Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-09-13
American Women in English Society


The Americans spend much money in Lon
don, which Is not an unpopular thing to do in
any country. particularly now in England,
where all incomes are reduced. We are
especially fortunate just now in the amhassa-
dress of America, writes Mrs. Sherwood to
the Boston Traveller, q woman of the best
type, modest, thoroughbred, kindly, always
beautifully dressed, perfectly well hammered,
and SO sensible and sweet that no wonder the
princesses all like her and say, "Ah! this is
an American of the best sort" One such
woman as Mrs. Phelps clears away thou
sand English misapprehensons, and in choos-
ing an Ambassador or Minister q believe
we have no Ambassadorel the wife should be
thought of quite as much as the husband
Mrs. Lowell was very much respected and
admired; no doubt she added to her husbands
immense popularity, in spite of the delicate
health which forbade her doing all she would
have liked.
But Mrs. Phelps mas excellent health. She
Introduces people at her drawing room. a
very great improvement on the usual diplo-
matte etiquette. She has the incest and most
perfect sense of whom to introduce. Indeed,
she has ''l'art de ten salon" TO the highest de-
gree, and to the luck of being her friend must
he attributed the success of some American
ladies IN English socie y.
With all these advantages, with the added
advantages of wealth, some American women
failed to gain that position in English society
which they craved. Beautiful girls with
every advantage offered them fell dead
weights. Rich women would take houses,
and nobody came.
WhyP they asked. Did they not perhaps
force the situation "a little?"
But says one of them MRS. Brighthomlee
did the same and succeeded "
Yes. fere comes in our little friend luck, or
pc haps Mrs. Brighthomlee spent her guneas
more showlly. perhaps she carried the fort
with an extra gun.
In all society we have to confront this
problem. "Whv do some succeed? Why do
some fail? Why is man a success or scape-
goat? Why is a woman leader or societ,
| Why is she always invited aboutY" and In
nine cases out Of ten no answer can be gwen
For if we say the success has beauty, talent,
wit and wea tn we may see failure next
door no has all these rump cards, and we
may again see a success who has none of
them.
1t would seem to be problem wholly un-
answerable, did not the observation OF the
last few months teach me that to succeed in
England woman must do something. She
must tell fortunes by the hand; she must re-
cite well this is Il great card she must talk
well at a dinner; she must, in fact, be enter
tanning.
II she can sing well, she is sure to succeed.
Pianoforte playing is again great help. and
as many Of the young Americans married in
London do both, they are great cards at a
prince Y oaZar, or at the duh dinner OF an
old countess, which they help OF. a brilliant,
handsome woman, who is good talker,
would be a success anywhere, one would
think. but | have seen one such lamentable
failure Ia London.
have seen women with not single per-
sonal charm, but VINO had a little power OF
amusing the company, succeed.
Prestige is great card anywhere. If 10 Is
whispered such a woman has been great
success somewhere else,it helps her i'm mensely
-"Ilein ne reu ssit CONNIE lie 8, Gees" and 1t is
astonishing how il will be whispered any
where "Oh, that is Mrs. So and So, who was
so popular in Vienna; that Ia Mr.. So and So,
who has written n novel; that Is Miss So and
SO, who has recited the very Swinburnish
poem OF the Maid in the Meadow" etc,
etc; and even some unpleasant peculiarly,
some notoriety rather painful, like a broken
such as Is now being enjoyed by Miss Fortes-
que and Miss Grant, the loves OF Lord,
Cairns.
This is taking low view OF English society,
not just one, as regards its better side. Sui
there IL, no doubt, heavy dullness about
English society OF which yivacious Americans
have no idea. The very fact that they spend
half their time seeing the royalties go by is a
dull enough proof. What would vivaci0us
American girl, full of her conquests aud her
firtations, with the wardrobe OF the Queen Of
Sheba, with all her own full personal life to
amuse her-what would she hud, after the
second season. 10 sustain her in the p 'tient
waiting at a ball to see royAly go in tosupper2
And yet this Is all the excitement which COMES
20 many an Engllsh Lady Adelaide or Hon,
Miss Blanche. rhey lead very duh lives as
compared to ours. Their dignities are so
many severe restraints. We cannot ALWAYS
count on che honors and blesslngs OF this If i,
40 real Blessings.