s out to me.... With regard to what are called "fine
people," and liking their society better than that of "not fine
people," I suppose a good many tolerable reasons might be adduced
by persons who have that preference. They do not often say very
wise or very witty things, I dare say; but neither do they tread on
one's feet or poke their elbows into one's side (figuratively
speaking) in their conversation, or commit the numerous solecisms
of manner of less well-bred people. For myself, my social position
does not entitle me to mix with the superior class of human beings
generally designated as "fine people." My father's indolence
renders their society an irksome exertion to him, and my mother's
pride always induces her to hang back rather than to make advances
to anybody. We are none of us, therefore, inclined to be very keen
tuft-hunters. But for these very reasons, if "fine people" seek me,
it is a decided compliment, by which my vanity is flattered. A
person with less of that quality might be quite indifferent to
their notice, but I think their society, as far as I have had any
opportunity of observing it, has certain positive merits, which
attract me irrespectively of the gratification of my vanity. Genius
and pre-eminent power of intellect, of course, belong to no class,
and one would naturally prefer the society of any individual who
possessed these to that of the King of England (who, by the by, is
not, I believe, particularly brilliant). I would rather pass a day
with Stephenson than with Lord Alvanley, though the one is a
coal-digger by birth, who occasionally murders the king's English,
and the other is the keenest wit and one of the finest gentlemen
about town. But Stephenson's attributes of genius, industry, mental
power, and perseverance are his individually, while Lord Alvanley's
gifts and graces (his wit, indeed, excepted) are, in good measure,
those of his whole social set. Moreover, in the common superficial
intercourse of society, the minds and morals of those you meet are
really not what you come in contact with half the time, while from
their manners there is, of course, no escape; and therefore those
persons may well be preferred as temporary associates whose manners
are most refined, easy, and unconstrained, as I think those of