Omaha daily bee., 1903-03-29
Mrs. Ronalds Unique Social Position

London. But an official appearance at one
Of Mrs. Ronald's 'at homes" is worth
more to a drRwing-TOom artist than a
dozen paid agents.
On the other hand. all sorts of peeresses
and other personages throng the CadOgau
Place salon, because they can be sure OF
hearing or seeing some new genius IN adj
vince of the general public.
Aside from her musical efforts, Mrs.
Ronald's social success in London Is due
to several causes.
First, she entered the arena under the
wing Of Mrs. George CORVALLIS West, then
Lady Randolph Churchill. Lady Randolph
literally paved the way for almost every
American womEn who has taken English
honors on herself since that time. Mrs.
Ronalds found Lady Randolph Churchill
was amazingly admired. The two women
have kept their cordial friendship up TO
the present time.
A second factor In Mrs. Ronald's rise
has been a plentiful purse and her ability
to entertain uncommonly we'll. She en-
frances people who get inside her house.
Third, Mrs. Ronalds has succeeded. be-
cause she is a thoroughly charming woman.
She is no longer young, but even now there
are considerably more than a few traces of
what must have been her extraordinary
youthful beauty. She has a fine profile. ex~
cellent clear skin, and the kindliest OF
smiles.
There is a whisper to the effect that Mrs.
Horace Townsend. latest American ripple
on the English social sea, is largely in
debted to Mrs. Ronalds for her Introduction
at court. The two are great friends, and
were seen together frequently during the
Belgian minister's wife recent stay in Lon
don. And. as everybody knows, there is
no one truer to her American friends or
more willing to let them profit by her
London position. than Mrs. Ronslds.
One of Mrs. Ronald's little knacks lies
along the line of the American cocktail.
She proved to the satisfaction of last years
Coronation bazaar that she knows how to
mix the American drink well. Mrs. Ron
aids presided over the American bar, and
she put in about as heavy an amount Of
work as the most valiant American woman
is capable of. She didn't just superintend;
she pitched in and did things herself. And
a lot of respect she received for her pains.
Mrs. Ronalds' life in London has been
singularly lacking in reverses, socially
speaking. Ronalds stock has, as 1t were,
seldom fuctuated. Other American women,
many of them. have sometimes been pop
ular and sometimes not. but Mrs. Ronalds
seems to have goodnaturedly maintained
the even tenor Of her way.
Mrs. Ronalds is business Town TO the
ground. She answers questions in regular
order. and evidently has the knack Of
thinking logically. She is a kindly, gen.
erous woman, who has retained through
years Of hazardous social ambition, the
sincerity and simplicity OF nature which
made her as a girl universally beloved.
In dress Mrs. Ronalds displays very quiet
taste. She does not affect easy negligee,
even when working in her boudoir. Instead
she employs a close-htting workaday dress
of black broadcloth. Her street gowns are
usually Of blue and simply built. and her
evening apparel has as little fuss on 1t as
etiquette demands. Her thick, dark hair,
dressed with very much of a bang, is
worn in a net.
When not holding IN Eat home Mrs.
Ronald's only ornamen is a long chain
OF blue and white beads, with which she
is especially fond of playing as she talks.
When entertaining. only a few fine jewels
are tastefully displayed.
ARTHUR NORRIS.