The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-04-24
FRENCH EDITOR MAKES
Fun OF new YORK 400
N. Tardieu Call. Gotham So
ciety Felix q Sacred
Battalion.

Paris, April Za.-New York's 200 high
ly amused II. +. 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. ne has thus 10
chronicle about Gotham's smart set:
The recruiting of his sacred battalion is
a curious study. Those who belong to 1T
a quarter OF a century ago still speak
patroniZingly of the newcomers
ut Is said that strategy to secure a po-
sition In IL often lasts for years. The EN-
Daisies are the first point of attack. Then
from hat base of operations the salons
are conquered. Then even when Wash
tngton is vanquished, New York may sill
hold out.
Fashionable life les the hardest of all
businesses. Five O'Clock teas are greatly
Interesting Is that of Mrs. Cowles, Presi-
dent Roosevelt's sister. who is most
charming in name
II was astonished to find on the invita-
tion to meet Miss Mary Garden or 20
meet Miss Cavaiieri.' After such a dinner,
one actress had herself painted in the
lghtest of costumes and her picture was
eAJiiDtleQ III II BlOTG Ol nun avenue. ms,
however, was considered bad taste on the
part Of the actress.
"Snobbery," He says.
american society is exclusive. This is
because of their system OF political equal
1ty. As citizens the Americans are equal,
but they make social distinctions, even to
the extent OF snobbery. Members of one
club speak with condescension of the
members OF another. If you should dine
for three weeks with one set, you would
always meet the same people.
1.-The fashionable world In America, as
elsewhere. is artificial and conventional.
Americans are the most hospitablc peo-
pie In the world, American hospitality is
not content with external politcness; it
seeks to make the guest feel at home.
THE Americans give one the impression
of being a very young people. who, though
sure OF their w superiority, are IL good
deal concerned about the opinion OF
Europe.
1.-THE longer one lives In the United
States the more evident 1t is that there
IS no such q 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.
TN Puritan, intellectual Boston more
than anywhere else, the women nave that
cohesion OF family which charactcrlzes the
French. They have a certain tn%dcpend-
ence, but not entire liberty of movement.
They talk less. They are not so devoted
TO fashion as are the women OF New
York and Washington. Their chief origl-
nality is intellectual. They can talk to
you about politics, the relation of church
They speak French admirably, which is "a
kind OF certificate OF distinction. Yet
withall they are not blue-stoclings.
Spinster Surprised Mother.
II was amazed to And In America SO
many eligible women who preferred not
&c ymarry. Among the many reasons they
gave for this. / think the strongest, one
as that the life of a young woman Is very
agreeable. She can do everything a young
French woman can do and q great deal
more. Another reason is that the equality
of the sexes is more marked in America
than 1t is elsewhere.
I'm Washington, l was %astonislled TO OBJ.
serve that young women can live detached
from their parents and l was particularly
surprised to see 30 many automobiles for
girls.
The difference between French hi.ts
and American iiirts is the difference be.
tween a othouse plant and a tree in tho
open air. Flirting in Washington is a reg.
ularly established and respected institu.
toll. Life there Is a life Of leisure. In
Washington in winter and In Newport In
hummer. what can one do but hirt? Flirt.
Ing sometimes leads to an engagement,
though an engagement does not always
lead to marriage.
ut ID an astonishing custom Cor parenta
TO leave balls early, allowing their daugh.
tiers to be conducted home by their part
;nerS. Foreign diplomats, misunderstood.
Ing this, have made blunders which
brought their flirting to u sudden end.
American husbands are not always to