The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-06-07
Topeka SOCIETY
A Little Gossip on Social Failg
ures and SetDacks.
Even Kings Are Not Exempt
From Them.
Items Of a Social and Personal
Nature.

A recent story from London regard
ing some of the social difficulties Of his
royal highness, King Edward VII. who
was turned down by the Duchess of
Buccleuch on his request that she in
clude one of his women friends in her
invitations for an occasion when the
king was to dine with her, is only an
other proof that the social autocrat.
like the political boss, has his ups and
downs. Such a request from a member
of the royal family is tantam cunt to
command and it is probably the first
time in history that a king Of Eng
land was refused by his hostess the
privilege of naming the company in
which he should dine. But the Duchess
Of Buccleuch, it is reported. not only
defied her royal guest, but got away
with it, so that although greatly Of
Tended with her, Edward, FOR state and
political reasons, was obliged to swal-
low his wrath and accept a substitute
for the lady of his choice.
There are few of US who can stand
continued prosperity and even a prince
may derive some benefit from the IN
usual experience of a slight Jolt" The
bitterness of defeat is not without a
salutary effect and the failure serves
to impress the simple truth, too easily
forgotten when things are coming our
way, that there are others. A less nOta-
most exalted have an occasional fall
taken out of them was furnished in this
country on the occasion of the visit of
the German Prince Henry when Mrs.
Astor. the recognized social leader Of
America, was passed by for Mrs Cor
nelius Vanderbilt who had the honor
of entertaining the nations guest at
dinner. 1t will be remen bered that
Mrs. Aston sought to square herself
with the people to whom she had been
passing herself off as the faVOrite of
foreign courts by stating in a newspa-
per interview that she didn't know the
prince and that he didn't bring letters
to her. but that was hardly necessary
as a good many peopla>had already sus-
pected as much
Members of the Goat club who. in a
lower stratum Of society, are trying to
push into the charmed circle of the
smart set should take hope from these
Incidents. The social climber is not
the only one who gets a jolt although
it must be admitted that his are of
more frequent occurrence than King
Edwards or Mrs. AstOT's- Envy like
death loves a shining mark" so there is
general glee over the discontinue of
great folk when it is learned that in
spite of their dizzy station they are not
entirely independent of those business,
financial and political cOnsidera lions by
which their interiors are bound and
which account for the presence of most
of the straws in the social puddle.
There ought to be some comfort to the
hostess who promises herself every time
she entertains that the next time she
will certainly assert her independence
and weed out a lot Of inpossibles and
who when she makes out her next list,
hesitates. rebels, struggles and finally
meekly writes down the obnoxious
names, that she has such distinguished
company in her social dilenmas as King
Edward, who for political reasons has