Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-03
Society IN London
And New York
BY MRS. ALEC TwExDrE.


The repose of London is lost in the hustle
OF New York. Americans twlt US for our
crawl" but we are conservative and Ike
/ 1t. We enjoy being Weakened up by their
hbstling ways. We enjoy being given
moral shake occasionally. but we do not
want to be always on wires.
American women undoubtedly dress beau
| tifully; in rather quiet, dignifed. tailor
made style, necessary for the life they lead
| in trains and trans They are often tall
have remarkably good figures. know how to
put their clothes on, and have achieved the
highest point of neatness. combined with
practicability in throat wear; an untidy
American lady is a rarity. she Is generally
neat, and well-groomed. She may be ex-
travagant, she probably Is. In fact she must
be according to our lights for with sixty
per cent duty on everything that enters her
shores, even gloves are almost doubled In
price.
She does not show to such advantage in
the evening as her English sisters. because
she Is not accustomed to wear q low dress
with such constant regularity; low dress
in fact IS a rarity. only donned for balls or
big dinner parties. never for theater or
restaurant
More people have carriages in England
than America, SO while we go out to dine
in our carriage cab-Amertcans go oy
tram-or train-and wondrous clever they
are about 1t. A cloak-rOOm Is queer sight
long dark cloaks are doffed, shawls ana
hats discarded, overshoes slipped on. ana
out of the gray crystals comes gorgeous
butterfly. The women have learned how to
pin up their skirts and manage to hide
their evening clothes to perfection. but stu
this horrible tram or train business means
that American women do not look as smart
Ia the evening as Britishers.
Women might be divided into two classes
almost all the world over-those who are
born smart and those who are born good.
Unfortunately the two do not amalgamate
as often as they might for the benefit Of the
world. Just as in society there are. in Eng
land, practically three classes, those who
buy reputation those who make one, and
those who inherit one Each despses the
other. although each Is In about equal pro-
portions.
Now in America there are but two classes
of society," those who buy their way in. and
those who get there by their brains; the
numbers are again about equally divided.
II is an extraordinary thing, considering
the vast number of womens' colleges and
clubs in America. the way their women
read and travel, attend lectures, both as
lecturers and audience, discuss every con-
ceivable problem in public and private, that
so few have risen to real eminence in the
world: for In proportion there are FEWER
women writers, painters, and musicians OF
eminence in the states than In almost any
doubtedly reach high standard, but few
of them rise sufficiently high to attain
world wide renown.
American women are particularly well up
in the literature of Europe, not only Of
England but of the continent, books of all
foreign countries being read in TRANSACTIONS
The best society in America is to be
found in Washington. the most cosmopoli-
tan and most beautiful city in the states
of course Boston claims to be the INTEL
lectual center just as Washington lays it.
self out the elite Of society. Washing
ton is social world, world literally, for
every. nationality 10 represented among the
embassies, and thus 1t ceases to be Ameri-
| can, but thoroughly cosmopolitan There
are no great business concerns. there is no
gambling as in Wall street or In the pit;
nearly everyone living there has gov
eminent salary or belongs to a profession.
| OF course there Is great wealth. too. be-
cause the western millionaires have bought
or built vast homes in Washington and go
there for the season.
Society in Washington is delightful. but
| it Is very rigid, although 1t accepts some
Society in New York Chicago Is much
more free and Independent than in the cap
| ital. Each Of the latter Is jealous of the
other, and yet both are much alike.
~
1t Is difficult to draw comparisons be-
| tween society in England and America. The
best Is always the best in every land and
| so much like it's neighbor that there is very
| little to be chosen between them. Speaking
roughly. Washington society Is distinctly
political. 1t has not any great salon nor
any woman who Is a leader in political life
although nearly all the women there are
| interested in politics. and 1t Is In every
way political center. just as Boston is
| Enthusiastically literary. Then again New
York and Chicago are distinctly business
| centers Both have a fiavoring Of art and
far ftJr @ MD tu xryff %hA
last few years, but business predominates
and politics are in the background.
Americans entertain royalty: they almost
| overpower the stranger with hospitality
| They generous in a high degree not
only in big things. but in constantly think
ing OF little gifts or kndnesses to shower
upon their guests. They become the warm
est and. truest OF friends in spite Of their
sensitiveness and hatred Of criticism. Never
were any people 80 sensitive about their
country or themselves or so ready to take
offense at the slightest critical word. But
we all have our weaknesses and while
we In England are too terribly thick-skin-
ned and self-satisfied, Americans are per-
haps too sensitive for their own happiness.
1 was continually being asked why more
English do not visit the states and again
and again have / been told by both men
and women that they had never spoken to
an English woman before; 1t seems incredi-
Bile. but true. For instance. man OF
twenty-six. a charming young fellow on
one of the best papers in New York, and
who had gone through Harvard College,
had never before shaken hands with an
English woman till he met me. and he is
not alone-there are many in the same po-
siton. OF course a number of men go to
the states on business but 1t Is very rare
for an English woman to travel in America.
The reason is not far to seek. 1t Is too ex-
pensive. Surprising an English lady has
hundred pounds on which she can enjoy
holiday: she can run over to the continent.
travel quite q long way, see endless in
terestlng historical buildings and beautiful
scenes. live in good hotels and have the
comfort and rest of being among foreign
ers with different food different language
and different thoughts. which makes that
rest so complete; with her hundred pounds
she will have a good time for some weeks
and thoroughly enjoy herself.
Now, what could the same lady do with
her hundred pounds If she started for
America? A vast hole would be made In
1t by passages alone, and as the cities are
not SO interesting as Rome or Paris. she
would probably want to visit the great nat
| ural features of America like the Yellow
stone Park or the Yosemite Valley but by
the time she had taken her ticket from
London to either of these there would be
precious little OF her hundred pounds left,
and she would have to turn straight round
and come back again. 1t is the question
of money which keeps English women from