nd society in
this place is more like European without trying to be, while in New
York they try more, and _aren't_. New York society has an air of its
own, and, I must say, it's a damn fine air, too. Of course, like other
places, it has some frumps, and what Blanche Heton meant by giving me a
letter to a Mrs. Joslyn is more than meets the eye. But we are not
burnt twice by the same flame. The _lady_ gave me in turn a letter to
some one here, and I was so afraid I'd forget and use it by mistake, or
leave it at the woman's door one day when I'd been drinking a good many
whiskeys and sodas and didn't care what I did, that I tore it into bits
and dropped them in an umbrella stand in Mrs. Joslyn's hall five
minutes after she gave it to me. There's no use in running any risks.
And when a woman over here _is_ stupid she's damn stupid. So is she
superlatively fetching when she is charming. And, by Jove! but they
know how to draw the line--all but Mrs. Joslyn.

People over on this side think every Englishman comes over after a
wife, and at first they pretend to be very haughty and independent, and
then if they find out he is not after a wife after all, like your
humble servant, they are quite angry about it.

I hope you're keeping an eye on my dogs for me. Love to Millicent.

Yours,

TED.

Wagner, 1897

_A Letter from Lady Aires to the Countess of Upham, at Homburg_.

BAYREUTH, Aug., 1897.

My dear Rose:

Our stay at Bayreuth is nearly over--the last opera to-morrow; and, to
be frank, I am extremely glad, although of course it has been perfectly
charming. First we heard Parsifal and the Ring; which is four operas,
you know. Why they call them a "Ring" I can't see yet; and I don't like
to ask, it gives the musical people who really know the chance to be so
superior, and they are conceited enough as it is, goodness knows.
Anyone would think it was a disgrace not to have been lullabyed to
sleep when a baby by a symphony orchestra! I'm sure it isn't my fault
if I don't know which is Schumann and which is Schubert; and what's the
difference? (Between you and me I don't care. Of course I adore music,
but it's like a great many other things--you mustn't ask too many
questions!) Well the first day was "Parsifal." It's a _dear_!
Beautiful, perfectly beautiful! I wore my white mulle with my green and
white hat, and if I _do_ say it (and I must, for I'm sure no one else
will say it for me), women are such jealous cats a