The Washington times., 1921-11-20
j, Once I
|lfderbilts
MS

accent and the manner Of kissing
ladys hand may flourish as. count or
: baron or duke or prince. They have
no. knowledge Of the Almanac dc
Gotha or of the ways of the real nobil.
itys, He who dances best Il the best
count" and he who makes secret
love with the greatest degree OF fer.
vency is most certainly the greatest
baron" That the majority Of these
impostors were once walters, or at best
household employees, like myself, never
occurs to these fair worshipers, to
whom fattery is the essence OF their
enjoyments and to whom the acquaint.
ance of nobleman is q splendid asset.
Many rather amusing situations
have come about, even in the "best
families" as the result of this Ameri.
can way of putting credence in boast.
ed claims to titles and foreign palaces.
shall tell later on of beautiful debu-
tante, daughter of one Of the proudest
of New York's millionaires, whose
engagement to q baron created quite
furore in society in New York, New.
port and other social centres. Sud
denly the engagement was broken,
thus causing another busy wagging Of
tongues and much speculation, and the
young lady went into retirement for
a season-to happily marry afterward
a plain American citizen. The "baron
went his, way, unexposed, but dis
tressing rumors were maryland true.
These "titled gentlemen, or the
most of them, lead precarious exist
ence. Occasionally jewel or loan
comes their way from some susceptible
fair admirer, and this pays for the
humble hall bedroom which usually is
their domicile. They are dinner guests
frequently, and thus maintain their
weIi.fed look. Their tailors and their
haberdashers are not always 80 fort
fatal error, as q rule, that they do not
a bulwark behind them; attach themi
bit or an Aston, and then scrupulor
pose and their prosperity in the prese
sponsors-depending upon smaller Il
nance.
- As I said above, Mrs. Hayne, as the
attracted scores of these poseurs abo
Her recognition was sort of password
, doubted the genuineness of Alma q pre-
open house for them, at my suggestion
her sort Of atmosphere, and gave her
manners. Also they gave her reason f
upon the open purse Of Banker Hardy
"a He met them all, and patronixed Il
enough to be somewhat doubtful Of tn
the impostors.
aldo" But" persisted Alma, Zone never
o friend at court, you know. Now, tn
: So. He is a silly creature, grant yol
family in Vienna is very powerful. 7
of; that ia true, and he is penniless, b
(, family-his relatives. They would
they, discovered after my return to
,sligbted him. Butt l favor him NO
necessary to discharge the obligation
OF theirs. So l really would like to
thousand dollars he needs-it will be !
est in influence from his family when
lido, Won't you loan it to me, dear,
Fa OF course, Banker Hardy wrote an
other five thousand dollars. The COT
mo family in Vienna had no influence
friend in need--in fact, had not e.
Alma for the $1,000 she mentioned.
be received in such magnificent conn
him to maintain his own bogus clail
occasional dinner. It was all . prete
I'VE divided the Ave thousand. Othe
Iaarons seemed always to need loans,
Hardy agreed-withou ever thinking
labeut it later. So we made those il
advantage.
los began early to teach Alma to be
had natural liking for horses, and &C
Ia coach and four with ease and dasl
driving brought her into contact wi
Paul Sorg, the New York multi-millit
t-~n6 ,p<ornotod IN hnr A. the n ahi