The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-05-05
What Lord
Blarneyston Said
By LOUISE B. CUMMINGS

Ing Mrs. Harkaway in one Of thu
boxes. asked who she was and wher
told said
"She's the most beautiful woman I've
seen In New York, and there's no WON
an In England who can compare with
her."
Such remark made by member
Of the London smart set was bound to
be repeated from mouth to mouth. In
a twinkling it permeated the social
circle, the members of which were at
once agog to see woman whom Lord
Blarneyston pronounced more beauti-
full than any woman in England. The
first Sunday after the encomium had
spread in society the church where
Mrs. Harkaway worshiped was over
| flowing with strangers who went there
to see her.
OF course his lordship's remark reach
ed Mrs. Harkaway. 1t 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. Harka-
ways forefathers, to say nothing of
one who had cooked the said meat and
vegetables In her grandfather'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 a woman whom an English peer had
pronounced the most beautiful In New
York or London.
After consultation between Mr.. 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
winning him had said that she was the
most beautiful woman in New York or
London.
The Harkaways had misgivings
about entering the golden circle on a
beggarly income OF $4,000 They fig
ured, however, that Mrs. Harkaway's
Beauty, certified to by a British peer
would be considered quid pro quo
for what they would receive and that
they would not be required TO give en-
tertainments. In this they were cor.
rect The difficulty In the mutimillion- |
aire set Is to get persons TO attend en- |
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 4
other plea than Lord Blarneyston's ex-
pressed opinion Of her beauty a few
thousands dollars a year for costumes
would have sufficed. But society ex-
Dected the most beautiful woman 10
wear the most beautiful costumes BE.
sides. Mrs. Harkaway received the
gaze OF society not be-
,ause she owned the highest bred dog
n the universe. but because Of Lord
remark. For this rea-
ION her costumes were OF supreme Inn
,ortance. They would attract far more
attention than her beauty. Therefore
hey must not only be superb, but In
-reat variety.
Not only did Mrs. Harkaway's ward
obes cost great deal Of money. but
L least one "trip abroad n wear was
necessary 10 procure them. Then much
nore jewelry than she possessed was
Indeed. the Harkaways
ad not even prepared for the wife's
ntry into society before they saw that
rithln a short time that which pro
uced their income would melt away
Ike ice under the rays Of the sun.
nevertheless the preparations were
lade.
At the FIRST function attended by I
frs. Harkaway she found herself the <
ynosure Of an eyes That's the wO-
ian that lord Blarneyston said wss
le most beautiful In New YORK or Lon
On. said everybody 10 everybody else. I
be stood IN one position while 4
ir0ng of persons passed her. orilng
pr as they would . freak IN = dime
useum.
70 happened that Lord rlarnevston |.
as stin On New York AMI was ~ iris 4
ssemhiy. A ladv q whom be vas Z
liking called he attention % Ms !.
Hrlawav. remarklue that shn had Z:
ven told she was the most heautful (:
oman IN View York ~ London
4 cnwut neree win that snM re- 8
rtship 7 think Hrs Monkarench 8
2 more t.esutIful- =
The renark wNs overheard an5 Mr. 2
srkH-sr's h.autv wss aiirtftsH she =
Pc frr7lreH from s1-ietT. for-uratriT :.
1ue 80 sars her hastfuf's Fortune. Z
70 rasurneH bs- rr-ruai r,1sifign. brt .
rnrhrw So srrF - harm1rna8 fsrrt n