Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-08-11
Cranks in Society.


are surely plenty of them in New York
'ociety-and in its highest circle. There
are Men and women who go everywhere,
VINO are known to everybody, and whose
names appear in all social records, that
are far more unScund in mind that MANY
\ man and woman who has been sent to
The Insane asylum, or the Home for tho
Feeble-Minded. There is mystery az
to how many of these queer people OBJ
tame good social footing; but they
nave IT, and hold it undisputed. | might
letail columns of their savings and
longs. but have only space for two or
three of the most conspicuous cases.
There il one man who prdes himself
upon being the handsomcst man in New
Iork-and he is indeed fine specimen
Of the genns homo. He mot only is hand
some, and knows that he is handsome,
but he says he is handsome. IL saw you
on Fifth Avenue. yesterday" said a
friend. "fes, yes,' was the drawing
response. IL was there; but | seldom
walk-it is SD diSagrceablc having people
turn about to stare at me-" There was
great crowd at Mrs. Vandyke Brown >
ball last night remarked an acquaint-
ance TO this elegant Turveydrop. Yes;
il kept me moving through the room all
the time. to avoid making group.
stopped for moment in the back draw
ing-room. and the place became sut.o-
eating; people were packed like sardines
have been so long in New York that
should think people would be done
staring ut me-" This is only self-con-
cet, but it is colossal self -conceit.
Rather II more pronounced oase of
imbecility was told me the other day BY
a distinguished English woman, who
with her family had been spending the
winter in New York. and has gone
everywhere. One evening. at one of
the hest houses here, she was approached
by n tall and elegant gentleman. who.
bowing very low, said: Madam.
have danced with the Princes Of Wales,
taken the Duchess of Edinboro' in to
dinner. have visited the Countess of
Dudley. have chatted with Lady Ions
dale. and am personally acquainted
with Mrs. Langtry." Having delivered
himself of this speech he turned on his
heel and walked away. When the lady
returned home she was met by her
daughter who had been at another
party. mamma. she said, 'Tve met
the most extraordinary man; Mr. -.
Il very elegant person. He simply
walked up to me, and said: Miss -,
| have danced with the Princess of
Wales. taken the Duchess of Ednboro'
in to dinner. have visited the Countess
of Dudley. have chatted with Lady
LonSdale. and am personally acquainted
with Mrs. Langtry. 1t seems that this
man has but one speech for English ac-
iuaILtance~, and he rehearses that to
every EngiShman and Englishwoman
he meets. lie dare not trust himself to
talk. and so when he has finished his list
of ariStocratic acluaintauceS, he has
nothing to do but to turn away. I am
not sure that | have the list quite cor
rect but if it is correct, one can't but
pity the Princess of Wales for having
had to endure such q partner. the
Duchess of Edinboro' for having had
such dinner companion, and the
Countess of Dudley for having had such
a guest. This man has very old name.
4 very elegant presence. goes every
where. and yet people tap their fore
heads when he stops speaking. or muir
muir. with charitable consideration, too
much champagne"
Then there are "cranks' among the
women. There is one lady whose name
appears in every list of fashionable
people. 1t is fine old name-but the
woman who bears it is SO eccentric that
she would not be tolerated for an instant
in places where she is not known. She
dresses like a guy, and behaves worse
han she dresses. 1t is said that she
often goes to parties unlimited
,oolIy walking up to the distressed
hostess, SAYS: II knew it was an over
sight and here | am" Once, when
living abroad, she invited pair of young
to be married ut her hard
'ome apartments. instead of in the hotel.
where they had expected the ceremony
20 take place. The wedding was to be
At ten in the morning. The party as
'embled. but the hostess had gone
% market There was an awk-
ward delay. Presently the lady ap-
Deared W ith her purchase in her hands.
)ade the minister proceed, and while he
vas going on. she. still shawled and
reached from the chair where
'he was kneeling, to inspect the lace with
which the other kneeling guests had
adorned themselves. A distinguished
American calling on this same lady in a
oreign city, received Il message by the
servant who had taken up his card, say
ng that if he would step out on the side
walk she would be able to converse
With him from her chamber window;
hat she couldn't come down because she
vas en- dishabile. So the conversation
occurred. the lady's head appearing in
'url papers. at a third-story window, and
he gentleman standing on the sidewalk
,elow. The same woman thinks it quite
proper to put her feet up into chair
while making a call. And this woman,
IS have said, goes everywhere, and is
Is well-known in the drawing room as
Jay Gould is on Wall Street. She is &C.
centric to the last degree. but she has a
Kind heart. is herself delightful hostess.
md nobody seems to mind her peculiar
behavior or extra ordinary speeches.
Ignorant people, too, are to be found
n New York society-found and sought
lfter and liked, in spite of their ignor-
.nce. Mrs. Malaprop and Mr.. Malaprop
nave been abroad on Murray Hill this
season, | know of a millionaire who
peaks of " Creshus," and worse yet,
md talks about "pukenary obligations.
He told me that he had only taken
certain cottage at the seaside ''tempor-
.ry." and babe me drop in ''casuap'
when passing. This is the
man upon whom his friends
,erpetuate many "canards," and rs he
aughs the loudest at jokes at his own
expense. he is reckoned first-rate fell
ow. He has had no time to culti-
rate his mind, and he has heart
hat don't need cultivating, so people
,nly laugh and like him W hen he
ays "DicksOn's" novels suit him
,etter than any ''bound novels that he
,nows of, and agree with him when he
ays that all the trouble that we have in
'ur railrc9d management is due to the