THE DULLNEss OF HIGH LIFE
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The following passages in the Memoirs of the
Duchess of St Adams, contain sad and home
truth: "Few persons have seen so much of the va
rious aspects, [ may say of the two extremes of
life, as myself; and few persons, therefore, can be
better Judges ofthe difference between great wealth.


but, after all, this does not by any MEANS consti
tute the chief and most important distinction be.
tween the high and low states No-the singular,
the striking contrast is not in the external circum-
stances, but in the totally opposite minds ofthe two
classes to their respective enjoyment of existence


The society in which 1 formerly moved was all
cheerfulness, all high spirits-all fun frolic and
vivacity; they cared for nothing, thought of moth


ing, beyond the pleasures of the present hour, and
to those they gave themselves up with the keenest
relish. Look at the circles in which now move
can any thing be more weary, STALE fat and un-
profitable, than their whole course of life2 Why,
one might as well be in the treadnIil as tolling in
the stupid, monotonous round of what they call
pleasures but which, In fact is very cherries and
heavy work. Pleasure, indeed when all merri-
ment all hilarity, all Indulgence of natural emo
tions IT they be of joyous nature are declared to
be vulgar. There can be no cordiality where
there is much exclusiveness and primness mol all
is GOODNESS, reserve, and universal ennui, even
where this starchness ofmanner is unaccompanied
by any very strict rigor IN matters of conduct
Look, now, at those quadrilledancers in the other
room; they have been supping, they have been
drinking as much champagne as they liked; the
band is capital; the men are young and the girls
are pretty; and yet did you ever see such crawling
movements solemn looks, as if they were
all dragging themselves through the most irksome
tasks in the world2 Oil what different thing
was countrv-dance in my Younger dayS!"