The Washington herald., 1920-11-14


w. l.. George is SO interesting.
For instance, Mr. George likes Joseph
Conrad. whom he considers the greatest
English novelist of the century; he likes
orange Angors cats, of which he has two;
and he likes his wife, a truly beautiful
woman of the finest English type, whose
personality justifes the application of the
mueh-abused term cultured" Then Mr..
George dislikes Gilbert Canaan. especially.
his profile, although he admits that Canaan
has written one great novel; he dislikes
poetry i'll any form; and American prud-
ishness
Mr. George is now in the United States
accompanied by his wife, ostensibly to
give two series of lectures in various parts
rot the country. One feels that he has an
8 other purpose far more fundamental to
him.. however although he likes to deliver
lectures, and that is the studying of the
American people. After talking with Mr..
George, l was convinced that he would re-
turn to England and write book about
American women as lbancz intends to do,
with this difference-Mr. George admits
that he has learned very little about Ameri-
can women during the time he has already
spent here, and that he doesn't expect to
know them great deal better after his six
months visit.
Upon meeting Mr.. George one thinks
medium stature; high brow accentuated
by tendency toward badness; remarkable
eyes; close clipped dark brown mustache
above pleasant mouth; a lean, clean-cut
lace with fine color; typical Engiishman
of the intellectual type"
But that first summing up does not sat-
isty. There is a certain expression in Mr..
Georges eyes, at once humorously con-
templative and questioning, and flashing
brilliancy about his smile which are alto
gether foreign to the conclusion "typically
English Then one learns that Mr..
George is not English by. birth, but French
and that partly explains it.
And when he begins to unfold his ideas,
they seem strangely un-English, like those
OF an American who has lived much
abroad, and has studied the English from
the standpoint OF an outsider. His view
point is suggested by his own words. "A
novelist should be little god sitting on
Olympus, looking down on the mortals
below" Just so Mr.. George has contem-
plated his adopted countrymen =
These were some Of the thoughts that
rushed in on me as | began my-shall | say
cozy-little chat with Mr.. and Mrs. George
on our first meeting here in Washington
soon after their arrival in America.
Mrs. George receives her husbands
guests, greeting them with charming cor
diality.: She is little more than medium
height, with full figure and a gracefully
poised head. The delicacy of her skin and
the gray-blue of her eyes are accentuated
by rather crisp auburn hair, which she
wears in. close coiffure. She has that
rare requirement for beauty-a small very
red mouth. On this day she wore a chem
ise gown of champagne-colosed silk with
a rather large mushroom hat of grass
Z green straw. Her hose and ankle-strap
suede pumps were cinnamon-brown.
Mr.. George comes of family of French
men who have always gone to England
for their wives. He was educated in France
until he was twenty. Consequently, his
English has just the. faintest suggestion of
French influence; his RS" have the throaty
sound which gives charm to the. fatter
English words.
Mr. and Mrs. George are considering
sending their two children to America
for their education, because Of Mrs.
Georges disapproval of the English public
school system.
"The English public schools are afro
cious," Mrs. George declared. Here in,
America the children at least learn some
thing"
She is much interested, too, in the
changing of the English divorce laws;
which make it possible for husband to
secure divorce by proving only his wife's
infidelity, while a woman must prove, in
addition to inhdelity, some other charge,
leading to all kinds of injustices and eva
sions of the law. Mrs. George is quite
impatient with Lady Astor for her stand
on the divorce question.
But then, you know" she said, Lady
Astor got her seat by a sort of fluke. She
really is Sumter you see" Which is
equivalent to the American way of saying
that she is playing to the grandstand.
~ Lady Astor," Mr.. George interjected
"is like the blind newsboy who can tell
nickel from penny in the dark"
One of the things in America that Mr..
George likes best is the ice cream. Mrs
George whispered that she has known him
to eat six dishes in one day since his ar
rival here
The only fault Mr. George finds with
Americans is that they are little prudish.
On your streets your women wear very
short skirts" Mr.. George declared "but in
your drawing rooms. you hesitate to ac-
knowledge that woman is biped,"
Mr.. George. confessed voluntarily, that
he began writing by accident
Il have always been a great lover of
music" he. said we chatted on; $50 when
i went to England / wanted to attend the
concerts. but didn't have money for tickets.
l began writing criticisms for two small
French newspapers in order to get con-
cert tickets"
He explained that his first book just
happened" and that he had no intention
OF writing book. He began preparing an
article OF an economic nature which soon
led him to the study of housing and labor
conditions in order to make it more COM
plete. He kept adding to the article and
ku40r r. =. 4