The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-09-08
Not Yonched For.

cannot VOuCn Tor the truth OF it, but
here is story told on tolerably good auth
GRITTY, about one of the most prominent
society ladies of the land, whose name is
known to everybody-AIrs. Willie X Van
derbildt. Soon after her father had lost
all his money by unfortunate speculation,
she went to Saratoga with some friends
Ia day or two the announcement was
made, which caused a fiutter in the breasts
Of all the marriageable females and their
managing mammas-that the wealthy son
of William Vanderbilt would arrive that
very evening. OF gowns, the girl in cues
ton mad but few, and most of them had
been worn already; and now, if never be
fore in her life, she pinned for an appropri-
ate frock-fOr what true daughter of Eve
can make an impression on any man unless
dressed to please herself, however well her
attire and appearance may please the OPP
posite sex! As well might one of US try to
get up devout frame of mind on easter
morning without that primary essential of
an easter bonnet. The consultations of
religion are all very well, but they fall on
stony ground III the heart of the average
woman, unless her outer and visible form
is appropriately encased.
Well a friend-as friends go among the
butterflies of sOciety-tOld the lady who is
now Mrs. Willie K. not to worry her dear
little head at all, for she 1.-THE alleged
friend) would loan her, for the momentOus
occasion of her first meeting with the
young millionaire, a gorgeous yellow silk
out OF her own splendid wardrobe. Tab
leau-A gush OF generosity on one side, ard
profuse thanks on the other, as the naughty
but reduced little southern girl concluded
TO pocket her pride and accept the loan
But for some unaccOuntable reason there
were delays and excuses about sending
around the dress and il did not reach the
Wearer until Just time enough remained to
get herself within it for the evenings ball
And then, with tears of disappointment.
she discovered that one side OF the bodice
and nearly half the skirt was utterly
ruined by huge wine stain. But what
was this to daunt southern oirl-and be-
sides, how could she allow her false friend
to succeed in the mean design OF keeping
her away from the ball because it was now
TOO late to make other preparations? 1t
happened that a big and beautiful black
Lace shawl of her mothers-a relic of
former magnifcence, before the failure
had been put into her trunks by mistake of
her maid-and it was in the silken net of
this same sOmbre drapery that Mr. Willie
Is. was caught for life. She draped it over
the yellow silk in Spanish fashion, com
pletely hiding the ugly wine stain, faste1-
inC it on her head and at one shoulder with
amber pins. An admirer had sent her a
bunch of yellow roses; and with these and
her black feather fan, the most unique and
charming costume of the evening was COM
plete. She came, she saw, she conquered
and while the wicked friend looked on
with envy land has never, to this day, for
given her for thwarting her ungenerous
schemes), she presented the lOveliest of
pictures when Mr. Vanderbilt, with ad-
miratiOn in his eyes, was introduced to her
And so, Cinderella-like, the maid of the
nineteenth century found her prince, albeit
in borrowed gown.
Another story one likes to tell is about
Mrs. Hicks-LOrd, whose name is also a
household word among the creme de la
creme of American society. She is among
the ladies of the old regime-thOse gentle
women who remember the time when gal
lantry was the vogue, and courtesy was
counted OF more value than costumes
Wherever she goes her digniied manner
and fine presence would command univer-
sal attention without the millions at her
back Her life has been like a romance,
and her Charities, though innumerable, are
all carefully considered. She is not only
Hberality perSeaifed to her church and in
the usual religious avenues through which
money flows, but she is also quietly gener-
Gus to many of her friends who suffer the
woes of genteel poverty; and, more than
this-curiously enough for an ultra fashion
able woman-she is perfectly an fdit re
garding the joys and sorrows, the hopes,
the needs and the ambitions of every one of
her dependents. Every year, when the
holiday time comes around, she looks after
all the workers in her household, and at
the great dinner table set in the servants
dining room, every man servants wife and
children are present, every maid and
domestic has her mother and sisters, or her
nearest of kin to enjoy the feast. Even
the guards at the gate are not forgotten,
and the weary nights when the Lord man
sion is watched are amply compensated for,
with a liberal gift to boot. And when the
old butler stands up and drinks ''To the
health OF the mistress-God bless herl' at
this thanksgiving dinner, l think she must
feel after all how good it is to have great
wealth, and how much better than its mere
possession it is to know how to use it.