The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-26
THE LIFE AT NEWPORT
WHAT 1T IS THAT MAKES 1T DIFFER
FROM ANYTHING ELSE AMERICAN.
Foreign Element a Strong influence
An Idle, Empty, Wearisome
Existence.
New York Indenendentt.

New York independent.
How does Newport take all this publicity,
this censorious criticism? Newport is sufti-
Gent for itself. The women change their
gowns three. four or five times day, the
men smoke their allotted number OF cigars
and dress for dinner, and the world may
~ag along.
This absolute indifference Is due TO
cause of which the outside world is in ig-
norance. 1t is the great number of foreign
ers who pervade Newport in the season.
They bring to us their old world training
and ideas; their indifference for the bour-
geoisie. their positive conviction that they
are of a different clay, and that their mis-
sion and the mission Of all who are chosen
Is that of the lilies. We are an assimilative
race. These men of title have taught US
several things: First, that we must not
mix our business with our pleasure; sec
ond. that the pursuit of pleasure is as stren-
uous as the hunt for wealth. And they are
teaching US to show disregard for women
In our speech and actions. and to treat her
a good fellow, which means a number or
things and Is a specious cloak for license.
1t is to the influence of the foreign ele-
ment that Newport's snubbing Of the off,
GERS of the American navy is to be attrib-
uted. Naval officers gentlemen and
good entertainers, and they are received
with welcoming arms everywhere else. But
In Newport they encounter absolute 1ndlt-
ference. No naval officer covets a billet at
the torpedo station. The place Is notorious
But il a man of title go there with
pocketbook plethoric or empty, an unsaVory
past, or a head whose characteristic Is It's
paucity of brains, he Is popular In the
largest sense Of the word. A title Is the
Ifa
early. and hastens to abuse 1t. He may do
so, usually with impunity-
II was not so long ago that duke OF
France, while resting on the beach after
bathing, deliberately wiped his feet on the
back of an American woman of the very
highest social standing who was sitting In
Philadelphia standing near by resented
the action very forcibly. He was of an ath-
letic build.
IT have a mind to smash you," he said.
The Frenchman. who, by the way, was
pronouncedly an effeminate product,
Jumped to his feet and in fine frenzy
II challenge you to re duel Canaille!
What | not know re proprieties-I. who
His challenge was laughed at: but he still
holds his place in the affections Of New
port
Largely because of the license granted the
titled element there has formed in Newport
a set which. while the word fast might
ut IL, would not be out of place under some
classification like 1.-The Indecorous Set" 1t
is this set particularly to which Journalists
pay their highest respects. They do many
things which they should not and leave un-
done not a few of the things which they
should have done. No amount of publicity
seems to affect them. That indifference.
that tmpenetrability, is the whole tone or
the Newport set.
EXTRAvAGANT ENTERTAINING.
At other places lavish entertaining is the
exception; 1t Is deemed sometimes in bad
taste. In Newport ii is the rule. Dinners at
Berger's at $50 per cover are not considered
elaborate. There is not much after talk over
a garden party for which $4,000 has been
spent. while workmen have been brought
from New York to transform the grounds
into fit setting for an Arabian Night, with
all the latest wonders of electricity for
Aladdin's lamp, and beautiful women the
ho''-ie - amid it all, ennui fastens its
grip on them.
:. NV Xxx yachting party with ten or
cruise. Before the return 5000 will have
been spent in addition to the boats fixed
charges. Some woman of the party may
have donned overalls and passed a few
shovels of coal; and a good swimmer may
have carefully fallen overheard while the
boat was going at full speed in order that
he might laugh at his rescuers. On the re-
turn the affair Is voted a bore. Mrs. De
Puyster talks the trip over with her hus-
band at breakfast the next morning and
Informs him that young Standish, who fell
overheard, and Mrs. Giddings, who show
eled coal. must be positively numbered
among their guests at the next function.
De Puyster acquiesces, for no person is i'm
possible at Newport who can do something
outre.
There is another fact, which will not be
readily believed: A man and his wife spend
much more time in each others company
at Newport than elsewhere. Take, for in
stance. a daily routine. They arise with
Newport, at 1890. They breakfast, battle
at u:30, and drive until time for lunch.
which is usually at Berger's. My lady
makes an especial toilet for IL; then she to
tennis or golf, and he to polo or his auto
mobile. One reason why dangerous auto
MODELLING is INDUCED In with such immunity
at Newport is that most of the owners of
machines are also the possessors of horses.
Speed violations are not prosecuted for OBJ
vious reasons. 1t is noblesse oblige.
They dress for dinner. and the serious
part OF the day has begun. 1t is the dress
ing, eternal dressing which makes the
married mans expense so great at New
port. Nowhere in the world do women need
so many gowns. She must change at least
three times a day and must not wear the
same dress oftener than once a week. No
matter what the financial standing OF the
couple In question all local purchases must
be made at the best stores. and the prices
are set at such establishments according to
the standard of the extremely wealthy
You pay through the nose for everything.
A New York married man must hire Cliff
residence. He must have at least two
horses. with, of course. the attendant ex-
pense of a coachman and other service;
and he must entertain at least once a week.
1T Is lmpOSSlDlc 10 De IN the set IOr the en-
tire season at an expenditure of less than
5000.
Taking that end OF Viewpoints social life
which might best be described as skinny,
the basis Of expense is set at 5000 for a
period of six weeks. The sum mentioned
represents money expended actually in
Newport. But there is preliminary outlay
which Is almost large.
For instance: My lady must calculate on
dressing at least four times a day. She
must have in readiness at least a breakfast
gown. the change for driving. the inevi-
table tea function and the elaborate gown
for dinner. None OF these dresses may be
worn oftener than twice week. and the
cost OF the morning costumes cannot pos
sibly be less than $50 apiece. The driving
dresses, which must be rather smart will
cost SIS. and the tea gowns-huffy things
generally-$25. For the evening, when all
real functions occur at Newport, the ex-
terror feminine apparel represents. in the
same ratio. no less than $50 for each gown
donned. Eight hundred and forty dollars is
the sum expended TO make any woman pre-
sentable-
THE MANS WARDROBE.
The male member Of humanity. unlike al
other males OF the animal kingdom. is the
more soberly CARRIED; yet he must have a