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Story
May 14, 1908
Bisbee Daily Review
Bisbee, Cochise County, Arizona
What is this article about?
Andre Tardieu, French journalist, critiques New York's elite '400' for haughty pretensions and contrasts it with Boston's intellectual, family-oriented society, praising American hospitality and noting the lack of a uniform American type, especially among women.
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THE HAUGHTY AIRS OF NEW YORK'S 400
Andrew Tardieu Finds Cohesion of Family in Boston and Ability to Converse,
PARIS, May 13.-New York's "400" highly amused Andre Tardieu, the famous foreign editor of the Temps, with its haughty airs and pretensions.
Writing of his observations in society during his recent visit to the United States, he has this to chronicle about Gotham's smart set:
"The recruiting of this sacred battalion is a curious study. Those who belonged to it a quarter of a century ago still speak patronizingly of the newcomers.
"It is said that strategy to secure a position in it often lasts for years. The embassies are the first point of attack. Then from that base of operations the salons are conquered. Then even when Washington is vanquished New York may still hold out.
"Fashionable life is the hardest of all businesses. Five o'clock teas are greatly esteemed in Washington. One of the most interesting is that of Mrs. Cowles, President Roosevelt's sister, who is most charming in manner.
"The fashionable world in America. as elsewhere. is artificial and conventional. Americans are the most hospitable people in the world. 'American hospitality is not content with external politeness: it seeks to make the guest feel at home.
"The Americans give the impression of being a very young people, who, though sure of their own superiority, are a good deal concerned about the opinion of Europe.
"The longer one lives in the United States the more evident it is that there is no such thing as the American type, especially in regard to the women. The American woman is a European product-that is, in their novels and plays.
"In Puritan. intellectual Boston, more than anywhere else, the women have that cohesion of family which characterizes the French.
They have a certain independence. but not entire liberty of movement. They talk less. They are not so devoted to fashion as are the women of New York and Washington, Their chief originality is intellectual. They can talk to you about politics, the relation of church and state or Paul Bourget's latest novel. They speak French admirably. which is a kind of certificate of distinction. Yet withal they are not blue stockings."
Andrew Tardieu Finds Cohesion of Family in Boston and Ability to Converse,
PARIS, May 13.-New York's "400" highly amused Andre Tardieu, the famous foreign editor of the Temps, with its haughty airs and pretensions.
Writing of his observations in society during his recent visit to the United States, he has this to chronicle about Gotham's smart set:
"The recruiting of this sacred battalion is a curious study. Those who belonged to it a quarter of a century ago still speak patronizingly of the newcomers.
"It is said that strategy to secure a position in it often lasts for years. The embassies are the first point of attack. Then from that base of operations the salons are conquered. Then even when Washington is vanquished New York may still hold out.
"Fashionable life is the hardest of all businesses. Five o'clock teas are greatly esteemed in Washington. One of the most interesting is that of Mrs. Cowles, President Roosevelt's sister, who is most charming in manner.
"The fashionable world in America. as elsewhere. is artificial and conventional. Americans are the most hospitable people in the world. 'American hospitality is not content with external politeness: it seeks to make the guest feel at home.
"The Americans give the impression of being a very young people, who, though sure of their own superiority, are a good deal concerned about the opinion of Europe.
"The longer one lives in the United States the more evident it is that there is no such thing as the American type, especially in regard to the women. The American woman is a European product-that is, in their novels and plays.
"In Puritan. intellectual Boston, more than anywhere else, the women have that cohesion of family which characterizes the French.
They have a certain independence. but not entire liberty of movement. They talk less. They are not so devoted to fashion as are the women of New York and Washington, Their chief originality is intellectual. They can talk to you about politics, the relation of church and state or Paul Bourget's latest novel. They speak French admirably. which is a kind of certificate of distinction. Yet withal they are not blue stockings."
What sub-type of article is it?
Curiosity
Historical Event
What themes does it cover?
Social Manners
What keywords are associated?
New York 400
High Society
Boston Women
American Hospitality
Social Pretensions
Intellectual Conversation
What entities or persons were involved?
Andre Tardieu
Mrs. Cowles
President Roosevelt
Where did it happen?
New York, Boston, Washington
Story Details
Key Persons
Andre Tardieu
Mrs. Cowles
President Roosevelt
Location
New York, Boston, Washington
Event Date
Recent Visit
Story Details
Andre Tardieu observes the pretentious recruitment and social climbing in New York's '400', contrasts it with intellectual Boston women's family cohesion and conversational skills, praises American hospitality, and notes the artificiality of fashionable life and lack of a uniform American type.