The Washington herald., 1920-07-19

London, July 1S.-The war and its
aftermath have made many OF the
titled women of England dissatls-
fled with society, and they have
deserted the courts and fashionable
receptions to take active parts In
the business activities of the coun-
try.
The once lowly word trade" has
come into it's own here. No longer
is IT the signal for the raising OF
innumerable lorgnettes and imper-
sonal supercilious stares to mention
this once tabooed word in polite
circles. To be in trade in London
is quite the thing today.
when a lady engaged in business
enters a reception hall and some
one mentions that she Is In trade
she is a marked woman; not one to
be avoided but to be sought out and
questioned by many of the titled
women about how she is progress
ing and how she likes il. To be
successful in business is a task not
easily accomplished. and those who
have ventured into this new fleld
have for the most part been some
of England's most capable women.
Exaggerated statements have been
made concerning the change that
has taken place in the position and
activities Of the British women
since the war. But few OF them do
their own housework and the great
majority still live much the same
life as they did before the war. 1t
Is true, however, that a change Is
taking place.
Prominent Society Women In Trade.
The leaders of this movement. the
force of which is actually being
felt in London society in spite Of
the many court functions which
seem as elaborate as those of the
pre-war days, are Lady Diana Duff
Cooper, Viscountess Rhondda, Lady
Cecil Bingham. the Countess of
Warwick, Gertrude Decies. Lady
Miles Stapleton, and the Baroness
These few leading fem
mime spirits have embarked on
their business careers in such a
manner as to leave no doubt as to
the fact that the ability of the So
cial leader may well be diverted
into other and more profitable fields.
That they mean business is obvf-
Gus. They are engaged in doing
many kinds of work in such a
whole-hearted manner that success
has been forthcoming from the out
set. At present, these women are
running hotels. acting for the films,
promoting business enterprises,
managing millinery shops, editing
newspapers and magazines. breed
ing dogs and rabbits for market, as
well as doing many other kinds of
work in the world OF business.
hAfr
siasm have encouraged many Of
their friends to take up similar
pursuits.
War Brought About Change.
The conclusion of the war, in
which the women as we'll as the
men took active parts. has left them
free to return to their former ways
of living. Some were satisfied to
drop back into the old rut, begin
anew their quest for social pres
tige where IL had been broken of
and seize every opportunity to at
tend the receptions and balls. But
others. after having gained a new
conception Of life while doing ac-
tive war work, are not willing to
return to their former lives of idle
ness insofar as actual productivity
is concerned. After having served
with the Red Cross. Y. M. CA. and
other similar organizations, driven
ambulances at the front or done
war work at home, their former
pleasures seem dull and uninterest-
ing. They want something to keep
them busy, and to see more of the
world and its peoples. ?
More than 100 young English
women, many of whom would have
1t out af the question u