Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-11-24
this style of courtship will ever gain a
wide popularity.
First Hydroplane Romance.


All this happened day after day. 1t
was a part of the routine. The really
remarkab part of the story is that no
one ever told. Consider the sensational
possibilities. Astor is the richest bachelor
in the United States. Miss Huntington is
one of the heiresses of the Dinsmore for
tune, which was founded on the express
business. 1t is the only hydroplane
romance on record. Other men have
taken their lady-loves for brief whirl
through the air, or evaded father in a
biplane. But no one before ever made
a steady thing of it-going out each day
in a hydropiane just as though it were
an old-fash ioned sidebar buggy. 1t was
the very last syllable in an up-to-the-
minute romance, plus science mil ions,
beauty and society prominence-and no
one ever whimpered. A whole country
side kept secret
This fact cannot be understood unless
one understands the countryside.
Conditions are almost feudal along
the east bank of the Hudson, between
Astor's place at Rhinecliff and the
Huntington home at Staltsb urg. The
two places are perhaps five miles dis
tant from each other. They front upon
the same road. and eight miles Of that
road seem to be occupied by four es-
tates, If one may depend upon the mo
hunting, fishing. trapping or trespass-
ing" signs. Three of these four estates
are owned by Aston. Huntington and
Dinsmore. Robert Huntington, father
of Miss Helen Huntington. married
Miss Dinsmore. Broadly speaking, the
population of the countryside is di-
vided between lords and retainerS. The
man you meet on the country road is
apt to be EaSsal of one of the three
families.
Retainers Well Cared For.
This is not to say that the entire
population around Rhinecliff and
Staatsburg are servants or snobs They
are extraordinarily well treated menials
and CORRESPONDENCE loyal. Aston en-
ploys about 200 men on his estate. 1t
is impossible7 for a stranger to gain ad-
mission to the grounds. The lodge
keeper won't let him in. Aston is plan
ming a pension system, and has in
creased the wages Of his men and has
bettered their living conditions. He is
now building a school for their chill
dren. Hardly a week passes that he
and Miss Huntington do not climb
about the foundation of this building,
their joint plans.
The Huntingtons may employ seventy
five servants. The Dinsmores have as
many more. The Dinsmores years ago
built school and church. Every
the automobiles in use on the
two estates gather up the children of the
retainers and take them TO school. Every
evening the machines call for the young
sters. Those who care to go to church
Sunday are carried both ways in the big
cars. Free medical attendance is pro-
vided, and, no doubt, fiannels and broth
are carried to the ailing ones by the la
dies of the families. There can be no
question that Jacques is well treated by
his master.
They are all SO good to u.s. said one
Of the Huntington servants. his eyes shin
ing. why, Miss Helen calls us all by
our first names,''
Only Two Castles Recognized.
Many of the henchmen on all of the
estates are of the best imported sort.
They speak with the broad IA and
touch their hats to one who
has the crust of We're de We're. They
only recognize two castes-that of mental
and master One is reminded of Hodge
pulling his forelock in any recogniz ID
book of English fiction. They are kindly
enough. but they are leagued in defense
Of their masters.
II asked every turnkey 1 met on the