The age-herald., 1900-01-21
SOME PRE-LENTEN WEDDINGS
The Apollo Club Musicale and Other Brilliant Events of the Late Winter What is Going on
 in the Social World.
BY ANNIE KENDRIoK WALKER

It may be that Mrs Langtry bringing over 1.-The Degenerates,' presumably repro duction of English society today, has led some of the papers on this side to write of the degeneracy of Americas smart set" The newspapers do not touch upon the mor- ality part of it. That is left to the dra- matist with their drawing-room plays. But society in the abstract is a safe topic to be discussed and the Mrs. Trevalyans are ob- served and openly talked about when Mrs Langtry, Mrs. Potter or some other beauti- ful woman of the stage impersonates them
 It is the woman of the world however, who is being constantly assailed for any de- generacy because, of course, she is so taken up with all this fashionable life that she neglects her children, and they are conse- quently growing up without any careful training. The society mother of today is being held responsible for all the modern faults of society, and it is this charming woman of the world who is quite sensible enough to be indifferent to to what others say of her going off to parties and leaving her children to the nurses.
 The most indifferent person who cares nothing at all for society its degenarcy or improvement, knows at least that it's faults can not be laid at the feet of the socal leader. It is an absurd thing to say that American slang, that anglomaniacy, the ab- sence of good manners and other modern faults, is the result of American wives liv- ing away from their husbands, or the American woman exclusively patronizing forGgp industries, or the society mother on this side allowing such liberty to her chlldTen that they grow up eonversant with slang and without proper reverence and courtesy to their elders. Such awful signs or deSeneracy are, however, traced directly to the fashionable woman, as if she was a m de steele growth, and as if the women m past generations had not gone the fash ionable pace quite as much as the woman of this generation.
 There is no doubt that in those other days many faults of society were discussed with depricating air by many a grand dame who. recalled her own girhood days. I am sure thalt every woman can recall her own grandmother speaking of the days of long ago, when such and such thing would not have been thought of. Tn my day. is such typical grandmother expression that It conveys att once a wonderful period of etiquette that it would seem to reflect upon the society of today.
 The question of degeneracy of society has necessarily to be decided by those who have already had their day" and who are in- deed viewing society of today through the glasses of generations past"
 l have heard so many dear old ladies re- call their young ladyhood." that I am sure they We're quite sincere when they declared that society was so different when 'I was girl, and yet although I have never dared to disagree with them on this par ticuar subject am certain that there were inst as many little escapades-then as one hears of in these degenerate days But 1t would seem that the modern faults. not glaring ones that Sydney Grundy writes of but such faults as those recently discussed by Mrs. Ellen M. HenrosHn the former president of the general federation, are really to be taken quite seriously.
 She declared at recent club. gathering in Chicago that "soc.ety seems to- be ex- clusively for girls and youths It should be for men also and for those of all ages Mrs. Henrotin quoted man as saying 'that men and women should be impressed with the fact that they have a right and place in social life: that society Is not for youth a'one or for girls only but it is an inst!tutlon for age and youth-men and women. And above all. endeavor to n- clude men in socety-grown men-those who think and act and carry power and in- fluence" Mrs. Henrotin next quoted wo- mon who is a social leader who declared that the man to whom Mrs. Henrotin re- ferred only sees half truth. "We do over emphasize the influence of women and