Los Angeles herald., 1909-06-20
STEWARDESS GOULD

MRS. CATHERINE CLEMMONS
N GOULD of Castle Gould, in her
LIZ testimony against the wealthy
husband from whom she is seeking
divorce, has given an intimate view of
the expenditures of women of her class.
Under oath, she told the court and the
public that her husband had promised
her an allowance of $250O a week. Even
by highly trained, experienced brain
workers, $25o0 a week would be consid-
cred fair compensation for services rem
dered to the community.
What excuse can be offered by soci-
ETY. for maintaining a system which
permits a silly woman to draw a
yearly salary greater than that paid
the president of the United States? 1t
is not the fault of poor Mrs. Gould that
she had this big allowance. 1t Is not
even the fault of Howard Gould. No
intelligent person can think for a min
ute of blaming the Goulds.
But 1t is fair to use the experiences
and example of the Goulds, overbur-
dened, demoralized, reduced in status
among human beings by the unearned
wealth which tyrannical society insists
is theirs, as an instance of what may
be expected when the stewardship of
the resources of the United States Is
/ committed to men absolutely incapable
of fulfilling the obligations to society
which came to them along with the
proverbial gold spoon in the mouth.
Society has insisted that the Goulds
| should receive the usufruct of vast
fortune, accumulated by man who, In
return for certain services to the com
munity, was allowed to have and to
hold, as a free gift, certain valuable
national franchises; and for his prl-
vate profit was permitted to administer
! some of the most lucrative public utili-
/ ties in the world.
Therefore society should read without
wincing the extraordinary story OF
feminine folly and extravaganza pub
lished in Los Angeles Herald, from
which we reprint the most striking and
illuminative passage:
Mrs. Gould said that as far back as
1893 her husband promised to allow her
$4,000 month. The witness said she
had to have at Castle Gould morning
afternoon and evening gowns, with
shoes and stockings that matched; tea
gowns. coaching gowns, shopping
gowns, which she used about the city
and with most of these hats, shoes and
stockings and parasols TO match.
yachting costumes were distinctive
from the others, and had to have their
expensive accessories, the witness said.
She was accustomed to change her
gowns five and six times a day some
times. She had to dress at least three
times a day at Palm Beach, and more
| than that during her various trips
/ about Europe. Regarding the cost OF
| her various dresses, etc, Mrs. Gould
gave the following estimates: Dinner
gowns, $500 to $500; morning gowns.
S1O0 to $3.50; day gowns (worn shopping
etc. $500; tea gowns, $500 to $4OO; re-
| ception gowns, $500. For motoring,
coaching, yachting, the witness said,
she required particular gowns, but did
not say how much she paid for them
Mrs. Gould testified that her costuming
cost her 0,O0O to $4,000 year. She
! said that Palm Beach was perhaps the
most fashionable resort in the world,
and she dressed there merely as other
women dressed. Mrs. Gould said at
Palm Beach and Ormond she wore her
| banasomest gowns at rolling chair
time and tea time She never wore
the same gown twice, she said, and
gave most of them away when she re-
| turned to New York, where her social
position required an entirely different
outfit. She said she only dressed at
| Ormond and Palm Beach as women of
wealth and social distinction dressed,
| and that she INDUCED in the mildest
form of dress, as there were other per-
pie who dressed oftener and made more
display. What would happen if you
wore one of those gowns twice.? asked
Mr.. Nicoll. TT would be considered
very bad form-very bad Mrs. Gould
replied. In New York, the witness said,
her social position required her to
change her entire costume at least
three or four times a day. How much
time is consumed in making these vari-
Gus changes? asked Mr. Nicoll. Two
or three hours for each one usually
said the witness"
Cut this editorial out and paste it in
your scrap book. Next time your Ca
cannie" friend comes around to tell
you the occasional breadline is a neces-
sary feature of life, liberty and the
pursuit of happiness, and that the very
rich are the stewards for the very poor,
read him our truthful account of the
expenditures OF Stewardess Gould.