SOCIAL LADY-BIRDS.

THE position of a butterfly upon a pin may be attended with some discomfort, but it is a position which has its counterpart in modern life. Season follows season, and very little is done to better the condition of the human beings who are collected together night after night. Yet there might be some chance of improvement if proper encouragement were given to that class which, in order to compensate for some slight disadvantages under which it labours, advertises the enjoyment of a larger house or a better-arranged supper than is usually to be met with. Society, with its usual inability to recognise its benefactors, has most injudiciously at different times stigmatised them as roturiers and parvenus, wholly unaware of the advan

tages it has derived, and is destined to derive, from them. In spite, however, of these mistaken appellations, their value is daily increasing, and there are a number of circumstances calculated to raise their position still higher. In the first place, they fill a vacancy. Every year more historical houses are shut up, and every year the number of dreary tenements increases about which it is impossible to predicate anything except that they possess back-staircases, and stand ostensibly in their own grounds. Some affinity they bear to country-houses, perhaps that of a mother-in-law. It is difficult indeed to avoid falling into the language of auctioneers in describing them. They are usually seen at the angles of the squares, and doubtless exist for the accommodation of the sparrows and cats that frequent them. Another point in their favour is that the supply of women under the age of twenty increases in geometrical proportion. Nothing exercises the smallest control over it, and unfortunately they all have the same tastes. If by a judicious process of selection among parents a race could be produced who disliked going out, and to whom

balls were odious, some change might be effected. Prejudices no longer exist, and Lord Chesterfield's view of the latitude to be allowed to the third sex, as he called ugly women, would be universally acquiesced in-"that they should be allowed to indulge in field sports, a cheerful glass, and to stand for Parliament." The only difficulty is to find women willing to admit their qualification. Not only is the present supply above the demand, but the difficulties are increased by a prevailing habit of bringing daughters out at the age of sixteen—a proceeding utterly subversive of all social progress. If the unhappy creature in question is invited to dine out, she very probably goes through an exhibition of nervous gymnastics, tearing her napkin, spilling her wine, convulsively clutching her necklace, and colouring at the sound of a monosyllable. It is just conceivable that her education may be improved in this manner, but the experiment should be made in the country, or at a table d'hôte, where there is a quick succession of travellers. The dissection of her mind indeed would be worth the attention of any physiologist; it is a compound of Mangnall's

Questions and Frou Frou, the occupation of the last and the diversion of the present year. She is full of dates and languages and undigested information, and when at her ease may often be seen trying to recollect the name of somebody who has been introduced to her. If even a compromise were effected, and she were permitted to appear at dessert, the public would be a considerable gainer, as well as her own digestion. If she is not shy, there is only an additional reason why she should be kept at home. Her appearance in the world has another sad consequence, inasmuch as it creates a demand for contemporaries of the opposite sex-the result of which is that a ball-room at Easter presents the strange spectacle of scores of human beings who are still growing. It is possible Mascarille was right in saying that "Les gens de qualité savent tout sans avoir rien appris." We see no other solution which accounts satisfactorily for their presence. This is a state of things which at once creates a new class, or at least renders its existence possible. With so admirable a field open to them, and the concurrence of so many advantages in their favour,

their success ought to be accomplished in the course of one season. We probably shall not hear any more sad stories of parvenants who have failed to become parvenus, and who by the example of their own shortened careers have deterred others from imitating them, a calamity which any well-regulated mind must earnestly deprecate. Every facility should be afforded to women who are anxious to open their houses; in fact, if no outlet is given, the Clubs will in all probability be seized, and the admission of the exoteric world no longer dignified by the mysterious name of a conversazione.

The first duty society has to perform in this matter is to discontinue its former offensive nomenclature, and give to the class in question the distinction of "arrivati." This little compliment will do much to soften the hardships they have had to bear, and will at the same time stimulate them to fresh exertions. The incipient hostess of this class has been forced to struggle for some years against the jealousy and illiberality of her neighbours, and the most mistaken views have prevailed with regard to her. Her desire to make acquaintances has been

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