The Washington times., 1939-01-18

suited, no doubt, in doing away
with most of the old American
custom of bending the knee to the
British rulers-at a price. But
their efforts have served also to
advertise the possibilities for the
nouveau richie to achieve social
position in London by paying ele-
CANT but purse-poor nobility to
sponsor them.
ENTREE AT A PRICE
British agents for these peer
sses-in-search-of-a-sucker have be-
come so enterprising since all the
publicity was given to this old
English custom that they have
started to write letters to Ameri-
can society reporters, such as this
one, whose names have been con-
nected with stories on the rich and
ritzy.
In glowing terms, the letter
writer's describe the fat commits
sions such American agents can
earn by acting as the link between
wealthy social climbers and their
own impecunious peerage.
They explain that, through
them, persons with money but
no social position can attain great
social prominence by entering the
most exclusive circles in London
society. They meet royalty and
are invited to all the most i'm
portant society functions"
HOW 1T CAN BE DONE
The author of this letter, from
which I have just quoted, went on
at great length to describe the
process.
Arrangements having been
made and the price agreed upon,
the would-be social success is lin
vlted" by well-known peeress,
who is supposed to be famous as
a hostess and member of an old,
titled family, to be a guest at the
old ancestral castle.
The peeresS will then hold re-
ceptlons in the guests" honor
and introduce him or her as an
old personal friend. In turn the
guest is invited to all the events
OF the season by the members of
the peereSs' exclusive circle. The
visitor, to all appearances, is one
OF Lady So-and-so's intimates.
Added bait is held out in the
offer to the effect that if the Wis
ltorS have sons or daughters, they
can meet, and perhaps marry, into
the most eligible London families.
It's wonderful, if it works. About
the only social prizes which are
not offered are the privileges of
oelng presented at court.
LODGE IN ON PLOT
The first blow at this sort of
social racketeering was struck last
spring by Ambassador Kennedy
When he announced that the
american embassy would sponsor
lor court curtsies only those
Americans who make their home
IN Great Britain or who had bona
lloe business or family connec.
tlons in the United Kingdom, Joe
ana Senator Henry Cabot Lodge
Jr., cooked up the whole pIot
against social climbers together
shortly afterward, it was indi.
Gated King George vi and Queen
Eilzaoeth would like to reform the
whole business of paid presenta.
ions. Acting on the rulers in.
structlons, the Earl of Clarendon
lord chamberlain at Buckingham
Palace, notified some of the more
conspicuous sponsors" that their
presence at further court func
tlons will not be required" II
was like mailing up a "Peddlers
not allowed" sign on Buckingham
Palaces front door.
MANY OUT IN COLD
Apparently. however, the vari
GUS edicts are having about as
much effect as the eighteenth
amendment did on American
drinking habits. Numerous Brit
lshers are determined to bootlee
social position to Amer C am
thirsty for a taste of London high
lie. And If they can't get custom
ers through the usual procedure
they'd just as soon solicit busines:
on this side of the water, insteac
OF through the usual channels al
home.
Anyone so daft as to be willing
to lay out good cash for a noe
from the right duchess is apt to bt
badly fooled, even after he or sht
has laid money on the line. Mum
bers Of those offering to make tn
necessary introductions wouldn'
know a peereSs if they STUMBLED
over one outside the palace gates
a. investigation by this reporte
has discovered.
One such, when checked up b,
a London correspondent, revealeI
almost complete ignorance o
smart London and, except for
few clippings about London sc
ciety, was no closer to social May