ABSTRACT
Beatrix was the only child of divorced parents at a time when divorce was a social disgrace. The changed circumstances forced her mother to earn money creatively in ways acceptable to polite society. She became a part-time literary agent for her former sister-in-law Edith Wharton and organized charity projects that people in her social circles supported. As a result, Beatrix grew up with at least two examples of enterprising women who made socially acceptable professional places for themselves. Like all girls of her social circle, Beatrix was tutored at home and received no formal education of any kind. As part of her education, she traveled to Europe with members of her mother's and father's families.
