The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1916-01-18
What Lord
Blarneyston Said
By LOUISE B. CUMMINGS

neyston, chatting with an American
friend who was spending u 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:
seen in New York. and there's no wom-
an in England who can compare with
her"
Such a remark made by member
of the London smart set was bound to
be repeated from mouth to mouth. In
a twinkling 1t permeated the social
circle, the members of which were at
once agog to see a 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 lordships 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 it 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 Il consultation between Mr.. and
husband that the wife's chance for SO
cial prominence should he made avail
able. Certain relatives of Mrs. Hark
away who had married into multi
millionaireN 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 misgivlngs
about entering the golden circle on a
beggarly income of $4,000. They fig
ured, however, that Mrs. Harkaway's
beauty, certified to by British peer.
would be considered quid pro quo
for what they would receive and that
they would not he required TO give en-
tertainments. 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 Blnrneyston's ex-
pressed opinion of her beauty few
thousands dollars n year for costumes
would have sutllced. But society ex-
pected the most beautiful woman to
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
Blarneystons remark. For this rea.
son her costumes We're of supreme i'm.
portance. They would attract far more
attention than her beauty. Therefore
they must not only he superb. but in
great variety
Not only did Mrs. Harkaway's ward
robes cost great deal of money, but
at least one trip abroad year was
necessary to procure them. Then much
more iewelry than she possessed was
Indispensable. Indeed, the Harka ways
had not even prepared for the wife's
entry into society before they saw thai
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
cynosure 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 ;
throng OF persons passed her oglinl
her as they would freak in dime
museum.
It happened that Lord Blarneystol
was still I'm New York and was Mt thi
assembly. \ lady to whom he wa
talking called his attention TO AIRS
Harkaway, rcmarklng that she ha'
been told she was the most beautifu
woman In New York or London.
81 cawn't agree with that" said hi