Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1908-04-30
FRENCH EDITOR MAKES
FUN OF new YORK 400
N. Tardieu Call. Gotham So
ciety Folk q Sacred
Battalion.

Paris, April 3-New York's ZOO hich-
,y amused II. l.. Tardieu, the famous for
eign editor OF the Temps, with its naughty
airs and p%retentions. Writing of his OBJ
servations In society during his recent
visit to the United States, he has thus to
chronicle about Gotham's smart set:
'The recruiting Of this sacred battalion Is
q curious study. Those who belong to 1T
a quarter of a century ago still speak
patronizingly OF the newcomers
1t is sad that strategy to secure n po-
sttton in 1T often lasts for years. The en-
bassies are the first point of attack. Then
from that base of operations the salons
are conquered. Then even when Wash
ington is vanquished, New York may ati!l
hold out.
Questionable life is the hardest of all
businesses. Five o'clock teas are grcatly
esteemed in Washington. One of tho most
interesting is that OF Mrs. Cowles, Presi-
dent Roosevelt's sister, who Is most
charming IN manner.
II was astonishcd to find on the invita-
ton TO meet Miss Mary Garden or to,
meet Miss Cavalieri.' After such n dinner,
one actress had herself painted In the
l!ghtcst of costumes and her picture was
exhibited in a store on Fifth avenue. This.
however. was considered bad taste Oh tho
part Of the actress.
"Snobbery," He Says.
American society Is exclusive. This is
because of their system of political equal.
ity. AS citizens tho Americans are equal,
but they make social distinctions, even to
the extent of snobbery. LENDERS OF one
club speak with oDndescensicn of the
members of another. If You should dine
for three weeks with one set, you would
always meet the same people.
The fashionable world IN America, rs
elsewhere. Is artificial and conventional.
Americans are the most hospitable peo-
pie In the world. American hospitality is
not content with external politeness; it
seeks to make the guest feel ut home.
Tho Americans give one the impression
OF being a very young people, who, though
sure OF their own superiority. arc a good,
deal concerned about the opinion OF:
Europe.
The longer one lives in the United,
States the more evident 1t is that thers
is no such a thing as the American type,
especially In regard to the women. The
American woman is a European product
that is. in their novels and plays.
I'm Puritan. intellectual Boston moro
than anywhere else. the women have that
cohesion OF family which characterixcs the
French. They nave a certain independ-
ence. but not entire liberty OF movement.
1000 s.sN ASsSs sly oAo LtOS ~ OCNoNCu
to fashion as are the women OF New
York and Washington. Their chief Origi-
nality Is intellectual. They can talk to.
you about politics.. the relation of church
to state or Paul Bouget's latest novel.
They speak French admirably. which is
kim OF certificate Of distinction. Yet
withall they are not blue-stockings.
Spinster Surprised Mother.
II was amazed to find in America so
many eligible women who preferred not
to marry. Among the many reasons they
gave for this. l think the strongest one
is that the life of a young woman Is very
agreeable. She can do everything a young
French woman can do and a great deal
more. Another reason is that the equality
of the sexes is more marked in America
than 1t is elsewhere.
Tin Washington, 1 was astonished to OH
serve that young women can live detached
from their parents and / was particularly
surprised to see so many automobiles for
girls.
The difference between French fjrts
and American f!rts is the difference be-
tween u dollhouse plant and a tree in tho
open air. Flirting in Washington is a reg
u!arly established and respected ~instit,l-
ton. Life there is a life OF leisure. In
Washington in winter and in Newport in
summer. what can one do but Nirt. Ffrt-
ing sometimes leads to an engagement.
though an engagement does not always
lead to marriage.
1T is an astonishing custom for parents
to leave balls early, allowing their daugh-
ters to be conducted home by their part
ners. Foreign diplomats. 1nisunderstand-
Ing this. have made blunders which
brought their flirting to a sudden erd.
American husbands are not always to
he envfed. A rich banker said to me:
We Americans are the. greatest of Inn
beetles. We kill ourselves with work in
order that our wives may arluse them
Selves"
Divorce is so common that one must he.
iieve that all Americans have less patience
than Europeans. But divorce is common
est in what Is called the upper circles
The vast majority Of American house,
holds are happy: but they have no history.
while the unhappy MI the newspapers"