The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-08-30
LEHR AND MISS ROOSEVELT.
bis Commercial.

LEHR AND MISS ROOSEVELT.
The Memphis Commercial.
The almost incredible story comes to
the public that Miss Alice Roosevelt, the
daughter of the President of the United
States, had danced with the notorious
Harry Lehr at a recent function
1t is not a pleasant story To those
who have a proper regard for the dignity
OF the Presidency and of its environments,
| it is a painful story. 1t is not an exhibi-
ton OF democracy; it is a defiance of or
binary decency. Had Miss Roosevelt at
| tended a ball given by the Ladies Aux.
| iliary OF the Hold Carriers Union and
danced with one of the lusty and muscu-
( lar young fellows in attendance no one
would object. People would feel disposed
to praise the condescension. Had she at
tended ball given by the order and
stepped off a measure with the President.
or financial secretary of the Eastwood
Workers Benevolent and Protective AS
scciation, No. 476, every one would have
applauded the young womans adherence
to the true spirit of American equality
but dancing with Harry Lehr!
Lehr was a dandy idler as boy, who
sponged on his family until he became a
|
his Aname has appeared in print it has
been connected with some scandalous
nonsense or idiotic escapade. His first
appearance before the country was when.
returning from society debauch in Bal
| tlmore, he followed the young woman,
who afterwards served a short term as
the wife of Freddie Gebhardt, into a
watertank because she dared him to do
ba toll l.,
ready enough to take anything else. For
this he deserves praise rather than blame.
The man who will not follow a pretty
woman, not only into public fountain,
but into the fluent flames of Pyriphlega-
thon, that river of liquid fire that flows
into Tartarus, and without waiting to
don pair of asbestos breaches, is no
man at all The incident shows, how
ever, that he began early to crafty the
cravings of the idle rich for novelty and
! new sensations.
Since then Lehr has been a head waiter
or chief major domo at social functions.
He was consulted by those who had
money and nothing else and who wished
to spurge and spend it. He designed
novelties in the way of entertainments
and no swell event was considered swell
Interchangeable maidens, blooming debutants
and rich widows made goo-goo eyes at
him and he could have had his pick and,
no doubt, took his pick Once upon a
time, during a wedding on olympus for
rendering particular service, Paris was
offered his choice of three gifts, wisdom
and glory riches and power and beauti-
| full wife. Paris passed up" the riches
4 -, crln
took the beautiful wife, who already be-
| longed to some one else. Other men have
done the same thing and will continue to
do so, but Harry Dehr didn't dc so. He
accepted the offer of Hera and possessed
| himself of riches and the power that
riches give He got a buxom widow in
| the bargain and, no doubt, he tells her
| she is pretty and she knows that he
knows that she knows that he doesn't
think so; but the play goes on just the
same
With millions at his command, Lehr
could have become useful and important
member of society. He chose otherwise
For years he has been acting the trick
pony, educated pig or buffoon for the 400.
He acts the retriever on occasion, and
when young lady throws her glove away
he gets down on all tours, runs and brings
| it back to her between his teeth fawn-
| ing and barking his appreciation of the
| fair ones thanks. Another time he gives
an elaborate and expensive dinner to a
monkey, to which he invites his select
| friends, who gather around the table and
| dine with the smian, who looks wiser ana
| is wiser than any other member of the
company. He takes occasion to act the
| fool in public places at every opportunity
and to exploit the misuse of money and
| the misuse of time by the idle rich He
has given the common and serious people
| additional cause to hate the wealthy and
he has put dangerous weapon into the
hands of those agitators who are trying
to breed sociological whirlwinds of dis
order. He is cunning, no doubt, and loves
to play the fool merely to dominate
/ greater fools than himself; but his feign-
cd or real dementia should not be in
| dCrsed and his extravagant and studied
idiocles should not be condoned by the
daughter of the President of the United
States. 1t sets a bad example. 1t is a
bad lesson to the country.
| Life is a serious matter, which should
b. looked at nationally and in these
| days of strenuous effort the fools should
be left alone with their kind and with
their folly. Harry Lehr may suit the 400,
whose stated palates require strong and
unusual condiments: bat the American
people believe in the ancient and homely
virtues and will have none of him.
| Tnhoonn