The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-10-01
FLAT LIVING A FAD
ALFRED VANDERBILT AND HIS
WIFE SET THE PACE
All Those Persons Who Have Lived in
Apartments When They Were Not
Fashionable Now Have Their Innings

Living in flats has become fashion
able Incredible as this may seem to
some persons, it is nevertheless fact.
1t is accounted for by the news that no
less personages than Mr.. and Mrs AL
fred Vanderbilt have taken an apart
ment for the winter in New York,
hence the dictum above. The result of
this important move on the part of the
NanderbiltS has been to make it posi-
bic for some very nice people to live
in flats. a thing they could not have
done before without losing prestige.
But now that some of the Vanderbilt
tribe have actually made up their
minds to live in this simple manner
the prices of apartments have gone up
and it looks very much as if there
would not be enough flats to go round
in New York. A great many persons
who have lived in flats even when they
were not fashionable will have load
lifted from their minds by the seal OF
approval put upon them by such an
august parsonage as a Vanderbilt. Now
if some one could only get the ear OF
Mrs. V. and try to persuade her to
make fashionable a few other sensible
things life would be easier for many
of us. If, for instance, it was only a
fad to wear last years hat and winter
coat, not one of us would be seen going
into shop.
And oh, wouldn't it be good joke II
fats became so correct that no one
would be seen in a house? And the
houses would of course be vacated anc
all the poor 'unfortunateS who nave
Ionged to live in large rooms could get
This would he
turning of tables with vengeance.
But there is small hope of Mrs. Van
derbilt or Mrs. Anybody Else MAX
ing these things fashionable OE
course it wouldn't be possible to wear
last years hat and yet hope to be in
it. Nay, nay. But so long as one IS
wishing it might just as we'll be for
pleasant things.
But it certainly gives one pause 70
think of a Vanderbilt in fiat. And 1t
gives one absolute mysteries to think of
the fashionable folk who Will make
themselves thoroughly uncomfortable
living in an apartment just because II
is the thing. One can hear some silly
woman say: "Oh, yes, We have one OF
those dear little apartments such as
the VanderbiltS have; yes, we like 1t
so much, you know; itsncozy and so
MANY of our set are living that way
this year, Just between steamers, as 1t
We're" La, da, dai Now, can't you
hear her? And don't you know that
before the VanderbjltS took an apart
ment this same elegant woman would
have spoken Of them as those vulgar
flats" surely no one that zone knows"
lives in flats, oh, no! It makes all the
difference in the world who lives in
them.
Therefore it is that if you live in a
fat this year you are having your in
nings and need not be ashamed of your
surroundings. If at times it seems a
little confined and you long for larger
rooms, try to ponder upon the exalted
persons who are residing in apart
ments and the thought Of the very
good company you are in will make
YOU feel that it is an honor.
And the thought will come that if
the fool-killer appears we might lose
We'll. not exactly our dearest friends
but. some persons whom we would all
miss.