The age-herald., 1901-02-23
WoMAANNc ANc,pr
Sseesss Achieved by Two
 Society Women in New York

In the vast army of women who rush ro1riy to the metropolis in search of fame ekad wealth, there are only a few. com DagReively, destined to achieve success. %here hundreds fall by the wayside, ex- ssels attain distinction.
 i1ven the women who are New York Srsd and have the advantage of thor oughly knowing the exigencies of metro- pslitan existence, seldom accomplish 1a0re than commonplace results. New York is tickle. What amuses, diverts and abstracts that city one week is forgotten the next. To be successful in New York requires courage, originality and nerve. H woman does not possess these re- quirements she had best avoid the me trcpolitan maelstrom; which will surely ongulf her and draw her down to obli- vsoR.
 There are two distinguished New York sscSety women who have achieved success h the weaving of romance-Mrs. Burton Harrison and Mrs. Van Rensselaer, Cruz GsR Cullen Gordon). Mrs. Harrison is of the conventional type gracious, genial HaAd COuTlGOuSy Wllu lile IIldHntT OL lUG old regime. But she Is not of so pie suresque an individuality, nor is she sur r0unded by so spiendidly bizarre an at rnosphere as Mrs. Cruger.
 The latter lives up to the eccentrcity of genius. Of lofty social position, cf dasEling beauty and fascinating man mars, she yet has penchant for the un- t- stsnt and delightful surprise both to her world and the public. Her witticisms, ner gowns, her fashion of dressing her hair. her poDes, are all eagerly rehearsed, studied and copied. Since the death of her husband two years ago Mrs. Cruger has lived quietly abroad, but rumor now declares she Is soon to return to this country and startle society anew with her charms, her whims and caprices
 No more picturesque place in town can De fancied than Mrs. Crugers house in East Thirty-fifth street, with its entre- sel lined with mirrors and palms, its sue cession of salons opening out into another and its petit salon a Versailles in ivory and gold. The walls are draped with rare old brocades and exquisite stuffs. Throne like recesses hung in satin and adorned with mirrors are favorite resting places of the lady. Sitting in one of these quaint retreats, with the proud arch of her neck and the masses of dusky hair reflected in the mirror behind her, Julien Gordon is a vision of queen in fable of old fairy days.
 She re eceives at o'clock in full dress. The room is darkened, save for the mel low light of the open fire. In a ravishins gown of satin of velvet, this stately daughter of the gods stands leaning against the mantle, surveying one through Il goldrimmed lorgnette. Then she sinks into 6 velvet-cushioned chair and stretches a foot, an Andalusian might envy, to the blaze and speaks in sweet, low dangerous tones of her work, her experiences, her hopes, her aims.
 At the tea table she is a picture of en- ohantment. Her beautiful hands fiutter over the priceless china like butterflies over flowers. Her laugh is contagious. her expression os arch as a childs.
 She confesses to joy in her writing, in hcr success and in the money she earns. She loves 10 muse upon HcT happy uhA perfect childhood She is interested in all social and economic topics of the day. She is very proud of her descent from Washington Irving, and of the Slay blood in her veins, speaking often of "we Russians"
 She Is, as she has perfect right, very proud of her beauty. When her famous portrait in. yellow velvet and pearls was on exhibition, Mrs. Cruger asked a man al a smart function one evening if he had been to see it. He confessed he had not. "Ah!" said the beauty. You should go. My portrait is one of the things to be Deen.'
 There are many stories of her novel eccentricities. One declares that in negll- gee she wears bangles on her slim an- kles and ties roses to her garters
 In her crepe and nuns yelling she was declared by connoisseurs to be the most beautiful widow ever seen in New York It is rumored that she will soon marry many years her junior.
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