New-York tribune., 1906-07-29
-Tr UNKNOWN ISLAND. I"
r-.nch ObserTer on Smart So
eefy in London.

~
81 = z-ictorieuse." presents a thoughtful
., .,-atch Of smart social life in Eng
g e'sn -ae hints of the philosophic observa-
D. -, she avoids the partiality and per-
- o. ...,,os Of writer's like Max O'Rell, and
n-i'.. and conversational in manner. The
-.,.oue Great Britain is. indeed an
1A islsnd for most Of Pierre de Coule-
Al'. --,natriots. Few French people go to
u A.,o-se they fancy that they have but
as4- ,..-, there. Those who do cross the
undertake the trip for business rather
- -acreation. and only meet with the
climate" and The sombre sky: they
nth The, conviction that everything is
-a.- r-,,ce There still exist many French
so.e the English because they beat
81 waterloo and because they persist
- The opera in tourist suits. On the
e-pat nun bers Of English visit Paris
- as well as for pleasure. but most OF
more only the racecourses, the bouIe-
-.ess and the music halls. They return
Saving exchanged word or a thought
l mime Frenchman, and save for a few
roks through the Louvre Museum or the
nsver obtain glimpse of the better side
-. or acquire the faintest notion OF
s.sh family life
1 -s.,s De Coulevain." after a Channel trip,
-, N London" and other episodes OF the
is duly installed with her h"sts. who
:. wimbledon and make frequent pilgrim
- town. We have clever glimpses Of the
inuardness Of weekend parties. and Of
.ss dinners" al the smart London hot els
,-spence Of briGge IS discoursed upon at
-b There are amusing sketches of the
--sb ~enancipated girl" revelling in freedom
s,r7ing the idols worshipped by her parents
are silhouette portraits Of the turf
~n- the bridge woman" the hunting
snr and the athletic sport girl The
.srass is responsible for the statement that
.,rt and hypocrisy has succeeded a sort OF
-f,rouade OF vice. because vice has become
,r and chic" There are edifying passages
ming Anglo-American marriages, with
,-s about great t-greaI I-grandsons of pilgrims
snde5 a. Plymouth Eock returning TO Eng
Il superb steam yachts, or great great
daughters Of Puritans who become duch-
marahionesses or countesses. "Old Mother
r-rsndp suffers 10 see ancestral houses and
rie titles won by fair Americans. The highly
a voice and torrenual force and nerve Of
american woman we are informed. jar upon
sst prejudices of he British matron. The
-szs relates how formidable Devonshire
er after listening 10 the somewhat nasal
MS Of & New York belle raised her sleeve
#s7Iayed the -go5sefesh" produced by the
zang voice" OF the knickerbocker beauty,
anes to the conclusion. however, that the
-sFican woman in smart English society is a
] assz Of the superior woman. quite as much
q he heiress,"
n American woman. according TO this book,
entered smart British society like a whirl-
and has captured Il by surprise; her hour
Success has sounded. and she is the trump
z Noble British youths fall before her
Ey and her charms. She amuses them with
tznk, outspoken expressions and with her
theories Her first care is TO teach them
Adam was created solely TO love and serve
Hitherto they had believed the contrary to
As csse- She exacts their homage and atten-
e. she tyTaInizes over them without mercy.
holds the sugar plum high. But all this
zg5s when the fair American passes her head
'-gh The conjugal knot. for then the noble
III tgttens the moose after the manner of
Cd World. and becomes lord and master
aaiy course left open TO the fair captive is
1sSon or divorce. According to Pierre de
ain Tie American woman is far more at
ire than the British woman in town. but in
,'znt-y the latter regains her superiority
are comparisons Of American and English
-g. The English girl. when flirting. is soft
sentimental and the operation has for its
Y 'as in12te alteration Of the English won-
II Z -rE
8'1l2n firts more with her head than with
la--t and plays with her partner as if she
Il 2 skilled angler and the only adoration is