Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-20
XIII.-EGzabeth in New York.

~ My those women who have
struggled alone to raise q
child and make a career for
~ themselves, against almost
insurmountable obstacles
can understand the exultation which
flooded my heart that Fall Of 1928.
We were in New York, a mecca
toward which my eyes had been turn.
ed prayerfully since college days. ]
had, entirely without pull" forced
my way from a minor position on a
magazine to the editorship Of one
magazine and the associate editor.
I had a contract which insured f.
nancial security, freedom from the
gnawing dread of poverty. Elizabeth
was 10 years old and in perfect health
she was safely through the ordinary
diseases of childhood and her physical
habits were so deeply rooted that, un-
less accident or some contagious dis.
ease overlook her, perfect health was
pretty sure to be hers for many years
to come. And she was a freshman in
high school, a welcomed pupil in one
of the finest private schools in the
city of New York.
Life seemed very wonderful. New
York was kinder, more thrilling.
more lavish in it's gifts than + had
dreamed it could be. With a glad
sense Of fulf1llment, Elizabeth and I
settled into an apartment in the very
heart of Manhattan, and opened our
doors to friendship. In those years of
wandering there had been little time
for entertaining, though in every city
in which we had lived we left friends
whom we will never forget.
Elizabeth Accepted by Friends.
But now we found ourselves con
stantly meeting clever people, who
seemed TO be glad to spend a good
tentious but comfortable apartment.
Maybe the home-cooked meals were a
lure to certain precariously existing
Greenwich Village artists and writ
erS. but If so. l am glad that I had
taught myself to cook food that they
enjoyed. For they brought riches
with them. in exchange for Italian
spaghetti waffles and broiled steaks.
Elizabeth. having reached the ma
ture age of 10, was permitted to stay
up until 9 o'clock and take her part in
the ceaseless flow of conversation.
indicated very clearly to all new ac-
quaintances that Elizabeth was my
most intimate friend, that I regarded
ilSI a itI SUI, fltL DIS ft CtllIu ~ Dt'
talked down to and patronized. and
Eliza beth's own we'll poised, charming
personality did the rest.
She was accepted as a member of
every circle of new friends with which
my work as a magazine editor brought
me into contact. Her native wit and
her powers of argument were quickly
sharpened so that she became a
worthy antagonist Of any one who
matched verbal swords with her She
was encoura ged to express her opinion
on any subject that came up, and
believe there has been hardly a CON
versational field left entirely unex-
plored in our living room
She did not become forward. "
never monopolized converse ton.
and I may add that with almost
every friend we possess she is more
popular than | am. For she has
more tact than I. more of that gra-
cious diplomacy that greases the
wheels Of social life. She is never
irritable. never loses her temper In
an argument. and never makes an
unkind remark about an absent friend
or acquaintance.
Allowed to Read Everything.
Tier infectious smile. her courtesy,
love of fun are peculiarly her own
nothing that I have forced upon her.
For all of her life she has been, al
lowed to be herself to think for her
self, to do things for herself. Even at
the age of 10 she was as much of a
distinct personality as any mature
person who frequented our apartment
She had been allowed to read any
book she wished from the time she
had taught herself to read. There
was only one exception. When she
was 8 she picked up my copy of eau
tiers "Mademoiselle Du Maupin" and
began to read it. l happened to be at
home at the time, and, while did not
forbid her to read it. l explained that
it would be quite unintelligible. to her
at that age and that she would enjoy
it far more when she was older. She
gave it up without any visible regret
and has not yet read the book. though
il is In plain sight on the bOOkShoiyeS