The evening world., 1909-02-06
Unable to Appreciate Music,
Art or Literature, Declares
Wife of Steel Trusts Head.
SAYSPRINCESs
Author of "The Quick and the
Dead" Commends Culture
of New Workers.
BY Ethel LLOYD Patterson,

,comen are utterly incapable .oJ
making intelligent criticisms Of
poetry is the giSt Of many PACED
article by Mabelle Gilman Corey on
the March Cosmopolitan,
American tCOmen are the most
cultured, brilliant ,comen in the
World, maintains Princess Trou.
Jetstoy, formerly Amelie Rivss,
author Of 1.-THE Quick and the Dead"
Yet this is not a contraversie. Not
would Princess Troubetzkoy have It a
contradiction, Mrs. Corey has never
met the Princess Troutetzltoy The
Princess Troubetzkoy has never read
Mrs. Coroys article nor did she seem to
recall Mrs. Corey's name when an I'M
usually striking photograph OF the one
time actress was show nto her.
'Oh, please, no, do not wish to con-
tradict any one" protested Princess
Troubetzkoy from the soft green depths
OF ounging chair In her husband s
studio. "And-don't you think that II
toks presumptious, somehow, for us TO
place ourselves before the public with
our opnlons?" questioned Prince Trou-
betDkoy from the other side Of the
studio, where he was cooking his head
on one side and closing one eye to bet
ter focus the half.finished portrait OF
| one Of New York's society leaders.
Just Wanted an Opinion.
II assured Prince Trobetzkoy that his
position placed him above the implIca-
tons he feared. Then | assured Prin-
cess Troubetakoy that contradiction
was not what was wanted. An opinion
that was the thing. Her opinion OF the
culture Of New Yorks women"
well, then" Princess Troubetzkoy
commenced apparently more at ease,
don't you think that all those old tales
OF queer entertainments and queerer
foibles on New York society are really
rather legendary? They are Ike the nice
hoary old mother-ln jokes.
For instance. 1t seems to be sort OF
religion in a certain class to believe that
really smart people talk, and talk
loudly throughout any performance OF
an opera. Well. anybody who attends
the OPERA knows better than that, ANY
one who IL near enough to the boxes to
distinguish properly can see quite clear
IL the Interested, absorbed expressions
OF the women in them.
and all this talk about bridge "a
little ripple OF amusement came from
rive green armchair. Why, one so sell
dom sees It played. At the smart din
ners the latest music, operas, Debussy,
Richard strauss are always discussed,
and discussed intelligently.
Then" questioned, you do not
believe that New York's society women
listen to the songstress. criticize her
figure, perhaps admire her gown, but
of the master mind that has given the
singer her marvellous vehicle they know
nothing and care less. The composer
and the art principles b. means OF
which he expressed himself are names.
simple names, and little less" | was
quoting Mrs. Corey. but Princess Trou-
betzkoy did not know It.
Calls It Ridiculous.
We'll, that Is really ridiculous
idea" Princess Troubetzkoy answered.
Fancy being interested in the cos
tune OF a prima donna Why. you know,
they are always the same. That is.
they are simple costumes OF the part
and period that the opera portrays-
certainly conventional,
Il produced the Cosmopolitan and
commenced to read Mrs. Corey Says
prefaced:
If l We're asked what I should
like most to see done here in Amer
lea: what. to my idea. would most
quickly make us supreme among
nations In every way. would say
the reconstruction OF society on
basis Of intellectual gifts and talents
being recognized as the open sesame
TO the finest social life Of our land"
But, but" protested Prince and
Princess Troubetzkoy almost In the
same breath, that is the very basis
upon which our society Is constructed.
What else could be the corner stone2
We are very young! No. where In the
world Is brain better passport"
Then you do not think that.
III the great ladies Of New York
soclety"-I was reading the Cosrno-
politiln once more-"hostesses who
spend thousands Of dollars every
year in the most frivolous OF enter
tainments. should devote the energy
and money which now 60 into fool
ish pastimes to the establishing OF a
now regime, fashionable affairs
would be brilliant and pleasing
things instead OF deadly dull gath
erings where the ladies' yawn behind
their fans and the men gather In
smokins-rooms bored TO death and
seeking relief In the soothing mar
cotic."
Do Not Bore ANY One.
70, dear, dear, really that 10 untruel"
protested Princess Troubetxkoy. why,
the New York women are too generally
we'll informed to be bored themselves
or to bore others. They are 80 wide
awake, so conversant with current at
faira."
us the heroine Of The Passsrs-By'
stupid, dull, In your opinion7 quss-
TONED Prince Troubetskoy.
! assured him that she was not.
wat " ha AxntaIund lrk~