The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-12-28
By "CINTRA" (The Hon. Mrs. John Fortesque)
45 hLS y z Hy OJ AAAGO4
 News SerVica

 News Service
 London, Dec. 2s My American visit has been quite the most interest ing experience of my life and one that I hope I may often repeat. But it was all too short. There was so much that l wanted to SC and do, and the greater part of my time had to be spent of necessity working at the Plaza Hotel. Not that I could have worked in a more delightful place nor among kinder friends than the hotel staff; but the intricate business con- nected with the running of dress shows naturally swallowed up most of my leisure time.
 Certainly l had every opportunity of studying the American woman, and from matron to maid found her universally charming. As there are no bounds to American hospitality, so there appears to be no limit to the energy and resource of American women. They can be wonderful friends, as I proved every day of my visit. My two hostesses submitted with smiling faces to every form of inconvenience caused by sheltering a working dressmaker under their re- spective roofs The telephone never ceased from troubling, and they were literally never at rest. Business men, press interviewers, mannequins, etc, came to see me at all hours of the day and night and were received with kind cordiality by the mistress of the house. l was given every facility to see anyone I chose, and in all my ways and works I received the en- couragement and practical help of these patient and indefatigable
 ''Receptive' and Eager"
 The characteristics that struck me most were the receptiveness, the adaptability and the eager intelligence of the American women. They are not afraid Of new ideas and seem always hungry to assimilate more; and they have very decided views of their own. They are keen conversa- tionalists and love the collision of minds. They are progressive and do not condemn a theory because it is new, but imm ediately began to analyze it and put it to the test. They keep open, alert minds and seem always ready to be convinced, if their shrewd common sense so directs them. They are not half so slow and cautious as we British.
 Apparently I am the first prophet of individualism in. dress to cross the Atlantic. When I was asked what the length of the skirt should be I merely replied. Depends upon the gowns be sleeveless or not?S I an swered, Depends upon the arm" In stead of instantly losing interest in me because I refused blindly to follow the dictates of fashion and insist upon designing for the individual and ere ating clothes to suit each type of wom- an, your press instantly preached my doctrine, and your women were only too ready to accept my views-and my gowns-with eager interest. should have perfectly understood it if America had turned me down" as a crank; for I know how difficult it is to disregard the opinion of the Joneses." But my gowns and my views met with sympathy and appre- citation wherever I went. This sur prised me all the more, for after at tending various functions and seeing the models in your leading stores I realized that, though very gorgeous and lovely, dress for women in New York, is, on the whole, very conven- tional and rather monotonous in style. Everywhere I saw straight, sleeveless gowns. with very little line or drap- cry about them-and drapery can be such a help. especially when one has passed the g1orioffR debutante stage when nearly all things are possible
 Delicious Debutantes
 And how delicious are your debu- :antesi had been led to expect that hey would be of rather athletic build md was amazed when my dressing room at the Plaza was invaded by a bevy Of dainty sylphs with bobbed