The New York herald., 1921-11-27

Special Correspondence to THE NEW York
HERALD.
Copyright, 1921, by THE NEW YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
London. Nov. l9
THE fashionable women of England
the members of the aristocracy-the
peerage-are facing a crisis. Poverty
is rampant
While society may SEEM even now, to be
entertaining in its usual way, the actual
number Of entertainers is dwindling. There
is a marked absence of familiar names. Are
all Of these good people reeling to ruin, as
the politicians would have us say? Are the
titled women of England going to their
doom? And without a struggle? Is there
still hope? Or are they reaching the end of
the rainbow?
The socially well placed may be divided,
for working purposes because they al
ready responding to the call. into three gen.
eral groups: There are those who are going
openly to work, those who are working but
trying to conceal the fact, and those who
cannot possibly work These last are unde-
niably in the most tragic position to be i'm
agined. This is case, verify, of "The Lords
poor, the devils poor and the poor devils"
But it was never anticipated that the Eng
lish aristocracy should would or could do
the worlds work. And when these women
first drifted out of their charmed and charm
ing inner circle it was regarded as indepen-
dence-a sort of left over from the great
war. 1t has now gradually become known
that in many instances dire necessity pointed
the way out into the cold, commercial world.
The peerage is becoming property poor
impoverished by the enormous tax on land
added to the general high cost of living and
the rise in wages to all employees, servants
and retainers.
1t Is fortunate that at this juncture mere
social snobbery has not prevented the best
women throughout the country from taking
their share of heavy burden; they are act
ually going into trade And, strangely
enough, this has a certain fascination, as
had their work. Many of the more
ergetic would not now, even If they could.
drop back into protected life of semi
notony, disturbed only by social distractions.
1t is in the tradition of the English nation
to do well whatever ii undertakes and
everything the arstocracy touch may be
relied upon; already their output ,shrieks
durability"
The writer does not wish to imply that all
of the outside interest on the part Of the
fashionable is traceable to poverty Never
theess these are not wild surmises Not a
few people of established position are put
to II for actual shillings and pence for to-
day and tomorrow. II is known that many
OF them are at their wits end. And this
number Is increasing.
The revelation of this actual tragedy of
the poor rich has come suddenly. Says
somebody. 1t is far more complicated to
deal with the rich and needy than with the
poor and needy. This is true. The half
starved poor whom we have always with us
demand material aid and we can give them
a meal, but a bouquet of flowers is about
all that her friends could appropriately offer
a dying duchess.
All sorts of assistance is under way for
these unfortunate gentlefolk but much of
1t Is as yet Intellectual because of pride.
Many of the most needy are just over the
age when employment is possible. 1t is true
money is offered on security for the purpose
of qualifying, but how many women of SO
and over can successfully attack a new oc-
cupation? The small advertisements have
become indeed agony columns" The de-
mand for assistants usually includes the
years between "25 to 30" The words excel
lent opening occurs" have given a thrill OF
expectation to many who have read ON only