The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-05-13

a new fad. new interest. was assured
a welcome. In New York the literary,
artistic and musical sets are distinct
from the so-called smart society.
In London the distinguished mem
| bers of all these sets are united. And
/ this is what makes London society so
/ interesting. At a smart London gath
ering one meets, at one and the same
! time, people of all sorts of tastes and
| ages. The great statesman, the great
| traveller, the great author, the great
/ actor. the great journalist, the great
painter, the great prima donna, the
great scientist are there-if the host and
/ hostess can persuade them, for they are
/ ever persona Notwithstanding on the
/ most intimate and enjoyable terms with
| the great professional beauty, the great
social leader, the multi-millionaire who
knows how to spend his money, the
newest American Beauty, the young
man about town who has nothing to
commend him but good looks, good
/ grooming good fellowship and the abil-
and lead a cOtilljOn.
I'm this country these sets, the in
tellectual and the frivolous, are dis
tinct to the great loss of both. Our
successful politicians, writers, must
clans are usually in sets by them
selves. They do not mingle to any APP
1 preciable extent with the butterflies of
I fashion, who fit by themselves al
though they would be greatly bene-
flied by association with the intel
lectuaI The result is that in what we
call smart society here there is very
little good talk. Sometimes there is
superficial cleverness and wit but
rarely is a deeper note struck. A per-
son with ideas and information finds
himself really out of place.
''NoW in London the result of the
commingling of the various sets, the
exaltation of talents, of special gifts
and special achievements in any inter
esting direction is the leavening of the
whole lump. London men and women
in good society must know things
something about everything. Business
and politics and sport alone won't do
for the men; clothes and a few super
fetal ACCOMPLISHMENTS alone won't do
for the women. All English women
understand politics and can talk in
diligently about the public questions
| of the day. The men as well as the
women read good books over there
hear the good music, see the good
! pictures and are interested in such
/ things. and for years English women
have shared their brothers and hus-
bands interest in sport. Such condi-
| tons couldn't help working for the
Improvement of society any place"
(which would you rather do asked
the girl philosopher, plaintively, marry
a man you didn't care anything about
/
| would obey your slightest wish, OF
share the attentions of man you were
crazy about with half a dozen Other
girls? Every girl know seems to be
up against this sort of a proposition
She can have a right interesting man
part of the time, if she wants to kotov
to him or she may enjoy the pleasure
| of trampling upon worm who is
faithful in everything and viii fetch
and carry, come and go at the crook OF
her hnger-my metaphors are badly
mixed, suppose, but you know what
| mean. Which would you rather2
Its a matter Of temperament" re
sponded the oracle sagely. Girls dom
decide those problems for themselves
Their natures decide for them. There.
one type of very affectionate, loving
rather weak girl who goes about fall
| ing in love with one attractive maj
after another and being made miser
| able by him. She gets lots Of expert
| ence, but it does her no good She ma!
| have the wit to see that they care les
| for her. after being nightly attracted
/ at the start because she falls so des
| perate1y in love with them, and is 81
| utterly incapable Of concealing tn
/ fact but she can't help herself. Sh'
/ repeats her performance next time jus
the same. She may know all about tn