American are at least as class-conscious as our British cousins. A look at advertising shows it.
I've known people from every class, from the top "old money" families that shaped this country's history, to the homeless, and I've seen all kinds on every level. Some people are kind and generous with their money and their time. Others are completely self-centered and cold. Regardless of their economic or social class. I conclude from this that "class" is not a reliable indicator of class. ;-)
I agree 100% with you. When I worked in J C Penny's in the 40s, an elderly woman would come in every Saturday and purchase a few things, not much and she seemed very frugal and although, I didn't really think so, one-two of the clerks decided they would not wait on her, saying she smelled bad and was too unclean. Well, one day, her maid had to come in with her because she had grown very frail and all of us then discovered she was one of the wealthiest people in our town. Emily
That is so funny. The richest people I've ever known have dressed the worst, and been the tightest with a dime. LOL!!
Why do you think they are rich? :D
Same here - that could be why they're rich :-)
Mary
There are many, many families, some old, some not so old on both sides of the pond that have buckets of money; but they live quietly and keep their names out of the papers. Indeed there used to be a tradition among a certain set that the only time a "lady" had her name in the papers was upon her birth, marriage and death.
Was speaking to the owner of our local hand laundry, and she told of how many great families from the smartest parts of town, use linens until they are literally falling apart. These persons are not short of a bob or two, yet routinely call for such items to be mended and darned to prolong the lifespan of said linens. The laundress can't for the life of her understand why these people don't chuck out the "rubbish" and buy new.
For all her money, The Queen apparently can be tight with the purse. Story goes once as a young lad, Prince Charles mislaid a dog's lead. To which HM called the young prince onto the carpet because "dog's leads cost money", and ordered him to find the missing object. One wonder's if she took the cost out of his pocket money? *LOL*
Candide
university, and
Hyacinth.
Americans are
Saw an interview with the actress who plays Hyacinth's long suffering neighbour "Elizabeth", and she explained why Sheridan remained an off screen character. Apparently after awhile the writers and most of cast felt that whatever the viewers thought of Sheridan in their mind's was vastly superior to anything that could be written or cast! *LOL*
While Sheridan is obviously homosexual (he lives with a "friend" named "Tarquin" who sleeps in silk pyjamas and has won prizes for needlework), don't think is tastes run towards wearing feminine attire. Though as Elizabeth once said "poor Sheridan, he never really stood a chance".
*LOL*Candide
Gotta be more to it than that, though. :) There was a period when I pinched dimes (quite viciously) out of sheer necessity. Just got three DDs and me by, didn't make us rich.
Doreen in Alabama
Because they don't like waste - you don't have to be short of cash to care for things.
That's not being tight, it's teaching about responsibility. I admire the Queen for setting an example.
Our family wastes nothing. We're not wealthy but we can enjoy lots of good things in life by being careful.
And aren't we all aware of our responsibility to the environment now: repair, re-use, re-cycle!
Mary
Actually, these people had inherited their wealth. Banking families. Going way back. But you do have a point. I think they were taught thrift at their mother's (or governess') knee.
Probably!
I teach my son the same way.
Necessary, but not sufficient.
Joy Beeson
I worked for a short time for the family who owns Seven Springs, a famous ski resort here in PA. From all I could see, a governess couldn't teach a child thrift, It would have to be a mother. At least that's the impression I got. Those kids thought they were above God. Kitty
You know the folks over at Rolling Rock Farms? Huntland Downs? My father was their doctor. They took parenting fairly seriously, though, for their class - they opened the day school there so their four didn't have to go off to boarding school. They spent, but very carefully, and only for value. They drove old "woodies" and wore nearly tattered flannel. We got toys and clothes as hand-me-downs, and I remember their rocking horse - it was covered in pony skin.
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