The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-01-07
AMERICANS WHO ARE LIKED
San Francisco Argonant.


 really but a temporary one, and de- pendent solely upon the caprice of the prince, whose smile admits them, but whose trown will as quickly expel. For people-and especially foreigners ito imagine, therefore, that because the prince of Wales takes notice of them, and for his own amusement gets friends with whom he has influence to invite them to their entertainments, they have achieved the entree into English high life-except in a very narrow and ephemeral fashion-is one of the biggest mistakes which people, can make. I know quite well shall be gainsaid in this. Americans who have come over to London during the season, and gone to some balls and gar- den- parties under the prince of Wales wing and patronage, and have been invited to Marlborough house, are, am quite aware, imbued with the de- fusion that they have seen and know all about English high life. They have and they have not. They have caught glimmer of it under the pecu- liar circumstances of being noticed by the prince of Wales, who has given them five minutes view, as it were, of the sphere of high life in which he is the unquestionable leader. In the short space in which they have the op- portunity to take and make observa- tions, they naturally get but cramped idea of what actual English high life is as it is in and among the prince of Wales set. Beyond that, they positively can know nothing.
 There is an immense part of the so- ciety which makes high life which has virtually nothing to do with the prince of Wales. Of course they couldn't and wouldn't refuse to recog- nize his royal highness and yield him his true position whenever he might choose to appear among them. But it would be more as the heir-apparent to the throne, andstechnical "first gen. tlemen of the kingdom" than as a proper exponent and sample of their customs and manners, and they would yield him homage and place. It is extremely doubtful, too, if his royal highness could bring the "outsiders" in among them as he does among his own particularly happy -go- lucky clique. It is extremely doubtful if he would try. He knows better. He is man of wondrous tact and discrimi- nation, and he would know as well as any one-better, indeed-that the real aristocracy, the real high-life of Eng land in it's entirety and purity, wouldn't put up with it. He can go among them himself, and take who- ever could of right go of themselves with him. But further than that, I take it, he wouldn't go. In fact, he exhibits a dual character. In his set he is one thing-in high life, quite another.
 A jolly good fellow, fond of good joke, 8 good story, actresses, profes- sional beauties, and pretty women generally, in his set, he becomes in high life, whenever he sees fit to enter it, a serious, dignified man, polished gentleman ungiven to frivolity, and a great stickler for the observance of everything that of right is due to him as a prince. In short, in his set he is "Wales" and "Tummy;" in high life, the kingdom's future king. In order to understand him, one must judge him in both capacities.
 In view of this, it becomes a serious question whether his notice of Ameri- cans and introduction of them into his set (as long as they please him), is after all such very high honor as some people are accustomed to regard it, or one in the least desirable for any foreigner to be made the recipient of. For my own part I doubt it. People get their names into the newspapers, like Miss Chamberlain and Miss Wins low, Shd the outside world both st home land abroad fancy they have taken English society by storm. I don't think am wrong in venturing to say that there are hundreds of Eng fish young ladies in high life who could, without quarter the effect, have gained double the public notori- ety for beauty, and piquance, and vi- vacity, and originality, than either Miss Chamberlain or Miss Winslow did, were their mothers to let them; or were it at all in keeping or accord with the traditions of their class to exhibit such "bad form" as to have their names to become the public property which the parents of these young ladies seemed to see no objection in allowing their daughters to yield. Idon't in the least mean to insinuate that the grsces and charms of the American girls who come to England, and capture the prince of Wales, are not all that they are claimed to be, and peculiarly capable of captivating the head and heart of man wherever they may go. only say that in my humble opinion the women of no na- ton hold an exclusive sway in this re- l Al = Al