other liabilities stare him in the face. Then
how gay the habitation of Dives is; how
smoothly the wheels of his domestic machinery
work round and round. His children are not
heard squalling. The leg of mutton does not
perfume his house at 4.30 P.M. His door is
not opened by a disconsolate servant-of-all-
work, with a sooty face. I dare say we
can be "good and wise," but I think we
can hardly give entirely successful dinners—
without riches; I dare say, too, as the grammar
says, that these same riches are dug out of the
earth—I wish, by-the-by, the learned author had
mentioned casually where those diggings were
situated—still, when they are out of the earth,
they are mighty serviceable.

It is among the great advantages which
attach to the office of a Small-Beer Chronicler,
that one in so humble a position is able to speak
the truth. It is my desire to be entirely just
and impartial, and to state the case for and
against what is called "society" candidly. We
have seen that the grand staircase, which gives
admission to its halls, is a creditable structure,
open, and well lighted; and we have seen, also,
that the examination through which we are put
at the foot of that flight of steps is a fair one
enough in the main. It may be that there are
a back-staircase, and a side-door, by means of
which certain unworthy persons creep up into
high places, eluding the test of the main entrance,
and the inspection of the jealous Cerberus who
keeps it. It may be that, in this way, there are
defects not only in society itself—these we shall,
I hope, pry into hereafter—but even in the
organisation of the highways and byways which
lead to it. But at any rate, I believe that Cerberus
keeps a sharper look-out on that back-door
than he used to do, and that fewer unqualified
persons sneak through it now than formerly.

Of course it will be understood that all this
time we are speaking only of those who have
their own way to make. Some people are born
to a good position in society, as it is called,
just as some are born members of the House of
Lords. We are not occupying ourselves with
such. They are already inside that marvellous
circle, the different modes of access to which we
are still studying at our leisure, being more
particularly engaged just now with the back entrance.
Poor contemptible adventurers those are who
are obliged to have recourse to it. Friends,
relatives, hangers-on to others who have either
been born within the precincts of the great
temple, or who have by resolute struggling
legitimately won a place there. Perhaps one of
these last has kindly memories of some ancient
friend who has been ignominiously rejected at
the grand entrance, and determines to lug him
in the other way by hook or by crook, and,
determining on the thing, contrives to carry it
out. This is after all the most harmless use to
which that back-door is put, there being
something of good about the successful man's
remembrance of his unprosperous associate and desire
to help him, even unfairly; the poor devil, too,
who has been so smuggled in, rarely retaining
his place, or being in anybody's way, for any
length of time. The worst use to which those
back-stairs are put, remains to be told. Prospero,
we will say, is inside the great enclosure:
perhaps has been there always. He has,
however, a certain hanger-on, Unprospero, who is
less fortunate, and who, with no right whatever
to take his place up-stairs, is consumed with a
frantic ambition to be there. Now, this personage
is in some way or other of use to Prospero, or
Prospero is in his power. He has, ignoble
though he be, some possession which Prospero
covets, some ewe-lamb which he prefers to his
own flocks and herds, some vineyard more
dear, though it is only a four-acre affair, to the
great man, than his own broad estates. Here is
a case for the back-staircase. Or perhaps
Prospero wants his flatterer and toady near him.
This miserable wretch, with his perpetual
hideous servile grin, will so flatter and diminish
his poor supple flimsy figure that he will manage
at last to writhe and twist himself in at a door
only an eighth part open, following his master so
quickly that he glides in after him before the
door can bang.

Or perhaps it is Mrs. Prospero who takes a
friend in hand. Mrs. Prospero is, we will say, in
debt, and Mrs. Unprospero is only unfortunate
socially, but has plenty of money, and comes to
the rescue. Now, it is too much for a Small-Beer
Chronicler to say that these two enter into a
distinct understanding that the one shall find
means and the other friends; but, somehow or
other, it happens that Mrs. Unprospero is
dragged up the back-stairs, and though kicked
and cuffed about by the officials with whom she
comes in contact, gets at last, dishevelled and
draggle-tailed, into the enclosure, to receive
more kicks and cuffs and slaps there; for
it is curious and worthy of remark, that those
who come into society by the back-door are
rarely happy or successful when they get there.

This much concerning the different ways of
access into what is called the world, it was
necessary to say before studying its manners. But
it must be remembered that "society" is only,
after all, one section of the world, while manners
belong to its every section. As to society in its
largest sense, no preliminary rites are exacted
from him who desires to mingle with its ranks.
Its manners may be studied, by him who cares
so to occupy himself, in the streets and lanes of
the city, in its public places and gardens, in its
warehouses and shops. Everywhere the
characteristics of the day may be noted. Everywhere
the changes which have taken place, or which
are still imminent, may be observed.

I would beg to insinuate that there are two
points of view from which we may make our
observations on manners: that of the man who
merely aims at legitimate success, such as his
merits justify him in looking for; and that of
him who would "parvenir" at any price. It is
proposed, as far as the eyesight of a Small-Beer
Chronicler permits, to take an observation or two
from both these points of view, examining the
course of conduct pursued by those two