South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-12-31

Mrs. Fo.rcsque's husband recently
cusslon when ne was barred from 81
napOiis because Of passages appearU
ber OF years ago The excerpts. wide
10 east aspefsIons en American matte
BY "CINTRA."
tThc Hon. Mrs. John Fortesquc.)
LONDON. Dec gO.-!Iy American
visit has been quite the most inter
estiEg experience Of my life and
one that 4 hope ! may often repeat.
Bu IL wa- all too short. There
was 50 much that ] wanted 20 see
and do, and the greater part of my
time had 70 be spent OF necessity
working at the Plaza hotel. Not
that ] could have worked in a more
delightful p.aCo nor among kinder
friends than that hotel staff. but the
intricate business connected with
the running of dress shows natural
IS swallowed up most OF my leisure
time.
Certainly ] had every opportunity
.of studying the American woman
nd from maron TO maid I found
er universally charming As there
are no bounds to American hospi-
tally. so there appears to be no
limit 20 the energy and resources OF
American women They can be
wonderful friends, as / proved every
day OF my visit Ny two hostesses
submitted with smiling faces to
every form OF inconvenience caused
10y sheltering a working dressmaker
under their respective roofs. The
telephone never ceased from trou-
bling and they were literally never
at rest Business men, press inter
vie~ers. 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. / was given every facility to
see anyone / chose and In all my
ways and works / received the en-
enlargement and practical help Of
these patient and interchangeable
friends.
Receptive" and Eager"
The characteristics that struck
me most were the recepuveness, the
adaptabiHty and the eager inteni-
gence Of the American women.
They are not afraid of new ideas
and seem always hungry TO assImi-
late more. and they have very de-
cided views Of their own. They are
keen conversationalists and love the
collision or minds. They are pro-
gressive and do not condemn a
theory because It is new, but i'm
mediately begin TO analyze il and
put il 10 the test They keep open,
alert minds and seem always ready
10 be convinced. II their shrewd
common sense so directs them.
They are not half so slow and eau
tious as we British.
Apparently / am the first prophet
OF individualism i'm dress TO cross
the Atlantic. When I was asked
what the length of the skirt should
be / merely replied. Depends upon
the leg" and to the question
should gowns be sleeveless or
not?" l answered, Depends upon
the arm" Instead of instantly los
ing interest i'm me because 1 refuse
blindIy to follow the dictates of
fashion and insist upon desiging for
the individual and creating clothes
TO suit each type OF woman. your
trine. and your women were only
too ready 10 accept my views-and
my gOwns-with eager interest.
should have perfectly VI 3erst God Il
II America had turned me down"
as 4 crank: for know how d1fffcult
it is to disregard the opinion OF
the JoEsacs" But my gowns and
my views met with sympathy and
appreciation wherever 7 went. This
surprised ne al the more, for after
ATTEND ing various functions and see
ing the models In your leading stOres
realized that. though very gorge
ous and lovely. dress for women in
New York IS. on the whole. very
conventional and rather monoton-
Gus IN style. Everywhere I saw
straight. sleeveless gowns with very
little line or drapety about them
and drapery can be such n help.
especially when one has passed the
glorious debu,ante stage. when
near.y all things are possible.
Delicious DCbutantcs.
And how delicious are your de-
butantest / had been led TO expect
that they would be OF rather ath-
let.c build and WIS amazed when
my dressiug-ro0m ut the Plaza was
invaded by a bevy OF dainty sylphs
WITH bobbed heads who came 10 try
ON my various models Ana I can
truthfuIy say that I never enjoyed
seeing my models more than when
they were worn by the beautiful,
youth uf America.