Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-15
SUNDAY MAGAZINE FOR MARCH
RISE OF THE RAILWAYS
Cort;ras1 jiop: page 4


lished and assured position. 1t secured them
a complete triumph in England, and helped
them amazingly In New York Helen met
the King at Marienbad a little later in the
summer, and By royal request was pre-
sented to him.
THE last act took place in New York.
: The stage was set. The town house
was a marvel, and its architecture, appoint
ments. and Furnishings had been described
with superlatives admiration by the news
papers. The new home on Long Island also
came in for share of enthusiastic adnlira-
ton. There was a private polo field, and a
huge stable with a riding ring, and tennis
and squash courIs under glass in a building
that was a veritable club in itself, and the
cost of which was estimated at over million.
The country cub had its opening, and the
sporty Duke we met at Cannes had sent
over challenge for polo match with his
English team. AL a famous sale of crown
jewels in Paris, Frank had bought for Helen
a historic necklace supposed to have be-
longed to Catherine of Russia, and a Won
derful parure Gf diamonds and erneralds
The newspapers also got hold, in some mys-
ferrous way, of this information, and ex-
plotted it. One editor had the ternerity to
announce that it would be a Railway year
in society.
When we were abroad Robert Holstein,
Western millionaire, long resident in New
York, was translated into the beyond. For
tunately for us, he had during his lifetime
invested in parterre box at the Metro
politan Opera House, and as soon as 1
learned of his d.ath cabled his heirs, got an
option on it, aid secured it for the winter.
The Railways had their places in the seats
of the Mighty. ! So far Our progress was
fr,,, hap
ners. Would there be Banquo at our
board?
Although she professed to hate New York,
Elizabeth Oakhilrst was unselish. She
sailed with tile; Railways in November.
pledged to be their sponsor in their first
season. Already the Society columns of the
newspapers were filled with colored gossip
about the Railway social aspirations. There
was picture of Helen in her opera box,
gorgeously gowfed and covered with bar
barrie jewels. Although tried to keep these
writers in check, was uneasy.
AND 10! at this most unpropitious mo-
I ment our skeleton stalked forth from
its closet. Mother COIN arrived unexpect-
edly from her voluntary exile. She was fer
reted out by e,Fhe Scorpion a scurrilous
weekly, which came out with full history
of old Joel and his financial iniquities, and
of Frau COIN, her secondhand clothes bust
ness, and Helen's career as chorus girl.
The Sunday press took up the theme, and
Ma Coin was represented as forgotten by
her snobbish. wealthy daughter, on the
evening of her supposed social triumph.
One was in "a parterre opera box, rubbing
elbows with she very women with whose
maids Ma dickered for faded finery; and the
other in her lowly home, reading all about
her girls entrance into Society, on the morn
ing after.
I got hold Of Ma COIN and whisked her
off to the country club. And the Sunday
before the opening of the opera dared not
go to town OF be seen at the club. Lady
Oakhurst s.nd2I held long conference.
The opera that night was @Aida,' always
a favorite, because the brilliant lighting
shows the honse to its best advantage. l
went early and waited discreetly in the rear
of the box Just after the second act, when
the audience bad settled itself to inspect and
be inspected, my party arrived. There was
a STIR and the curtains in the back parted.
The hostess Of the evening was directing her
guests to the. places they were to occupy.
First came Lady Oakhurst with her smart
London manner and her famous pearls; then
Helen the hostess, never more radiant, never |