Evening star., 1915-06-06
Special Correspondence of The star.

NEW YORK, June :.
~ REAT headlines in the metro
n politan papers announced re
~ Il Gently that s125.000,000 would
" be saved by Americans who
would stay at home this summer in
stead of making their annual pilgrim
age TO Europe. Unless we should be
called on to feed and clothe another
European country. this great saving
of holiday money will leave a good bit
OF surplus cash which ought to be in
vested in something worth while
The rush and scramble for all avail
able country properties in the market
Is unprecedented. The summer hotels
are of course. expecting to reap their
harvest. too. But this anxiety to rent
a country place, large or small. 70 NJ
our incomes and social Importance; TINS
tremendous demand for something OF
which there is only limited supply
has been brought about by the enforced
abandonment of the usual plans tor
foreign travel. We can put up with
hotels and pensions in Europe. we say
to ourselves, but if we are going to
have summer in America we want
little place of our own. And SO the real
estate offices are besieged by would-be
tenants and the lucky landlords who
have home to dispose of see rosy
visions of high rent in prospect.
Here in America there has not been
much summer social life of the chron-
icled kind except in Newport or among
the millionaire colonies O. Long Island
during a limited period. This year.
when even those birds OF passage. the
Metropolitan opera singers. are remain
ing with US, the condition is going to
be changed. Already garden fetes are
being planned by those hostesses whose
example is always certain to be fol-
lowed American social life bids fair to
become as important, to be as marked
by widely chronicled functions. during
the summer months as it has been dur
ing the winter season.
There is no indication as vet of the
institution of a town sea son, such as
is the case in Paris or London. Such
a season might possibly be future
outcome of the stay-at-home impulse,
but if so the time is not yet. May and
June. as late as the Grand Prix, are
the most important months in the so
cial calendar of the French capital OF
late years great effort has been
made. by putting the great race as late
as possible in June, to lengthen the
smart season. In London its length de-
pends upon the duration of parliament.
As long as that august body continues
to sit the social life of the capital con-
tinues, sometimes almost as late as Au-
gust, when the magic 18th sends So
ciety to the moors of Scotland.
Until recently, both in France and
England. country homes used to be
ruthlessly deserted during their time
of greatest beauty. The roses were left
to waste their sweetness upon the
caretaker, and the Strawberries and
fresh vegetables were sent after the
absent family in crates to town. Motor
cars have done something to change
this. England, at least. is such a little
country that very many people have
been enabled to enjoy their country
places and the pleasures of the town
season at the same time. Except for
members of the maddest social whiri,
motor cars have made it quite possible
TO remain established in ones attrac-
tive country house during the best
time of the year, and to run up to town
for the important events.
In France. of course, the smart holi-
day 10 a trip to the "Bains de Mer,"
where there are no gardens worthy of
the name But even in France the Gus
tom OF remaining at ones country
place. If one has such a possession. has
grown during the past few years, and
raul FOlGSI mas QSSiSHcO SOTlc oi HIS
lovliest creations for the decoration of
such houses. To receive ones friends,
motoring out from Paris. under ones
own roof-tree for dinner or luncheon
in tho country, and to send them re-
freshed back to town. appeals to the
delightful sense OF hospitality of the
Frenchw oman. In France, as in Eng
land, those women who are lucky
enough to have country places with
gardens are growing to love them too
much to leave them.
OF course. 1t is only the rare few who
possess that greatest wonder of all, a
garden in town There are a few his |
toric mansions in both London and |
Paris which. behind prosaic exteriors
lous rs those called forth by the slave
of Aladdin's lamp. In London an in !
vitation to one of those mansions is an
event long remembered by every