The San Francisco call., 1904-08-21
Romances of the
Devil Wagon"
Stir Society.
Why English Bar
Good-Looking
Drivers.

LONDON. Aug. 2O.-In fashionable
circles, where susceptible heiressss and
emotional young matrons abound. the
chauffeur is fast coming to be regarded
as more dangerous TO society than the
vehicle which he controls. despite the
fact that one paper has dubbed il the
murder car" Hardly a week passes
by in which he does not figure in some
tragic romance. Only a few days ago
two chauffeurs were cited in a divorce
case which revealed a bHghted home
and an honored name besmirched.
About the same time a pretty debu-
tante was found drowned in a lake
A letter which she had left explaining
her reasons for committing suicide was
destroyed by her guardian that it's con-
tents might not be made public. But.
as is well known among friends OF the
family. she stated in this epistle that
she had fallen In love with the chauf-
feur and no longer had the courage to
face life. having discovered that he was
not only a married man with children.
but after winning her affections he
had been base enough 20 show the let
ters she had written him 70 other SER
wants Of the household
The London smart set IL eagerly
awaiting developments in the case OF
Miss BaldOck. who still stubbornly
clings 70 her determination TO marry
her handsome chauffeur. She only re-
Gently passed her twenty-frst birth
day and has an income Of 5000 a year.
with expectations. bound to be realized
II she lives. Of inheriting an additional
$3.50 a year. This may perhaps ac-
count for the fact that the chauffeur
has refused an offer made By the girls
father Of $4,000 cash down to call the
match of and exile himself until the
young girl has outgrown her infatus-
ton for him He will come OF age in
September. and the girl has so far
yielded TO strenuous persuasion as TO
consent TO the postponement OF the
marriage until October. but stoutly
protests that she will make no further
concessions to her parents feelings.
The father has issued his ultimatum
to the effect that the day she leaves
her home to become the bride Of the
chauffeur its doors will be closed
see her again The anguished mothers
pleadings have proved futile TO move
either OF them.
Now that every family influence that
could be brought to bear upon the girl
to induce her to change her mind has
been tried and failed. common sense
friends are suggesting 10 her parents
that they should make the best OF the
matter. She is bound to marry the
chauffeur and you cannot prevent her"
they say, but you could no doubt get
her consent TO the stipulation that she
take him abroad for two or three years
and have him educated there and
trained in the usages Of polite society.
People have short memories In London
and well dressed and weu behaved,
with a handsome face and figure. he
will experience no difficulty IN being
received In society. especially II he
spends money freely"
But the stern father win not agree
to any such compromise. Though the
proposition IS a novel one. as far as
dealing with a husband Is concerned.
1t has it's counterpart IN several in
stances that could be cited in which
men have married pretty girls In
humble circumstances, sent them
abroad and put them IN the hands OF
society polishers. with such excellent
results that on their return they have
been able to take their places along
side OF their husbands and make no
breaks that would betray their lowly
origin
A striking recognition OF the dangers
involved in bringing a chauffeur into
the household Is afforded by an advsr-
tisement for a motor car driver which
recently appeared IN which II was
stated only plain looking men need
apply" Time was when, among the
servants, coachmen had far the best
opportunities for capturing romantic
heiresses and that they have not failed
to make the most OF their chances
numerous society scandals attest But
now the chauffeur Is distinctly ahead
of the Jehu in playing this sort OF
game with Cupid. despite the fact that
he is often required to wear goggles
and a hideous mask It would seem
that the exhilaration Of noting ex-
ercises a peculiar psychological infiu-
ence over susceptible feminine hearts.