Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-10-01


MS but whom we never sec and do not
know even by sight
SOME AMERICAN IMPOSsIBILITlES
Mrs. Astors ideal Of society. she said,
WAS the old French salon in the hey
day of It's power and prestige. Then
history was often made where charming
and intellectual women held court at
tended by the most distinguished states
| men, poets, artists End flnanciers, and
| elegance and breeding were as !mpcra-
tive as reading and writing.
| THE political hcstesses or London have
a much better chance of realizing such
an ideal to-day than we women Of New
| York. over there you find at the big
balls and musicalcs a brilliant array OF
cabinet ministers, journalists. arnbas-
sadors, men ana women OF the stage
/ painters and poets. and the powers of
! tho money world such as no leader in
Nov York could bring together or would
attempt 10 bring together. have
! thought of doing 1t all my ne but have
/ never seen the possibility of success. In
| the first place, we have too many poll
ticians in America whore IN England
/ they have statesmen. Many of our
/ sena tors and congressman seem TO base
their title to public favor upon their
uncouth manners and lack OF refinement,
upon the fact that they have discarded
socks or once wore blue jeans. II they
We're AL Ike Mr. Roosevelt what DIFF
! ference there would bc, Mr. Roosevelt
/ In a true American, hut ne would be at
home In the most elegant court in t.u-
rope. lie Is not above paying scrupulous
attention to his wardrobe and his man
I ners. ANY hostess in New YORK or New
port would be proud to entertain him.
and the men in Washington Ike him
MANY people seem to think | could
have done a great deal in making New
York society as democratic as 1t is in
London and open to anyone of intel
lectual attachments. as 1t Is over there
But one can do only ones best under
the conditions English people all
recognize a certain authority In social
matters. The king Is the leader Of So
ciety. and the hostcsses who gather
about them such brilliant mon and
women can be as Independent as they
wish to be without assuming the re-
, sponsibility of an onslaught upon their
own domain Tho kings authority Is
never questioned, and the authority Of
the great old families IS never quos-
toned.
I'VE have to be moro exclusive In New
York because in America there IL no
authority in society and Americans In
general are not inclined to admit its
possibility Each woman is for herself
and trying TO Guido the others In lavish
display ana mad extravaganza. with
little though OF any ultimate good or
any ideal"
A WOMAN OF IDEALS.
She came back so often to that word
/ "ideal'" Mrs. Aston Is II woman of
ideals, and when she talks of them her
face lights up in marvellous way Her
face-how shall describe It? 1t was
youthful with enthusiasm. the gray eyes
spanked with animation. prepared. even
eager to meet "A young Girl on her own
ground of vigorous buoyancy and vi
vacity.
Very wildly do | recall my first sight
of her and the picture she made az shc
came slowly down the broad marble
stairs not with any apparent feebleness,
although n tewclod hand grnsped firmly
the iron balustradc. She was smiling
cordially beneath the big black hat and
lace veil. dressed entirely in black, un-
relieved even by the conventianI white
AT neck and throat. The gown was cut
severely plain, ana outlined youthful.
supple figure. not In the least inclined
To emhonpoint. As she advanced | saw
that she was about medium height, n
little less. perhaps. and as straight as
an Indian. The head. well set on the
rather broad shoulders. was carried high,
not with arrogance but good breeding,
The waves of soft, black hair were
youthful too.
But youth does not have the deep,
sweet lines of resignation that char
acterize Mrs, Astor's face, nor the gentle
Hight of her cyes--the light that comes
to woman with motherhood. and
glorlhes her ever afterward II she be
true to that motherhood The smiles of
youth are not those that come bravoly
forth after tears have been shed and
battles fought In the Inner sanctuary OF
the souls retreat, the tears and the
battles which are inevitable to maturity,
Whatever inpa ssivcncss Mrs. Aston may
cor slider necessary to assume on usual
occasions was thrown aside for the mo-
ment. and In her face the true woman
ST. one forth.