Ladies Must Live

Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality, New Age, History, Fiction & Literature
Cover of the book Ladies Must Live by Alice Duer Miller, Library of Alexandria
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Alice Duer Miller ISBN: 9781465592583
Publisher: Library of Alexandria Publication: March 8, 2015
Imprint: Language: English
Author: Alice Duer Miller
ISBN: 9781465592583
Publisher: Library of Alexandria
Publication: March 8, 2015
Imprint:
Language: English
Mrs. Ussher was having a small house party in the country over New Year's Day. This is equivalent to saying that the half dozen most fashionable people in New York were out of town. Certain human beings are admitted to have a genius for discrimination in such matters as objects of art, pigs or stocks. Mrs. Ussher had this same instinct in regard to fashion, especially where fashions in people were concerned. She turned toward hidden social availability very much as the douser's hazel wand turns toward the hidden spring. When she crossed the room to speak to some woman after dinner, whatever that woman's social position might formerly have been, you could be sure that at present she was on the upward wing. When Mrs. Ussher discovered extraordinary qualities of mind and sympathy in some hitherto impossible man, you might be certain it was time to begin to book him in advance. Not that Mrs. Ussher was a kingmaker; she herself had no more power over the situation than the barometer has over the weather. She merely was able to foretell; she had the sense of approaching social success. She was unaware of her own powers, and really supposed that her sudden and usually ephemeral friendships were based on mutual attraction. The fact that for years her friends had been the small group of the momentarily fashionable required, in her eyes, no explanation. So simple was her creed that she believed people were fashionable for the same reason that they were her friends, because "they were so nice." During the short period of their existence, Mrs. Ussher gave to these friendships the utmost loyalty and devotion. She agonized over the financial, domestic and romantic troubles of her friends; she sat up till the small hours, talking to them like a schoolgirl; during the height of their careers she organized plots for their assistance; and even when their stars were plainly on the decline, she would often ask them to lunch, if she happened to be alone. Many people, we know, are prone to make friends with the rich and great. Mrs. Ussher's genius consisted in having made friends with them before they were either. When you hurried to her with some account of a newly discovered treasure—a beauty or a conversable young man—she would always say: "Oh, yes, I crossed with her two years ago," or "Isn't he a dear?—he was once in Jack's office." The strange thing was these statements were always true; the subjects of them confessed with tears that "dear Mrs. Ussher" or "darling Laura" was the kindest friend they had ever had.
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Mrs. Ussher was having a small house party in the country over New Year's Day. This is equivalent to saying that the half dozen most fashionable people in New York were out of town. Certain human beings are admitted to have a genius for discrimination in such matters as objects of art, pigs or stocks. Mrs. Ussher had this same instinct in regard to fashion, especially where fashions in people were concerned. She turned toward hidden social availability very much as the douser's hazel wand turns toward the hidden spring. When she crossed the room to speak to some woman after dinner, whatever that woman's social position might formerly have been, you could be sure that at present she was on the upward wing. When Mrs. Ussher discovered extraordinary qualities of mind and sympathy in some hitherto impossible man, you might be certain it was time to begin to book him in advance. Not that Mrs. Ussher was a kingmaker; she herself had no more power over the situation than the barometer has over the weather. She merely was able to foretell; she had the sense of approaching social success. She was unaware of her own powers, and really supposed that her sudden and usually ephemeral friendships were based on mutual attraction. The fact that for years her friends had been the small group of the momentarily fashionable required, in her eyes, no explanation. So simple was her creed that she believed people were fashionable for the same reason that they were her friends, because "they were so nice." During the short period of their existence, Mrs. Ussher gave to these friendships the utmost loyalty and devotion. She agonized over the financial, domestic and romantic troubles of her friends; she sat up till the small hours, talking to them like a schoolgirl; during the height of their careers she organized plots for their assistance; and even when their stars were plainly on the decline, she would often ask them to lunch, if she happened to be alone. Many people, we know, are prone to make friends with the rich and great. Mrs. Ussher's genius consisted in having made friends with them before they were either. When you hurried to her with some account of a newly discovered treasure—a beauty or a conversable young man—she would always say: "Oh, yes, I crossed with her two years ago," or "Isn't he a dear?—he was once in Jack's office." The strange thing was these statements were always true; the subjects of them confessed with tears that "dear Mrs. Ussher" or "darling Laura" was the kindest friend they had ever had.

More books from Library of Alexandria

Cover of the book The Corpus Hermeticum by Alice Duer Miller
Cover of the book Histoire de la Nouvelle France: Relation derniere de ce qui s'est passé au voyage du sieur de Poutrincourt en la Nouvelle France depuis 10 mois ença by Alice Duer Miller
Cover of the book Pottery for Artists Craftsmen & Teachers by Alice Duer Miller
Cover of the book Yankee Ships and Yankee Sailors: Tales of 1812 by Alice Duer Miller
Cover of the book The Complete Works of Winston Churchill by Alice Duer Miller
Cover of the book Huxley and Education: Address at the Opening of the College Year, Columbia University, September 28, 1910 by Alice Duer Miller
Cover of the book Dusty Star by Alice Duer Miller
Cover of the book Witty Toasts by Alice Duer Miller
Cover of the book Cicero Letters to Atticus (Complete) by Alice Duer Miller
Cover of the book Polish Fairy Tales by Alice Duer Miller
Cover of the book Deception Explained by the Science of Psychology by Alice Duer Miller
Cover of the book Teresa of Watling Street: A Fantasia on Modern Themes by Alice Duer Miller
Cover of the book The Works of Henry Fielding by Alice Duer Miller
Cover of the book The History and Romance of Crime: Non-Criminal Prisons by Alice Duer Miller
Cover of the book The Heath Hover Mystery by Alice Duer Miller
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy