The Washington herald., 1921-08-25

We" AoHsAs aus ="
us who are fed to New York from
the country towns have the pro-
| letsriat's tradition of wealth. Dow
ayers registering ill-bred hauteur
with black sequins and with lor-
gnettes. Buffers in powdered wigs
; and plush short pants with silver
buckles. A flock Of polo ponies.
Moated castles along the Hudson
and Palm Beach villas.
Ny first disillus!onment came one
evening when I passed a mansion on
Park avenue. There Is no entrance
from the street save for those who
come in motors and drive into the
little courtyard. imagined the
owner and his wife, dining at the
opposite ends OF twelve-foot table
surrounded by Louis XIV norescence.
A half hour later I saw them
dining at a handicapped table at
a Childs restaurant. The truly rich
can do such things without the lift
| ing of an eyebrow. New York's
| show and pomp come from the so
cial muckers who are trying ruth
lessly to beat down social barriers
and attain the heights.
Headwaiters say that the gilded
| cafes would close IL they depended
upon the real wealth of the town
for patronage. 1t comes from the
new rich and social neophyte. There
is story of a Bronx wife whose
husband made a killing in Wall
Street. After visiting a Fifth ave-
nue. hotel she went home and cut
of her dining room between meals
by a red rope cord.
1t is fact that while many are
! trying to show their Cartier pearls
at Maeterlinck play. the cream of
the social register is shrieking with
joy at Charlie Chaplin. 1t is an old
tale but a true one of a Tammany
politicians wife, suddenly plunged
into wealth. saying: 81 don't believe
in movies for the children. but l am
going TO take my kiddies . see
TIE Dolls House"
Pierpont Morgan does not bowl
uptown at noon to lunch at Del
monico's or Sherry's. When he does
not send out for a sandwich he
lunches in a plain little restaurant
| on Nassau street with one-armed
chairs. The social climber gives
New York its meretricious bril-
liancy. The bulgarian spender i'm
parts to the town it's zle-dazzle.
Whatever may be said Of those born
to wealth. at least they do not make
a show of themselves in spending II.
Ben De Casseres. the former
printer who has become one OF New
Works literary lions. declares that
literary genius is now divided into
two classes-those who write for
the movies and those who write ad-
vertisements. He says: To-day
some OF the best written matter that
Is printed in America introduces a
new shoe. a tooth paste. a new auto
mobile tire. a new alarm clock. or
n rubber heel" II is true that
poets. essayists and short-story
writers are focking into advertis-
from the Mills Hotel to the St.
Regis.
There Is an undercurrent OF in
sistence among New York music
to succeed Caruso at the Metro
politan. There is no disputing that
the foreign born have been given
the preference for years. Frankly.
the idea is that they are greater
drawing cards. which is manifestly
unfair to Americans who support
the opera. OF course. Caruso made
his own place and filled il credit
ably, but he was given his chance
and that chance is denied American
singers in many instances.
When the revenue officers End any
Illegally held whisky II Is amusing
the way New York newspapers list
the find. They speak Of Haig and
Haig. Gordon Gin. and Black and
White with reckless disregard Of
free ADVERTISING" New York edi-
tors have found that people like to
know what brand was confiscated
and they want It named. What
great advertising it would have
been in the days before prohibition,
but row il means nothing.