acquired by trade

[mhmircea]

Hi,
I am not sure about the meaning of:
"their own had been acquired by trade."



================================================== =====
from: Pride and Prejudice

They were of a respectable family in the north of England; a circumstance more deeply impressed on their memories than that their brother's fortune
and their own had been acquired by trade.
=============================================


Thanks for helping me,
Mircea

[Anglika]

Hi,
I am not sure about the meaning of:
"their own had been acquired by trade."



================================================== =====
from: Pride and Prejudice

They were of a respectable family in the north of England; a circumstance more deeply impressed on their memories than that their brother's fortune and their own had been acquired by trade.
=============================================


Thanks for helping me,
Mircea

In Jane Austen's day, it was socially unacceptable to be "in trade" - be in the business of buying and selling material goods. However, as so often happens, once someone in trade has become wealthy, they move up in social position and become acceptable in "polite society", thereby becoming "respectable" - as has happened with this family whose fortune - their money - has been accrued through trade.

[mhmircea]

Many tanks,
Mircea