The Savannah morning news., 1904-09-25
Business ROmanCes
of Society Women
How Many PecuniariIy impoverished Blue
Blood Earns Handsome Living by
Doing Work in Secret

viewed with more or less disapproval
Now she rejoiced that she was to
dine out. While the men fingered over
their wine, the wife studied the art
treasures of the home in company with
the hostess, who was newly rich. She
delieatelv suggested N change here
and an addition to that corner, a
painting in this. The hostess was de-
lighted. Her guest was recognized
authority in such matters; If only she
would make her suggestions in more
practical form. The wife tapped her
wrist with her lorgnette, through
which she had been studying a picture
unworthy of it's gorgeous setting. Yes,
she was going over in a week or ten
days. Perhaps she might be able to
pick up something on the other side;
and the hostess was delighted.
That was the beginning. There were
Mrs. Parvenu No. 2, and Madame Par
venu No. 8, and others to follow
though each knew nothing of the
great favor the financiers wife was
comforting on the others.
The usual trip to Europe was made.
The wife left the husband with en-
couraging words that put new faith in
to him. She did not stay so long as
she had other years, and perhaps her
letters home were more frequent. The
important fact is that her commits
sions on purchases amounted to over
100000. But her husband still insist
that the moral influence of her stand
and her faculty for keeping up APP
pearances had more to do with tiding
over the crisis than the actual money
she made.
single woman of perhaps twenty
eight or thirty years, who had always
lived in luxury, suddenly found her
self bereft of an indulgent father, and
face to face with an alarmingly small
estate. The principle, conservatively
invested, would yield just enough to
provide her decent apartments in u
fashionable boarding house, or a
diminutive fiat, with small dress al
lowance. She feared stock invest
ments, because through them had her
father practically wrecked his large
estate.
While turning the problem over in
her mind, she incidentally endeavored
to cut down expenses and stumbled
upon a small millinery shop where she
picked up hat that exuded French
taste. She met the proprietor, a ner-
vouS wiry man. whose knowledge of
English was as imperfect as his grasp
on the secret of success in New York
Before the young woman had left
his shop, she had reached her decision.
She would go into trade, not openly
but as. the silent partner of this artis-
tic Partisan. The family lawyer was
consulted and approved. A smart
shop was fitted up in an exclusive
neighborhood, and the young woman.
who was invited everywhere, whisper
ed the marvellous find she had made
in the way of a new milliner man,
straight from Paris. Every time she
spoke she wore a fresh CONNECTION, an
example of the mans handiwork.
which made society sit up and take
notice.
Trade did not come all at once, and
with every dollar of her patrimony in
vested the girl had MANY anxious
days. But eventually the influx Of
customers set in, and to-day this wo-
man is still the silent partner In one
of the best paying millinery establish
ments in the metropolis. So skilfully
has she managed 1t that not one Of her
friends suspects the fact yet the dec
orations of the shop, and much of the
stock as well, are selected by the
silent partner.
lie Is a well-known fact that many
woman makes a comfortable in
come as public entertainer in a hotel.
Acting on this idea, a girl who had
always been accustomed TO the luxuri-
Gus life devoted her social energies
secretly but effectually to one family.
This girl had the rare faculty
Of the ideal hostess. She knew how
to entertain and when to stop enter
tanning. She was a marvel at the
management OF house parties. AS a.
result she was always deluged with
invitations to spend a week here or
there, and her week-ends were always
taken long in advance.
When she found herself face to face
with the problem of self-support, she
was the guest of a college friend, re-
Gently married. The young wife was
deeply in love with her husband, and
anxious to preside fittingly over his
various town and country homes and
his yacht, but she lacked the talent
for playing the role OF hostess. She
suffered greatly from self-conscIous-
ness, which neither finishing schools
nor travel had removed. She recog-
nized that II would take time and ex-
perience TO fit her for her new posi-
tion, and In the meantime what might
her fastidious husband think and say?
Something OF all this she told her
friend. who wac having worries OF her
own. and the two formed a partner
ship.
The girl became the almost
permanent guest Of the wife. Society
laid II 70 their Rlrlhood intimacy, and
never dreamed that a salary was at
tached 70 the invitation. Not even the
husband was taken into the secret.
But II was noticed that invitations for
their house parties were ia greater
demand. A trip on their yacht was
something 20 remember. The wife
had suddenly biOsnomed out as a
hostess 81 marked ability. and those
whom she entertained neither knew
nor cared that u was al she work "
the wife's Young friend.