The Washington bee., 1908-10-03
MRS. ASTOR TELLS
SOCIETY WOMEN
She Deplores Their Freak Enter.
tainments and Notoriety-
Seeking Activities
BUT DEFENDS OUR YOUNG PEOPLE
Says They May Go TO Excess in
Amusement, but Are Not Danger
Ous-CritiCises the Politicians
Actions Harm Name of Society.

New York City-In an interview
Mrs. William Astor who for years
was the recognized leader of New
York society, is quoted on the sub
Ject of society, American youth
President Roosevelt and freak en-
tertainment. The interview is print
eed under the name of Rebecca ms
ley, an English woman. In part it
is as follows:
Il can speak with authority about
our young people. They are of
new age and have ideas different
from my conservative ones. They
are full OF health and abundant
spirits. 1t is perhaps true that they
go to excess in amusement. but they
are not degenerate and not vicious
Our young men enter seriously upon
their business interests, and they
often take up an Individual profes-
sion. going in for healthy sports only
as well-earned diversion.
Our young women are trained in
domestic matters and taught to ap-
prectate their responsibility to the
poor. All my friends do a great deal
for the poor, and the daughters are
brought up to regard charitable
work as an important part of their
lives.
L have heard that our young
women smoke and drink and do 9TH
er terrible things. I know great
many of them and know them very
we'll. l have known them since they
were born, and l am quite sure that
there is not one in my circle who is
a cigarette fiend or drinks to excess.
Il am not vain enough to think
New York will not be able to get
along very weI without me- Many
women will rise up to take my place.
But l hope my influence Will be felt
in one thing, and that is in disCOun-
tenancing the undigniied methods
employed by certain New York wom-
en- to yStract a following. They have
given entertainments that belonged
under a circus tent rather than in a
gentlewoman' home. Their sole OBJ
ject is notoriety, thing that no lady
ever seeks, but rather shrinks from.
The best women in New York So
ciety, those with the greatest in
fuence, and those who give it its
true tone, are almost unknown out
side or their own circle. Society
newspaper notoriety is as interest
ing to them ss it is to me, as a study,
q very amusing one, too, sometimes,
as one gains so much information
about certain women supposed to be-
long to US, but whom we never see,
and do not know even by sight.
The political Fostesses of London
have a much better chance of real
izing an ideal to-day than the women
of New York. Over there you find
at the big balls and musicaIes a bril-
liant array Of Cabinet Ministers,
Journalists, Ambassadors, men and
women of the stage, painters and
poets, and the powers of the money
world, such as no leader in New
York cOudd bring together, or would
attempt to bring together. I have
thought Of doing it all my life, but
have never seen the possibility OF
success.
In the first place, we have toe
many politicians in America, where
in England they have statesmen,
Many Of our Senators and Congress
men seem to base their title to pub
lie favor upon their uncouth manners
and lack OF refinement, on the fact
that they have discarded socks OF
once wore blue jeans.
If they we're all like Mr.. ROose-
welt, what ? difference there would
be! Mr.. Roosevelt is true Amer
lean, but he would be at home in
the most elegant court in Europe
He Is not above paying scrupuIOus
attention to his wardrobe and his
manners. Any hostess in New York
or Newport would be proud to enter
tain him, and the men in washington
like him.
Many people seem to think
could have done a great deal in max
ing New York society as democratic
as it is in London, and open TO any
one OF intellectual attainments as il
is over there. But one can do only
ones best under the conditions. Eng
Iish people all recognize a certain
authority in social matters. The
King is the leader of society and the
hostesses who gather about them
such brilliant men and women can
be as independent as they wish to be
without assuming the responsibility
of an onslaught upon their own do
mains The Kings authority is
never questioned and the authority
of the great old families ig never
questioned
We have to be more exclusive in
New York, because in America there
IS 10 authority in society, and Amer
leans in general are not inclined to
admit its possibility. Each woman
is for herself, and trying 10 outdo