America’s “Smart Set.”

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLI, Issue 24, 9 December 1908, Page 10

America’s “Smart Set.”

MR'S GEORGE CORNWALLIS WEST ON ‘ SENSELESS FESTIVITIES" Mr< Cornwal!i< West has an article it* the “New York World,” in which she Bcathingly criticises the New York “smart Bet.” She declares that the eccentricities of these people are due to <: a desire to attract attention as a means of getting into the Lc't society by a di-play of wealth.” She al-D: — ‘ The empty live-, and ostentatious, not to say vulgar, entertainments of certain ivould Be f i-diioriable women are natur* Silly condemned by fill sensible and rightthinking people. The glorified detailed *< (-counts of -ome -of (hose senseless festivities have brought blu-hes to the cheeks of thei* compatriot# abroad, who have been iu«*t< ile>-.ly chaffed on the strange doing* of their country people/* Mr*, (omualli* West says that in England individual merit is more appreciate! in the mo-t exclusive circles than rank or fortune, and that the English society w< man h «■» an advantage over hoi American' oiisin in mixisg in politics, thus giving h<T an additional outlet for tier energies. She e r pre —•- the belief that (he fnuitak*< g.-rne American w*i*ty women are m iking will f*-»ou Jx eliminated by their own good scum- and intelligence.