The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-09-19
CAvAL1ERI AND SOCIETY.

CANALIERI AND SOCIETY.
New York is specializing to the manner
in which society will receive La Cavalier upon
her return to the metropolis in a few weeks for
the purpose of engaging in legal battle for tho
property decided to her upon the consideration
Of love and affection by her husband, K. W.
Chanler.
The speculation" affords pretty fair IN
sight into the ethics of the society which is
agitated over the question. 1t appears that Lima
has already been received. She has occupied
private boxes at the opera house at which she has
not been permitted to sing. She has been re-
ceived as guest at fashionable homes. She has
won her way 10 the inner circles in other ways
than by technically marrying scion of the AS
tors. More than that, it appears that she was re-
ccived" in the full knowledge of her past and for
herself rather than for her art 1t is customary,
appears for the sake of the success of the func
ton, for the monde Of New York to receive men,
bers Of the detnl monde hired to sign or play
al social reves 1t is, however exceptional for
1T TO open its doors to such persons when they
minus their professional characters. Never
theless In the case of the Cavalier, the sacred
portals flew open despite the fact that her past
was known, that her character adventures
was an open book ew York society, set in
its appetites, gulped and accepted the woman-
even Of the streets of Rome-who made appeal
to its taste.
Now, however, when the same Cavalier re-
turns she will no doubt receive the cold
shoulder from her former friends She has been
found out Her past-the same past that was
condoled-is an open book In taking her up
/ plo v,p H.,
ewes of the world Its standards would be in the
lineIight. It's pretenses would gain new ex-
posure. Impossible, The woman of the streets
and the stage, once so warmly welcomed. will be
cast aside Cavalier doubtless ambitious as all
groundlings for public recognition as an equal,
will be hurt where she lives Society, as it so Of
ten does, will be hiding its head ostrich-fashion.
We do not pretend TO know the reasoning
whereby society gained the consent of its
pose to accept Cavalier A nights success, the
/ impulse of moment, may start social career.
Cavalieri who mvster'ousv gained entrance to
its doors will by society be as inconsistency Gust
Cd In view, however Of the strange logic by
which New York divorcees-women in whose
cases the DEGREES imply conduct no whit bet
ter than Cavalieri's hfe--stil continue to shine
social lights the acceptance of the singer held
a strange sort of unattended justice. If woman
from the divorce court, why not woman from
the half-world of Paris The principle is the
same and with peculiar consistency, New York
society seems TO have treated both women alike
with equal impartiality. CAVALIER, however, has
offended one of the cult. She has arrayed against
her the Astors--the same Astors whose marital
troubles leave them still powerful social lead
ers: The difference all lies in the distinction
between one who born to money, and one
who goes after it The one may be Indifferent to
all conventions; the other must be careful in the
choice of which of them to ignore