Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1895-05-09
WOODBURY. N. J, THURSDAY MAY 9, 1896
NEW YOIlf
THESE APE WEALTHY, Wise AND
SOCIAL FAvORlTES.

High Bred Mrs. Burke Roche Charms
and Accomplishments of Mrs. Reginald
de Koven and Mrs John Jacob Astor.
Other ReigniDg Favorites.
Copyright 1885, by American Press Associa-
ton. !.
The world pretty well knows that a
single feature found amid surroundings
Of wealth and taste will 60 further to-
ward proclaiming woman beauty
than would dozen traits Of loveliness
in modest environment. To be born
with the silver spoon in ones mouth
goes long way toward idealizing the
most mediocre physical qualities and
the possession Of a few passable attrac-
tions tricked out in finery and flanked
by the Injuries of wealth will constant
ly convert an ordinarily nice looking
woman into "a beauty"
Still in the upper circles of New
York society there are certainly some
women who, even if shorn Of all their
Elusive trappings, would yet remain
distinctly handsome women. Not only
are these women endowed with native
beauty and grace, but good many Of
them have stock Of brains or good
heartedness as well.
The handsomest woman in New York
today, distinction Of bearing, superior
intelligence and beauty of feature and
coloring all considered, is Mrs. Burke
Roche. She is tall, slight, still young
ess to the manner born. Her features
are purely regular, short nose, straight
and fine, large blue eyes, a mouth with
a proud, delicate arch, low, straight
brow and abundant brown hair, with a
touch of red in it, drawn softly away.
The complexion is delicately clear and
fair, but has the tinge of health as
much as her movements have the elias
ITCHY and vitality of a woman in de-
lightfully normal condition Her life
tends to this. She lives great deal in
the open air, most of her time either
driving her pair of browns under her
phaeton or in the saddle taking canter
in the park. She is capital whip, and
when out of doors it is usually safe to
calculate that her exercise will have
one thing or another to do with horse.
Her high bred air, though it might, to
the common observer, convey a dis
agreeable impression, is a distinct
charm, because with her it is native. Her
features are cast in aristocratic mold,
SO is her tall, slight cure, and the
poise of her head has a thoroughbred
distinction. Her manner at first corre-
spends to her bearing, but she can un-
bend and become genial and kindly if
there be any reason for so doing. She is
woman of good literary tastes and
well read, is never seen in bathrooms,
though she will not miss the theater or
opera, and she plans to retire every
night before midnight. She is certainly
of delicate, queenly type, and this
forsaking of bathrooms, where she could
easily take early precedence, is trifie
remarkable. To two handsome little
sons and small daughter she is serious
ly devoted
1t will be remembered that Mrs.
Roche is the daughter Of the million
aire, Mr.. Frank Work, and created a
sensation in London by her beauty dur
ing her residence there with her hand
some husband It is well known that
Mrs. Roche was very much in love with
her husband, who, like many another
improvident individual, had abundant
fascination.
This may explain her retirement from
society except in as far as effects her
health and enlightenment. She is the
sort of woman the why and wherefore
of whose actions will not readily be
communicated to the public.
Apropos of the native" high bred
air, it has been specified in distinction to
the cultivated 'air'' which is the com
mon acquisition of New York women
who believe that to impress the world
with their distinction they must not
condescend to look it in the face. To
look it in the face is vulgar They
must look over its head Whatever
about recognizing promptly the million
airesses who give the best balls and din
ners, the duly cultivated "air" forbids
one noticing the approach Of average
people unless buttonholed to do SO. The
society woman who can { escape the stig-
ma of parvenu develops this air" rap
idly, meaning that it shall simulate the
lofty yet simple dignity of high race.
Her nostril finds people of ordinary stat