The Washington herald., 1913-09-28
Publicity That Is Not
FIattering to Women

to pass along from friend to friend
within the Newport circle, because 50
outspokenly to be crowned the Queen OF
Beauty is rather a marked distinction
q But as her picture has been viewed In
many daily paper, far and away from
Newport and away from her New York
home. it has seemed an odd sort of
background upon which to hang so much
publicity. And one finds herself won
derfng how the first picture and the
many that followed reached the public
light.
Because 1t seems rather natural ane
lair to assume that the young woman
heFself, while rejoicing in the possession
OF the rare gift OF beauty, would not
care over-much about seeing her own
perfect features spread abroad for al
to view who would.
Public MorLIdIy Curious.
The public is curious enough and like,
passing well to peep over the high walls
at Newport for a glimpse at royal lIvinI
and is rather fond of observing, at close
range, it may be. the habits. the cos
tunes and the faces OF folk with much
wealth at their command. And IL II
cannot watch the play at FIRST hand, the
pictures are rather interesting.
But the folk themselves. particularly
the WOmen-WnaI OF themE
Do they like it when their pictures
are sent broadcast, their costumes de-
scribed in minutest detail and their en-
tertainments carefully portrayed? or
perhaps, do they stand back of the pub
licity?
Possibly ones viewpoint Is tinged with
some OF the foolish old traditions, but
whatever comes to men in the way OF
publicity for things they do or leave
undone, there is something almost Of
fensive in notoriety that goes woman
ward without a good reason why. And
the mere possession of beauty or social
position seems scarcely a reason, much
as the public may like it.
Possibly, too, one takes the wrong view
Of publicity for women when she won
ders at the willingness OF some TO see
their names and faces aired and aired
again because Of their gracious art Of
entertaining. II is an art indeed-but
is not the applause Of their own little
circle sufficient?
II II Is true, as We have always beer
told, that the limelight is not softening
at all to women. II seems that they
might better withdraw wnen they can
and when nothing real is calling them on.
EIcuse for Her.
AS for me, there Is real pleasure In
scanning the pictured features of a wom-
an who perhaps has written words that
have zen read and enjoyed by the thou
sands. She has, in a way. become part
Of the -ublic. and when the public clam
ors to know her, by face, there is excuse
IL she emerges from retirement
And so it runs with one who gives serv-
ice where service is needed and teIlingIy
is found on the great highways where
activities are messured-nobody asks why
her picture is published: rather, there is
regret when it is withheld
But 1t is bit hard to understand the
why for the picture of a woman who has
been achieving somewhat vicarious dis
tinction of late because she has man
aged to drop $4,000 or 50 in a little Exl5
beauty parlor" all her own-at least, SC
the story goes. 1t is gold, gold, every
where in the room, which is electrically
equipped as though by the hand of a
wizard. 1t Is said to be a veritable bit
or fairyland, with modern magic wands
in every nook and corner. to make one
beautiful woman more beautiful still. II
that Is her dream of luxury and of hap
plness come true, she must be congratu.
lated upon the achievement; but as one
looks at her picture along with the vivid
portrayal OF the last cry in feminine
folly, one wonders again-why?
Bound to Make Comparisop..
II would not matter so much except
as one is bound to make comparisons re-
garding some OF the strange lines thai
are drawn about women.
There are plenty to call attention TO tn,
publicity of women whose names are
written high in the annals of purposefuI
events, and there are plenty to saw they
do not like it. But not so many bother
their heads when it happens that public.
ity Is earned from one end of the coun-
Try to the other, and perhaps across the
sea, because Of fastidious dressing. the
latest novelty in entertaining or a face
of piquant charm.
After all, it is not very hattering to
women, do you think?
Gardnnin. In E.E.