I.THE REAL UPPER CLASS.
These are the people who are likely to be on the board of directors of local industries, banks, universities, and community chests; who send their daughters to finishing schools and their sons, probably, to a boarding school and, certainly, to a “good” college.
They have heavy investments in local land, industry, banks-they probable inherited much of it and they can swing a great deal of weight around town when they wish.
These also include the high prestige professionals such as the more fashionable doctors, lawyers, and architects who come from well-connected families or have an upper- class clientele. The Episcopal minister also would normally be included here.
These people of the real upper class would have you believe that wealth has little bearing on their social pre-eminence. Rather, it is the gracious, leisurely way of life they have achieved as a result of their innate good taste and high breeding. In smaller communities. “old” family background is especially important.
The real- upper-class people tend to view the new rich as uncouth and will accept them only when the self-made newcomers become so powerful that they must be consulted on the important decisions involving the community and only they have the right kind of money. (Wealthy undertakers are not typically accepted.)
It is true that only rarest of the new rich can take on the genteel, austere airs of the old rich without a good deal of practice and observation. But although manners are important, money is more so. One of the most articulate local informants in Hollingshead’s Elmtown, a Mr. Henry Dotson, explained what it takes to stay in the top class in Elmtown:
“First, I’d say money is the most important. In fact nobody’s in this class if he doesn’t have money”