The Washington herald., 1913-06-11
tCopyusht, 1913. By A. d. Jacobsou.J

Copyright, 1913. by A. ID. Jacotson.l
The frequent complaint regarding the
decadence of society, in which money
talks instead of manners, was mani
tested strikingIy during a recent inter
view with a member of the London
smart set. who candidly confessed that
she was willing to chaPeron ANY one
presentable for a consideration" As the
lady readily put ii, IF the parents Of
Milly Muggins or Joe Scroggs have a
few thousand to spare. and are anxious
to spend the money in getting their son
or daughter into society. why should
not I participate? IL / did not relieve
those with social ambition of their spare
cash, somebody else would. and prob
ably give less value for the money"
As a matter of fact. there are scores
OF clever people in society today aug
menting their incomes very consider
ably by acting as chaperons- The idea,
OF course is not a new one: but
glance at the advertisement columns in
the English newspapers will provide
striking illustration OF the increasing
number of people who are anxious 10
make a profit out of what social pres
tige they may be able to boast OF.
These advertisements. as every one who
takes the trouble to examine the col
umns Of the leading papers will find out,
are worded to suit all requirements.
There is the titled lady who will
"chaperon a girl for her living and
travelling expenses. together with fee
of two or three thousand pounds, this
fee TO be increased by mutual arrange
ment, according to the social position
OF the husband secured" Then there Is
a lady anxious TO obtain a companion
for her daughter. who Is about TO make
her debut in society and to be presented
at court, arrangements TO be made also
for the presentation of the companion
II monetary matters are satisfactorily
arranged"
The extent to which social agents will
60 was strikingIy illustrated the other
day only when the traffic in vouchers Tor
the royal Enclosure at Ascot races was
exposed. This was the climax or a
scandal which had been agitating soci-
ETY. for some time. II being an open
secret that hundred of thousands oil
pounds changed hands between those
who wished to mix with royalty and the
society of the race course. and those
who wished to sell this privilege.
There is. however, a humorous side to
this business Unfortunately there is a
certain type OF society trickster wnol
takes advantage of this desire, on the
part of the newly rich. to enter society
by protesting to be able to introduce
them into certain circles. AS a matter
Of fact. these make-belef persons have
no right of entry into the circles they
mention and this their victiEI quickly
finds out
A case which created a stir recently.
but was hushed up because of the promi-
nence of the parties concerned, occurred
in which a lady advertising herself as
the younger daughter OF a well-known
titled but impoverished house became
with a wealthy German fam
ily, and offered to introduce the twol
daughters into British society. As al
matter Of fact she did introduce them
into a certain circle, which, by the way.
they could easily have entered them !
selves, for il was of no social promi-
nence. but a promise had been made to
introduce them to titled" personages,
which had been done This lady re-
ceived fees amounting altogether toi
like s4,O0o, and afterward got +,
out of her predicament by laying the
blame on the gNfs themselves, who. as
she said. proved quite unpresentable.
In another case a man representing
himself as the Honorable - made |
the acquaintance of the son of a wealthy |
and fieeced him to the eN-
tent of nearly E6.ooO as fees and eN-
penses for introducing him TO certain
people who, II was ultimately proved, /
declined to recognize the newcomer for
he was the black sheep of his family.
The preface of the German Crown /
Prince to Germany in Arms the joint