ingratitude, and scandal were sins against taste, and spoiled the
general harmony. Evil passions might exist, but it was agreeable
to hide them, and enmities slept under a gracious smile.
noblesse OBLIGE was the motto of these censors of manners; and as
it is perhaps a Gallic trait to attach greater importance to
reputation than to character, this sentiment was far more potent
than conscience. Vice in many veiled forms might be tolerated,
but that which called itself good society barred its doors
against those who violated the canons of good taste, which
recognize at least the outward semblance of many amiable virtues.
Sincerity certainly was not one of these virtues; but no one was
deceived, as it was perfectly well understood that courteous
forms meant little more than the dress which may or may not
conceal a physical defect, but is fit and becoming. It was not
best to inquire too closely into character and motives, so long
as appearances were fair and decorous. How far the individual
may be affected by putting on the garb of qualities and feelings
that do not exist may be a question for the moralist; but this
conventional untruth has its advantages, not only in reducing to
a minimum the friction of social machinery, and subjecting the
impulses to the control of the will, but in the subtle influence
of an ideal that is good and true, however far one may in reality
fall short of it.

Imagine a society composed of a leisure class with more or less
intellectual tastes; men eminent in science and letters; men less
eminent, whose success depended largely upon their social gifts,
and clever women supremely versed in the art of pleasing, who
were the intelligent complements of these men; add a universal
talent for conversation, a genius for the amenities of social