Cost of Society Life.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLII, Issue 2, 13 January 1909, Page 13

Cost of Society Life.

Life in the best American society is a costly a flair, judging from the detailed statement of expenses tiled as indispensably necessary by Mrs. Howard Gould, recently in New York, in her suit against her husband for separation alimony. Mrs. Gould told the court that her wardrobe was detained for her hotel bill, jewellery and other debts. She suggested that the £40.900 per annum allowed by the French courts to the Countess of Casteltane was a reasonable sum. though she was asking only £30.000. in her statement Mrs. Gould said: — “It costs as much to furnish a table for one person as for two ; it costs more in proportion for one person to live than it does two. I have been accustomed to horses, and 1 do not know why I should give them up simply because my husband has unjustifiably left me.” “ It scarcely pays to keep a motor car longer than a year. No dress that any woman of means is apt to wear costs less than £5O. A jewellery bill of £11.400. I submit, cannot l»e called extravagant in the wife of a man with my hu-bamTs great wealth.” In her list of items of monthly expenses she puts down such things as motor ears £2OO. dresses £2OO. hats and veils .£2O. shoes and slippers £lO. fans and parasols £ 10. books and music £2O. and amusements and theares £ 10. The entire list of items make up a tot si monthly expend'dtire of £ 1222. exclusive of travelling expenses and contributions to charities. The husband is willing to allow her £10.(100 a year, but Mrs. Gould says she cannot possibly worry along on such a > ittam e.