Evening star., 1909-04-25
The Golden Girl
Continued from page 4

stable, the carriage house, the gun room, the
trout pond. and then permitted to do the rest,
except at such hours as were set for social
functions.
A new dispensation exists The belief is gen
eral that guests of to-day must be entertained.
Another radical change is seen in the largesse
that guests are expected to distribute among
the servants of their host On this occasion.
each of these little women would be properly
instructed to hand a ten-dollar note to her
chambermaid and to the butler, and half that
sum to each of the servants who had waited
upon her The chauffeur would expect and re-
ceive as much as the butler, The Golden Girl
is far better informed regarding these little
courtesies than she is about her Catechism.
Getting Acquainted with Mama
RE it remembered that this Golden Girl is yet
= to have her finishing school course When
she passes from the convent the very
elusive private school to final year at small
but dreadfully expensive establishment, some
where near Fifth-ave., her status in the home
undergoes a wondrous change She actually
becomes the confidante of her mother She
comes to the table at luncheon and dinner
Occasionally, there may be women acqua1nt-
ances of mama invited, to whom the daughter
is not presented On such days she is served
with dinner in the breakfast room, or she may
accept an invitation to Dels The word
friend never is recklessly employed in homes
of the very wealthy class; its use is not good
form Unless the acquaintance be intimate.
NOBODY re1erS 10 meeting a man Casually except
by his full name. If social relations justify, the
proper thing is to mention the man by his
cherished nickname, such as Piggy, or Dusty,
or Coony
The Golden Girl grows up. She makes her
debut with considerable formality. For awhile
she finds on her hands certain acquaintance,
made at school or during the period of chaper-
onage, that must be winnowed out of her life.
In this matter, she doesn't always rely upon
her mother. one might suppose. If she pos
sesses married or a widowed sister, there is
the fount of wisdom. A brother in law, or the
husband of dear friend is often consulted re-
garding revision of the list of men contained
in small silk covered address book that lies on
her boudolr table.
1t is not my intention to follow this type of
Golden Girl SO far as courtship and marriage
few engagements, like the swallows of bird
land. are chronicled every summer. but the
serious assaults upon the heart (not to mention
her independent or prospective fortune) are
made during the winter season. Matr1mony IS
held in allegiance until the latest possible hour
consistent with maintenance of place among
the young set
When the day arrives in which marriage be-
comes a serious consideration, the man IS
chosen and the plunge is made. Such women
seldom settle down as matrons. They furnish
reasonable proportion of divorces. Not
knowing what adversely means. they have not
a clearly defined comprehension of unhappi-
ness. At worst it is disappointment. and dis
appointment may De as Sllgnt as the nonarr1Vai
of new piece of jewelry set of sables. 1t
could not be compared with defeat at the race
track. for example involving the loss of few
days income, or the postponement of rivals
wedding day.
The only event that change the current
of such womans existence, as wife or widow,
is loss of fortune. In such mishap, she usually
disappears, like meteor seen one minute re-
splendently sweeping across the sky; in the
next, eclipsed in darkness and forgotten. Pos
sessing nothing besides her money. with it goes
every claim she has upon society