The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-06-28
4 BOSTON SOCIETY WOMAN
Strange Capers and Bizarre Do
ings of Mrs. Jack Gardner,
She Has Diplomacy, Daring, Tact,
< Talent, Heart and Human Ma.
XII ture in Generous Proper
tions. A Lion Hunter.
Some of Her Conceits.

man who does the things that arc called
ontre and bizarre, who scorns conven-
sflonailty. who is as prolific in pictur-
ssque caprices as she is indulgent in ev-
cry odd whim and vagary, "A womun
with tho temperament of n bohemian.
the fnesse and tact of diplomat and
the daring which rides rough shod over
rigid social proprieties, yet which charms
the stiff pecked e-ponents of tho puri-
tan civilization by the frank originality
OF its innovations; woman who is not
beautiful, yet fascinating; not cultured
Tin the Boston seusc), yet a most invet-
crate patron Of aesthetics; who is not
hlghborn, yet the queen regent of the
Hubs most exclusive and blue blooded
society.
Il She is rich. She is married She has
no children. She is not young. For 20
years and moro she has kept Boston So
5ciety talking about her. In tho Hub her
eccentricities are we'll known. They are
expected. In New York she is only half
known or not known at all, although
she was born there. In New York there
as no woman like her.
4 Some of the moro remarkable facts
which have made Mrs Jack Gardiner
career unique and her name synonym
for social sensation are these:
She is the first and only social leader
IN Boston TO encourage aud entertain at
her home the bohemian set of artists,
htterateurs, musicians and theatrical
people.
She is the pntroness of Boston's most
ritualistic Episcopacy, the Church of the
Advent, and during Lent attends early
mass, and it is an uncontradicted tradi-
ton that on one.day of penance few
years ago she dUnned the modern sack
cloth and ashes of an old gown and on
her knees scrubbed tho floor of tho
church.
She Is the only society woman ever
known or reported to have gone into the
retirement of II convent during period
of religious humiliation after gay sea-
son of social dissipation.
She was the first woman to make a
personal examination Of Sandow's mus
cles.
She paid Paderewski 81, 900 for pri
Z vate concert at Bumstead hall, in Bos-
ton, Mt which tho music teachers and
music students of tho Hub were her
guests.
She has hired the Boston SYMPHONY
orchestra ut fabulous rates to plnv Mt her
house for her private entertainment.
She chartered a special train and rode
IN the engine cab from Boston to Bever-
" one day on u wild chase to overtake
coaching party which sho was unable to
join at tho start.
She hired Cnrmencita, the Spanish
dancer, when in the zenith of her glory.
to dance before select party Of Boston
society people.
She pre'empted one evening the Chi
hese theater on Harrison avenue, the
Mott street of Boston, and hired the Ce-
aestial actors to give a special perform
hnce for her friends and herself.
she was the first society patroness of
Sargent, the artist to whom she paid
30, 600 for painting her portrait, and thus
gave the impulse to his popularity as
painter OF society women's portraits.
AT the artists festival several years
ago she wGs attended by diminutive
negro page holding up her train. Runor
had IL that she would lead tame leop-
ard or tiger. Her queer conreit was tho
4 tzalk of society for weeks thereafter.
she lsthe only woman in New Eng
land who raises her own violcts, and
Bhe.is seldom seen in public without
greas bunch Of tho purple beauties.
She stood at the door and distributed
programmes at recital given by her
prntege. Clayton Johns, tho musician.
She is said to be the heroine Of Marion
CrawSord's famous novel "To Lee
yard. " of Hamilton Aides Voyage Of
s5siscovery." Of Mrs. Harry St. John"
and "Philip ST. Clare" novels Of Bos.
ton society life by Count Zubof.
She is the only prominent society wo.
man who has ever attended theatrical
performance by Champion Corbett. This
she did in Boston and sat in boz.
She captured N. Paul Boureet, the
French novelist, summer before Lash az
eoon "a ne left Newport and entertained
him at her summer residence at Beverly
Farms for several weeks.
She gave musicale one evening and
invited the De Reszke brothers. who
were then singing in grand opera in
Boston. No other society woman Ind
succeeded in overcoming their dotermi-
nation not to sing at social function.
but Mrs. Jack Gardner did.-New York
World.
-Four Causes.