New-York tribune., 1905-06-18
Proportion OF Children Born from, Such Alliances
Used as an Argument Against Them.

prejudice against a vulgar display of wealth, and
wealthy even to the millionaire stage. without
becoming fair game for the society scribe and
shameless interviewer. The amount Of his fortune,
how he made it, the way he SPENDS it and what
ne intends to do with il are, doubt food for
private gossip, but for public notorety; neither
is it quietly taken for granted that his money Is
the means by which he may purchase title for
his daughter. 1t is only in the Republic that such
things done. and counted to the doer for social
righteousness.
And SO the Colonial heiress neither daZzles
world given over TO Mammon worship nor are the
lavish entertainments of her mother known from
Paris to st. Petersburg. The extravagance and
vulgarity of modern society due to many causes,
but none of them can be traced to the influx OF
Colonials, at any rate from Canada and Aus
tralasia OF South Africans and Americans as much
cannot be said The latter. in particular hold per-
haps the cheapest social ideal of any great people
of whom have any record. for 1t aims at nothing
higher than having a good time. Moved by 1t,
women strive only to outdo one another in dress,
nventiveness and display and in the race the true
spirit of hospitality is lost That any of them
should play the part of Nine Scarron is incon-
ceivable. But it is they and the age we live in
which are to be pitied. Once hostess found sue
cess chiefly in her own wit. grace personality;
now she finds ii chiefly in risky plays which
brought from Paris in defiance of the Lord
Chamberlain. elaborate suppers. lavish decorations
and naked luxury generally In this form of en-
tertainng Americans have 1t all their own way and
Standard of a better time they social lights
in every capital in Europe.
Not that feminine frivolity is unknown among
ourselves but, being crude, it is neither clever
nor so charming transatlantic friyollty. and is
therefore dangerous. 1t is opposed to, rather
than in harmony with. the national social ideal.
which is hardly the case in the United States There
women are bred and born in 1t, their mothers
were before them. and it is fixed condition of
mind. The reason is. of course. TO be found In the
conditions of life in the Republic where the political
field is largely occupied by venal legislators the
boss and the Irish agitator; the Civil Service
parayEed by the 'spoils' system and the naval and
military officer thrust into the background by the
millionaire Therefore, q woman who is neither
literary artistic is driven 10 find outlet for
her ambition in society. That it is unconscously
realized in the United States is proved by the
American girls education and training which
dow her with every accomplishment and quality
necessary to social success. Hence up to certain
point she has superior. Bright. good natured,
tacful we'll dressed, she skins the surface OF
things with all the grace imaginable. She has a
cool head and cold heart. and is therefore, with
out that requisite suggestiveness which is TO the
English woman as the delicate blue haze to an
English landscape. Individually and collectively
the word charming describes her TO nicely; for,
knowing is essential TO social distinc-
ton. she has cultivated 1t until she II . past