The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-30

liam rarely let's anything escape him which
n important enough to arouse any notice
whatever. II u fair 20 suppose that ~ the
book h prescribed literature, he has glanCed
over Il.
i have Just had an interesting letter from
DR., Herman Conrad, the great German
critic. about Il. lie Is IN absolute mon
archlst and he says, How dare you imply
that the time will ever coms when your
American millions will conquer our old
world royaltyT
However, with all bis prejudice against
my democratic sentiments, he finds the book
important enough % send many page OF
close written eulogy and condemnation,
and admits that he likes my heroine i'm
nensely while think her the least interest
ing character in the book
Owing 70 the we'll known fact OF the
friendship between the daughter Of William
Waldorf Aston, Pauline and the Crown
Princess Of Rumania, I have been accused
of using her IA my model In the friendship
Of a daughter Of the Hapsburgs and an
American heiress. ! had absolutely no
one In my thought-that character, at least,
was entirely imaginary.
1T was a character, however, which
came into being through knowledge OF
the rapidly growing disafection in the
ranks OF the women OF the royal families
Of Europe, especially those Of the Haps-
burg family.
Occasionally one reads Of the elope-
Tnent OF some Princess with an officer Of
the guards. These stories receive great
prominence In American and English
papers Reading them, IL Is easy TO believe
that the woman described IL taking a most
unusual step is doing something which
no one before has attempted and no one
after will dare.
The truth OF the matter IL that where
one elopement leaks out there are scores
about which nothing is known, except in
the immediate circles Of the royal families
Franz Josef has innumerable grandchil-
dren, grandnisces and feminine kin. He
takes these Opponents a. part Of the days
novelties. pats the erring child on the head,
usually presents to her pretty house for
herself and her chosen officer, She gives
Up all claim TO a throne which she would
probably never reach anyhow and would
not want II she did, audit Is settled.
An through English society, especially,
you are conscious Of this change toward the
democratic, for while freedom Is seething
In every aristocratic circle II is not quite
80 near the surface in other countries.
In fact, you might say that the under
lying principle now in English society is
an absolute refusal 10 be bored; that seems
10 be about all that rules In the way Of social
standards. Now, all that one needs as a
claim to notice Is a certain distinction OF
beauty. riches, a name won in literatu re
OF some other branch Of art, and then un-
less one is absolutely unoouth and obstrep-
eTous, his path is plain sailing. Society
over there has everything, and what it il
looking for now il a new sensation, a new
thrill.
Owing TO the hberality OF view in regard
10 social distinctions over there, society
il really more interesting than il Ia here.
In New York literary and art circles are
quite distinct from the so-called society
element; there you meet everybody to-
gether. prominent artists, writers, poll
icians. Sristocraoy, Soclalists-everybody
distinctive in some way. and the whole mass
il leavened by that distinction.
L will say this about the English noble
woman. She differs from the woman OF
society in New York in this particular. that
she lie absolutely sure Of herself she is so