The Washington herald., 1906-11-25
GOING ABROAD
Observations of Feminine Rambler.

An ideal way to view the Riviera-On
the outslde-is from the captains bridge
on a Mediterranean steamer. The captain
himself can usually supply inside detail,
especially with regard to Monte Carlo. II
had been long arranged that directly We
sighted the French coast I was 10 join
the captain, and from the depths Of his
steamer chair, under his own particular
little awning, enjoy the sight OF the
Riviera-at half-mile range-to running
+ accompaniment Of comment from a thor
oughly sophisticated sea-dog.
About noon, therefore, / deserted the
deck throngs and took up my slightly po-
sition. The water was incompaE Eabiy blue,
and as We neared the shore, the foliage.
the mountains, and the bloom-set villas
were distinct and clear. as though the
atmosphere were a chemical that painted
old and familiar objects with wonderful
rev colors. Everything is deceptive IN
this part Of the worid-distances colors,
money, food. and men. With the cap
tain's pet telescope mOored to my eye, 1
looked into second-story windows at Nice
and beheld women manieuring their nails
I
seem rather frivolous that a steamer
bound for the Orient should exhibit such
curiosity as to press close to the shore
and steal intimate views Of family life in
Mentone Monte Carlo, Bord gheTa. and
San Remol The villa Of the Empress
Eugene was too closely beset by trees
for my gaze 20 project 80 that distin-
guished ladys boucoiT, though one fiut-
teriag lace curtain IT an upper window
gave me a thrill Of Eugenie's possible
neaTneSs, and I switched of my telescope
in quick embarrassment.
Despite the lateness Of the season, the
casino at Monte Carlo was the center Of
an animated throng OF whitehead women
and men, and the little trans ran busIIy
from hamlet to hamlet, while the Mari
time Alps and the Ligurian Apennines-
those are lovely names-frowned down
from their superior heights upon the
wicked little towns that attract the
wealth and culture Of ali the world, and
are as beautiful and fascinating as
wicked things usually are
/ saw where the Bayarian count had
his family tucked away IL a mountain
stronghold. and where the baron went
every year to hunt the leaping chamois,
and the captain pointed out a tiny ham
let. high above Ospedalettl. where a race
Of dwaTfs still dwell The palm trees
In the gardens Of many cOIors and the
olive groves Induced a sylvan mood quite
out Of character with the actual giddiness
Of the pastinles 20 which they furnish
scenery. The only fault I could find with
this embraslye view Of the Riviera was
that IL WAS all too DeTfeCt-t0o immacu-
late-tOo much like a carefully painted
Il
sand, polished rock, and FURNISHED drive
ways. Dirt is an unknown quantity in
this land Of sunny existence. The up-to-
dateneSC OF the Riviera and the quantities
Of paint employed to preserve the pastel
shades Of the tOwnscape are nothing III
the world but an effort to outdO nature,
who produced her chef-d' Oeuvre when
she placed on exhibition the land-and-
water-scape Of the Riviera.
There was a glorious moon that night.
and our little group, the tall German
who Travelled with a reputation for many
milllons-his wife. and three children
started "On the Road 10 MandaIay." The
German version OF the words was almost
as funny as the tune. What" said I,
do you know Kipling in Deutschland?
''NeIn." he replied, ''aber him We know in
China"
II developed that this man--he had a
won before his unpronouncable name.
which Is the next best thing 10 a title
was engaged in a lucrative business in
HongkOng and that he and his attrac-
tive wife knew every one worth while
who has visited the Orient in the last
dozen years.
"Oh, yes" put in the frau in her
broken English, I'VE sing songs OF the
English. and songs Of America. Have
you ever heard Swinging in the Grape
vine Swing?" That was written by an
American friend Of ours, whom We much
loved; but alas the friend is no more. ="
Upon learning that Jack was not only
a Chum, bat also a fellow clubmate Of
dear old Hub" Smith, the Won Some
bodies Immediately adopted US as in
sepaTable companions.
The frau was fun of Chatty conversa-
ti0n, and had met and entertained the
Taft party on its famous trip TO the
Philippines OF the Washington ladies
she had the most fattering things to say.
and her observations and comments upon
the COurtship Of the Nicholas LOngwOrths
were delicious.
"Ah. that fortunate Princess Alice"
said she, how she did enjoy everything,
! never saw a girl so fun of high spirits
and with a keener delight in life. 1t must
have been love that spread a halo Of en-
joyment and happiness about everything;
mere youth and health could not have in
jectcd such energy and sayety into the
Presidents daughter. She was frail TO
behold. but ach. hein, how well entertain
ed and entertaining she was!
Few girls could have come 20 q strange
country and offended less against the
laws Of foreign etiquette than did your
Princess Alice. For instance, how could
she know all the c0des Of manner, ac-
cordinS 10 which we establish our stand
ards Of gentility2 So many German
ladies there are in Hongkong society,
and each one was ready to pick a flaw
in the manner Of the little American
princess. We are so accustomed to fnd-
ing those flaws IN American ladies-but
oh, 1 do beg pardon for the remark! You
see If a young girl enters a room where
there are older ladies present, and she
occupies "a seat upon the cOuch-which is
the place Of honorable dignity-then she
offends very much The couch is the
seat that should be accorded to the eldest
lady present
Again, if a young girl walks with two
ladies. she must be careful that the eld-
est is in the middle. Now, tell me, how
did your Princess Alice happen 20 know
these things and steer clear of making
the grand mistakes of her country