable to success？
Before going any further let us stop a moment； and look at the subject
from another side； for it is more serious than appears to be on the surface。
To be loved by those around us； to stand well in the world； is certainly the
most legitimate as well as the most common of ambitions； as well as the
incentive to most of the industry and perseverance in life。 Aside from
science； which is sometimes followed for itself alone； and virtue； which
we are told looks for no other reward； the hope which inspires a great deal
of the persistent efforts we see； is generally that of raising one's self and
those one loves by one's efforts into a sphere higher than where cruel fate
had placed them； that they； too； may take their place in the sunshine and
enjoy the good things of life。 This ambition is often purely disinterested； a
life of hardest toil is cheerfully borne； with the hope （for sole consolation）
that dear ones will profit later by all the work； and live in a circle the
patient toiler never dreams of entering。 Surely he is a stern moralist who
would deny this satisfaction to the breadwinner of a family。
There are doubtless many higher motives in life； more elevated goals
toward which struggling humanity should strive。 If you examine the
average mind； however； you will be pretty sure to find that success is the
touchstone by which we judge our fellows and what； in our hearts； we
admire the most。 That is not to be wondered at； either； for we have done all
we can to implant it there。 From a child's first opening thought； it is
impressed upon him that the great object of existence is to succeed。 Did a
parent ever tell a child to try and stand last in his class？ And yet humility
is a virtue we admire in the abstract。 Are any of us willing to step aside
and see our inferiors pass us in the race？ That is too much to ask of poor
humanity。 Were other and higher standards to be accepted； the structure of
civilization as it exists to…day would crumble away and the great machine
run down。
In returning to my correspondent and her perfectly legitimate desire to
know the road to success； we must realize that to a large part of the world
social success is the only kind they understand。 The great inventors and
benefactors of mankind live too far away on a plane by themselves to be
the object of jealousy to any but a very small circle； on the other hand； in
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these days of equality； especially in this country where caste has never
existed； the social world seems to hold out alluring and tangible gifts to
him who can enter its enchanted portals。 Even politics； to judge by the
actions of some of our legislators； of late； would seem to be only a
stepping…stone to its door！
〃But my question；〃 I hear my fair interlocutor saying。 〃You are not
answering it！〃
All in good time； my dear。 I am just about to do so。 Did you ever hear
of Darwin and h