The daily Alaskan., 1915-06-21
What Lord BlarneystonS Said
By LOUISE B. CUMMINGS

0SybIOus CHdLlluB hltu uu AASLANoA friend who was spending q great deal of time and money on his lOrdship, see ing Mrs, Harkaway in one. of the boxes, asked who she was and when told said:
 She's the most beautiful woman I've seen in New York, and there's no wom- an in England who can compare with her"
 Such a remark made by a member of the London smart set was bound to be repeated from mouth to mouth. In 6 twinklIng 1t permeated the social circle, the members of which were at once agog to see q woman whom Lord Blarneyston pronounced more beauH- ful than any woman in England. The first Sunday after the encomlum had spread in society the church where Mrs. Harkaway worshiped was over | flowing with strangers who went there to see her.
 Of course bis lordship's remark reach ed Mrs. Harkaway. It was her husband who told her, and he was proud to be the husband of the most beautiful wo- man in New York or London.
 Mrs. Harkaway belonged to that class of New Workers who years agone were social leaders, but who now Oc- cupy back seats, the front seats being taken up by the commercial multimil- lionaire aristocracy of America. Why not use Lord BlarneystOn's encomium to regain the position occupied by her ancestors? True, the ancestors of pres ent day leaders had some of them sold meat and vegetables to Mrs. HIarka- ways forefathers, to say nothing Cf one who had cooked the said meat and vegetables In her grandfathcr's kitch- en. But times were changed. Present day aristocrats had assumed the lead, ership by virtue of their enormous wealth, and 1t was impossible to dis. lodge them. Possibly they would take in woman whom an English peer had pronounced the most beautiful in New York or London.
 After consultation between Mir. and Mrs. Harkaway It was decided by the husband that the wife's chance for so- cial prominence should be made avail able. Certain relatives of Mrs. Hark- away who had married into multi millionaire families were found to in troduce her, and she was launched into society simply on the fact that Lord BlarneystOn in order to compliment the city of the man who was dining and wIning him had said that she was the most beautiful woman in New York or London.
 The Harkaways had misglvings about entering the golden circle on a beggarIy income of $lOOOO. They fig. ured, however that Mrs. Harkaway's beauty, certified to by a British peer would be considered quld pro quo for what they would receive and that they would not be required to give en- tertalnments. In this they were cor rect. The difficulty in the multimIllion- aire set is to get persons to attend en- tertainments. But there was one thing however, on which their calculations were in error. They thought that Mrs Harkaway would be able to provide herself with costumes Out of her hus bands Income, leaving enough for their other expenditures.
 Possibly had Mrs. Harkaway been admitted to the golden circle on any other plea than Lord Blarneyston's ex- pressed opinion of her beauty a few thousands dollars a year for costumes would have sufIiced. But society eX pected the most beautiful woman 10 wear the most beautiful costumes. Be. sides, Mrs Harkaway received the concentrated gaze of society not be- cause she owned the highest bred dog in the universe. but because of Lord Blarneyston's remark. For this req ! son her costumes were of supreme im- portance. They would attract far more attention than her beauty. Therefore they must not only be superb, but in great variety.
 Not only did Mrs Harkaway's ward robes cost a great deal Of money, but at least one trip abroad a year was necessary to procure them Then much more jewelry than she possessed was indispensable. Indeed. the uarkaways had not even prepared for the wife's entry into society before they saw thnt within short time that which pro duced their Income would melt away like Ice under the rays of the sun : Nevertheless the preparations were | made.
 At the first function attended by Mrs. Harkaway she found herself the exposure of all eyes. That's the wo- man that Lord Blarneyston said was the most beautiful in New York or Lon don," said everybody to everybody else. She stood in one position while a throng of persons passed her oglinG her as they would freak In a dime museum.
 It happened that Lord BlarneySton was still in New York and was at this assembly. A lady to whom he was | MH AE NHaeH