Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-03

the venerable stem have been purged and
purified, the sap has risen and new boughs
anu buds of promise are sprouting. And 1t
is full time that this should be. For we.
have had to look with shame and regret
upon many of our English lords caught In
gambling dens and shown up in hishonor-
able bankruptcies; some Of them have dis
ported themselves upon the variety stage,
clad in women's petticoats and singing
comic songs for a fee; others have "hired
themselves OUT as dummy figures OF at
traction at evening parties, accepting five
gufneas for each appearance, and they have
become painfully familiar objects in the
divorce court.
But. revenons q nos moutons-the social
popularity of the American woman in Eng
lish society. That this Is popular is an ad-
mftted and incontestable fact She COM
petes with the native British female prod
uct at every turn-in her dress, In her, ways.
in her intelligence. When she knows
things, she lets people know that she knows
things. She cannot sit with her hands be-
fore her In stodgy silence. letting other
folks talk. That is an English habit. No
doubt the English girl or woman knows
quite as much her American sister, but
she has an unhappy knack of assuming to
be a fool She says little. and that little
not to much purpose-she looks less. 1t is
dimly understood that she plays hockey.
tennis and golf and has large feet She is
an athletic enigma I write this, of course,
solely concegning those British women
young middIe-aged and elderly-who make
sport and outdoor exercise the CHER
aim and end of existence. but l yield to
none In my love and admiration for the
real, genuine. unmodernized English maiden
at her gentlest and best--she is the rosebud
of the world. And L.tender devout rever-
ence and affection to the questionable.
simple hearted, dear, loving and override.
loved English wife and mother-she is the
rose in all its full blown glory.
Unfortunately, however, these English
rosebuds and roses are seldom seen In the
IE1,., 1rrrtl sr7cv n
ciety." They dwell In quiet country places
where the lovely influences of their modest
and retiring lives are felt. but never seen.
Society likes to be seen rather than felt.
There is all the difference. And In that par
ticular section of 1t whose aim Is seeing to
be seen, and seen to be seeing, the Ameri-
can woman Is as an oasis IN the desert.
She also wants to be seen, out she ex-
presses that desire so naively and often so
-bewitchingly that it Is a satisfaction to
every one to grant her request. She also
would see, and her eyes are SO bright and
rowing. and restless that Mother Britannia
is perforce compelled to smile indulgently
and to open all her social picture books for
the pleasure of the spoiled child OF eternal
Mayfiower pedigree.
II has to be said, and frankly admitted,
too. that much of the popularity attending
an American girl when she first comes over
to London for season Is due TO an Idea
which the stoiid Britisher gets into his head
namely. that she has, she must have,
money. The American girl and money are
twins, according to the stolid Britisher's
belief.
She may have thousands, she may have
millions. he can never be quite sure. And
he does all he can to fngratiate himself with
her and give her good time ION spec to
begin with while he makes cautious and
diplomatic inquiries. II his hopes rest on
a firm basis, his attentions are redoubled;
if on the contrary. they are built on shift
Ing sand he gradually diminishes his ar1or
and, like whiting flower fades and
"fizzles" away.
am here reminded OF certain earl re-
nowned in the political and social world.
who, when a young man. went over on a
visit TO America. and there fell. or feigned
to fall deeply in love with a very sweet,
very beautiful, very gentle and loyable
American girl. In brief while he became
engaged to her. The engagement was made
public, the wedding day was almost fixed.
The girls father was extremely wealthy,
and she was his only child and sole heiress.