The Washington times., 1922-07-26

conduct toward me, and his utter
subordination to his father, Harry
Payne Whitney, why he did not
strike a responsive chord. He has
no definite character OF his own.
Sonny Whitney is a mental puppet.
There Is no constructive initiative
in him. He was on the crew at Yale
but he could not row. Only his
fathers influence kept him there.
But still. in spite of all this,
fell in love with him. madly. desper-
ately. 1t only goes to show that
first impressions mean nothing. II
is after we really become acquainted
with people that we begin to discover
and admire certain little traits Of
character. sometimes II is an un-
studied tender solicitude. a quality
every woman worships in a man.
Cites His Good Qualities.
And l found good qualities in
Sonny Whitney. latent talent. un-
spoken ambition, even though he
did tell me once that II his father
disinherited him. he thought he
would make a living by becoming
trapper. Sonny has been spoiled
by his fathers money and his
fathers mental domination.
After Sonny was introduced. we
field Frolic girl; "Laddie" Sanford. q
and several others in the party
! went back into the Ritz. Laddie
and Sonny" had a table, on the
balcony. After supper was ordered
Sonny asked me to dance.
Peculiarly, although must
frankly admit II, Sonny's arm about
me In dancing meant nothing to me.
Sonny proudly took me to Mrs.
Vanderbilt's table. 6ne greeted US
smilingly. There was a mischievous
little twinkle at the corners Of her
eyes as she said to me; We'll. at
last he has met you. He has been
/ pestering me for weeks to get up
some charitable affair and ask you
to dance. so that he could be intro
duced to you"
Went Swimming at 8 A. M.
This was the first intimation I had
that the magnificent Ballet Bleu"
was prompted by the whim of a rich
mans son. Some good must come
out Of everything, however, and
| though the affair eventually wrote
tragedy big in the book OF my life,
II was for the benefit of starving
| foreigners, and thus good did come
out Of II for somebody.
We had champagne during supper,
not enough, however, to affect any
member Of the party. sonny" and
"Laddie" suggested we all 90 out to
the country home or Sonny's father,
the Harry Payne Whitney place at
Westbury and swim in the indoor
plunge.
The hour was about o'clock in
the morning.
| In the party were Dorothy Klewer.
show girl; Lieutenant johnson, an
English aviator; Betty Brown and
''Laddie" Sanford.
Got Her First Thrill"
Sonny Whitney drove Ladies'"
automobile, and here is an odd thing:
1t was on that drive that was first
attracted to Sonny, and not for any
emotional reason either.
Never before, and never since,
have ] seen a man who could drive a
car like Sonny. He seemed absolute
master Of II, almost a part of the
motor. He was fearless, cool, and
careful. l sat alongside him in tho
LlOut SCdl dHu NotVu NJ thAS co
hibition of driving skill as we sped
trough the night, passing slow NOV
ls truck wagons en- route to the
ty with their daily supplies of veg
tables, the drivers slouched and doz
ing on their seats, past unlighted
homes, and occasionally past hilari
GUS auto parties returning from dis
tant road houses.
In Beautiful Roman Bath.
had naturally supposed that Son
ny's parents were home. On reach
'ng the Whitney residence at West
Jury, however, I learned that they
were away. I did not hear where.
The swimming pool, l discovered
was an elaborate Roman bath in 6
specially constructed building bach
of the residence. In this buildinl
also is a tennis court.
Apparently IL Is a common custom
to have bathing parties at the Whit
ney home, for Sonny produced suit,
which fitted us all.
We had q very happy time. vii
tell you more about II tomorrow an,
also the first time Sonny Whitne,
kissed me and under circumstance,
which should indicate to any cir
hat these rich mems sons VII
spend unlimited money In pursuit o.
pleasure.