The Washington herald., 1913-07-09

One cannot help wonderinss II societ.
folk men and women Of assuf eo positiol
and an abundance of wealth, ute ehIo'
the freedom with which their mars are
discussed, the publicity given 10 tnen
every movement and. the specuh atioh IN
dulged in when facts run short
Just because a man and maio ars
contemplating marriage. and just nsss
he happens to enjoy almost = eafet
abundance of money, she a wealth Q,
beauty, and personal charm. the pnppe
is surfeited with pictures ard parsons
details, and we must ask
Does he like it. and does she!
His personal life is discussed. his age
his millions, and himself.
And she is portrayed to the last detail,
10 pictured lust leaving her house for a
drive. shown in gala attire or somoef
street array: her costumes are descrtned,
her family tree is discussed. and she Is
fortunate to escape with emotions all her
own.
And there is no cessation Of publicity
until the wedding day is over.
PenaIty of wealth.
Perhaps it is one of the penalties at
tendant upon the possession Of millions.
real or prospective. but somehow there
seems to be so much limelight and golden
glitter when wealthy folk marry that the
public forgets all about the sentiment or
mildly wonders where II comes in.
And IL they suffer from the undue pub
licity and would be glad to run away
and hide, we, too. do not escape pen
atty.
Across the sea, they say that ours n
a nation of shopkeepers. and while We
do not recognize that as a fatal arraign-
ment we are quite aware OF their view
point.
They think our wealthy folk sprang up
somewhere in the dark, and that they
have been SO busy making and spending
money, we SO attentive in watching and
enjoying the spectacle. that the nation
has had no time to grow in grace and
all the little ways supposedly dear to
the aristocratic heart.
We know better, but sometimes our
actions give color to their estimate Of U.s.
And that is why, at least in part, We
dislike to see SO much fuss and feathers.
so much comment and big-eyed curiosity.
And that is why we very much re-
gret to see some of our moneyed folk
when they travel across the water. as
sumo a grandilcquent style and a noisy
display that make those critical strangers
raise their lorgnettes and register their
disapproval with the simple word
"Americansr'
What do you suppose they thought of
us in Berlin awhile ago when some
Boston tourists-Boston. of all places.-
pasted on the register of a big hotel
a printed label. giving names and ad-
dresses, supplemented with the gratu-
itous information that they were trav-
cling "in their high-power touring car.
with chauffeur
Thing that Hurts.
We must smile bit when such q
thing happens here, yet II is all in the
family, and we tolerantly overlook II.
but it rather hurts to be 50 badly mis-
represented to strangers. And we would
not mind it so much il We did not know
just what they thought of US, not as
individuals. but as a nation.
But Berlin cannot afford to smile too
openly or to comment too much just
now. for the reports that came oversee
at the time of the marriage of Prin-
cess Victoria Louise were as amazing
as any that started this side the water.
1t is idle to repeat the story now. but
there was gaping a-plenty over there.
and there was something worse. as
everybody knows who read of the foolish
scramble, to put ii very mildly.
But that does not make it any better
for U.S.
While We are here in America We think
little enough regarding our pride of
nation. but 1 am right sure IL you and
/ We're to set sail this summer for for
eign shores we would be jealous of the
fair name of our country. And IL we
met a crowd of our countrymen. noisily
proclaiming their wealth and incidentally
adding to our reputation for bad man.
ners. We would like to give them a good,