The age-herald., 1897-09-26
BY MRS. GEORGE c. BALL.

may be told that this is "swelr' and "sNagger" but it is deemed unfor,urtats- ly new by those persons who have Gn .herlted good manners.
 There is St. Louis girl, Miss Gracia Thompson, who has sent English society and the English and continental press into a state bordering on nervous pros traction. She has exhibited that good common sense and self-respect mate in well-reared American young woman, and which are safeguards against the impertinence of i1l-bred men. Mss Thompson, who comss of prominent St. Louis family, has been travelling abroad for two years, and during that time has been greatly admired by Eu- ropeans. because of hsr unusual beauty. Her father is Wm. B. Thompson, a well known Missouri lawyer, and her elder sister, married several years ago, a brother of the uch-written-a about Brad ley Martin, of New York. Mss Thomp- son was very much feted and entertained in London and the stories of her remark able beauty and charm soon reached the ears of the susceptible Princa of Wales. During the jubilee season, Miss Thomp- son was a conspicuous figure and was considered the most beautiful American girl in all the vast throng, which crowd ed London. At ball and party she was always the center of an admiring group from both sides of the Atlantic. This inspired the prince with a desire to know the lovely Amarlcan girl. and in- terested friends told her of his ardent admiration for her. But the season passed without Miss Thompson being introduced to tha prince much to the disappointment of the latter He hoped, however, to meet her on the continent, and did not hesitate to say so, all of which was told to Miss Thompson, by friends elated at tho openly expressed fancy of England's future king. But Miss Thompson, who was quietly tray cling with friends paid but little heed to the gossip going on in London. At last she was notified that Prince Albert Edward would visit Hamburg about the times she would rsach this quaint city and that he especially desired to be presented to her. So, after she had been at Hamburg for several days she
 
 r.vsd, and wished to meet her. To the credit of the plucky American girl be it said that she quit Hamburg immedi- ately with her friends, and th- dashy prince was left to ruminate upon the peculiarlies of women in general and Americans in particular. Miss Thomp- son is one Of the, few women who has been brave and discreet enough to snub hn T1,.i,, of voJa ,1 A newspapers are to Joe excused for mak- ing such fuss about her. When Miss Thompson returns to her home, she will b. accorded a welcome such as she de serves. as true, genuine, accomplished Amsrican girl, whose head is not turned even by the diffusive admiration of the Prince of Wales.
 Fra1k LeslieTs Weekly has lhis to say Of woman who will soon visit Nash ytfle:.
 Cynthia Westover Alden eajoys the dist inc ion of being the only professional woman among the sixteen women ap- pointed by Mayor Strong on The New York City commissiioD to he TennesJse Catltenrtal Exposition. Mrs. Wesitover Alden ia a representative business and club woman, ard Is al present editor of the womafs page of the New York Tribune, position which she has held since the wolnan's department was Dn- stalled n that journal more than ore year aeo. She was a delegate from this city to the Atlainlta Exposition on New York Day, when she represented 1000 club women, and she goes 10 Nashville in October fon the same purpose. Mrs Westover Alden is Colorado woman, a,.d was am educaitDr in Denver before she came east. She has lost rl.ne of the western cn.lll5iasm with which she was naturally endowed. This daughter of the wesit has proved. herself a versatile work ert and not always has she Hmited her efforts to the circumScl1bed femiil1ne field. She served as secretary to Hans Bee,ttie when he was street commissioner of New York City, a position which few men are qualified 10 fill, and she is the only wonIsiln ever so employed under TammarIy. She snverltcd aG ingenious and practical dump-cart, which is now fin use dn several European ci.iiss, and which won for nler the only gold medal ever granted to a, woman by the SIocre.y of ParilsaiIu Inveni.ors. Mrs. Alden is a fine musDcafn arId lbrguist, and is the author of TWO books. ons ealtitlei aBushy,p g story Of ch.td life in inc Rocky mountains, and The other a guide book ,tt New Yo'le, called 'sAanllatran Artistic and Historic" " She Is tips tiauef- ter of OAivei. Wee.oyer, professcr of, ee-V ology in a western state. .iA year ago she became the wife of Js ilil Alden. a nephew of .le sTtt'or of Hirper's No7th- ~ly. and a member of the good o.l Alden fanilly of Plymouth. Ms. A1dfn fss member of the Paitila club. Professional Womcp's League, Women's Press club,