The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-05-07

Of women and one that will have a deep
interest on this side of the water is the
Society of American Women. which has
just been formed in London with Mrs.
Hugh Reid Griffin as its president and
a host of prominent Anglo-Americans
on its membership list.
Long as she has been in England. the
American woman has not become COM
pletely Anglicized, and this society has
for its avowed object the promotion of
social acquaintance and mutual inter
ests between American women who may
happen to be permanent or temporary
residents of the London territory OF her
majesty the queen.
The regular meetings Of the society
are to consist of social and luncheon
given once a month at the club head
quarters in the Hotel Cecil The indi-
vidual cost of these entertainments is
not to exceed shillings, or about 81.
| The entertainment of distinguished
American women as guests is to be
feature of the meetings. The inaugural
entertainment given March was de-
voted to the lionizing of Miss Genevieve
Ward and Miss Elizabeth Robins. Both
I VI lUGSC ldQtGS Lllei1G CO1u PliiAS14ldIy
speeches and were in every way very
gentle and charming lions.
From time to time the executive COM
! mittee of the club expects to give lat
homes" to which members may invite.
limited number of friends.
The initiation fee to the club has been
placed at guineas, or about so. very
moderate fee as club fees go. Sorosis on
~, 81
so pleased with the idea of such an or
ganization in London that it offered the
new club the use of that superior name,
for appropriation of which they recent
| Iy did valiant battle with a mere shoe
manufactures. The Sorosonians tender
| ed the privilege of being considered a
branch of their society. but as in Lon
don they are a little averse to being
! considered subordinate to anything
American the offer was politely de-
clined.
The new society has everything in its
favor. Those who have visited London
for any length of time unprovided with
letters of introduction know how lonely
one may be there. The British matron
is slow TO take up with foreigners, no
matter what their social position on the
other side OF the water may be. This is
not due so much to any British I'M
friendliness to the Yankees" but to
innate formality. English ladies even
of the highest rank seem to lack that
SAVIOR faire which makes the French
woman so charming in her social rela-
tons. A Frenchwoman is able to
squeeze more cordially into five min
ute call than the English woman can
set into whole years of acquaintance.
This is the English ladys misfortune
not her fault. but she cOmpensates by
being a great deal more sincere in her
friendships than the agreeable CONT
mental.
Another reason why Americans often
find it hard to make friends among
those of their own class in England is
because of the repeated charges that
English women make profitable use of
their hospitality and positions TO foist
rich Americans on London society. Con-
servative English families naturally do
not like to put themselves in the posi-
ton of being considered employees of
the rich new Americans or fortune
hunters for the benefit of their sons and
daughters.
In the case of unknown strangers ey-
cry one is on the lookout for impostors. |
The American suspicion that all titled |
foreigners are mercenary humbugs pre-
walls in England in regard to alleged |
rich Americans. for the bogus million !
aire is plentiful on the other side of the |
water.
Many Americans who go to London ,
hoping to see something of society come /
home with having enjoyed only one OPP
portunity to attend a reception. and |
that the public one given regularly by
the American ambassador for the bene-
fit of his countrymen and countrywom
en-. whose lonely condition is perhaps
not unknown to the protectors of our
interests at the court of st. James.
These functions are very sad affairs for
all concerned. The carriages are driven
to the entrance to the house Of the en-
bassador. and the guests, dressed in
their best toggery, alight and walk up
under the awning RECALLED by candid
comments of the London street gamins
such as the following:
Say, amt the old gal got a color?"
Who's that cove with the diamont in
his vaistcut? Pork millingaire, frum the
size Nv HIM"
Say. Mary Ann. amt the ledy laced
arful?"
That lace wuz as much as sixpence !
a yard or I'm sinner. Susan! And that
red amt near so becomin as me sisters
new red sating coat"
Under such cheering auspices the
advance TO the door. where
names are taken and bawled TO another !
servitor. who Of course makes them I
something very different from what