The Feliciana Democrat., 1857-12-26
THE WOODMAN CASE-WOMAN'S
INFATIT ALTON

The dcyelopements of the late Woodman
case in New York, have certainly been OF Il !
character to awaken a feeling of wonder and
surprise throughout the entire country That
Il woman. educated with full sense of what
was most apprcciativc in u lady, surrounded
with all the appurtenances and convenlences
of wealth, should have become SO blinded by
Infatuation and that in behalf Of so unworthy
an object, certainly opens new phase to the
consideration of those who love to study that
yet unwrittcn volume n woman's heat. The
circumstances in brief are as follows:
Mrs Woodman, the regning belle in almost
every circle she visited, and the wife Of an in
nuential and ailcctionatc gentleman in the
South, while in i'll health, in the city of Paris,
becomes acquainted with one Furniss young
man whose only recommendation appears to be
that he dresses elegantly, and places his pants
and boots IN stretcierS overnight. The init.
macy increases, he borrows her money, but
seldom returns it, and thus manages to keep
up appearances and frequent honorable society
Mrs Woodnan is recalled to her home in the
United States; her gallant follows her and
after his arrival continues his claim upon her
purse. Still under his influence, his demands
are aeceded to as far as her means will allow.
/ !
and system of cNtorton is resorted to- in
Which threats arc used, that certain correspon-
dence between the parties will be exposed un
less an increased allowance is granted for the
indulgence Of his pleasures.
Then, and not until then, perhaps, it is that
the infatuated woman perceves her folly, and
discovers into what an ncXtrcablc position
she has placed herself Ruin starring her in
the face from her family, her friends, and So
cicty in general, on the one hand, on the other
a scoundrcl holding her in his power, and de-
manding the sacrifice Of every thing chat
would enable her TO retain her cltSte in til cir
cles to which she was accustomed. lie de-
mands her presence in Boston, New II ork or
elsewhere, and either from love or fear she
foolishly flies to meet him Thus further com
promised, she rlshcs bndly onward until there
is no retreat for her. In the meantime her
husband discovers her folly aud appears most
unexpectedly before her Her name becomes
the scandal Of the Ian, and her error the source
of gossip for an entire city.
Thus ruined in reputation, and utterly help
less in her situation it might have been sup
posed that there would have been sparl; of
pity manifested in the heart of her scduccr.
The case as developed before public tribunal,
discloses no such feeling. Having his victim
exclusively in his power, he pnwns or sells her
} Iijewelry. Chsposes, in q similar manner, Of her
valuable clothing, and then beats her because
she is not able to grant him still more. She
seeks or is placed within Il mad house for
treatment, for "moral insanity" and in few
months, is brought before Court on applica-
!; ton Of her seducer, who, either 10th to give
her up, or else for selfish purposes, wishes to
spread the story of her shame as wide as the
circulation Of journaldom can carry it. The
Judge refuses the writ, and the result is, that
Mrs Woodman returns to her friends, and
Mr.. Furniss succeeds IN establishing a rcputa-
ton Of finished and accomplished scoundrcl.
Now, we do not for an instant suppose that
) the case of Mrs Woodman is one Of any extra
ordinary occurrence, and yet it sufficiently Illus
!, trates how gradually and by degrees tie work
/, of ruin may be accomplished Education or
refinement, so far from being a barrier ap-
pears an accessory of the most important char,
actcr, and the peculiar privileges of t shiona-
bic society affords all the rest. Unconscious
ly it may be, or for the sake Of the excitement
it affords, the Haison, innocent at first, assumes
IA different cast, until at last the weaker party
cannot surrender it, and from the hour Of that
discovery there is no halting on the road; it
is a broad one, and the descent if not prccipi-
tous, will scarcely admit Of delay. II it does,
it is only to start again with greater velocity.
Il How much the victim will suffer will only be
guaged by the extent of her blindness or the
depth in which she has compromised herself,
! but in the end the termination is the same,
ruin arising from ''mora insanity
We say we do not believe that ''moral in
sanity" developing itself in the manner of the
Woodman case, is as rare Il disease as it is
generally considered to be. In every city, at
, every watering place, its counterpart can be
found, but generally in mildcr form, or in the
incpent stages The remedy is sometimes
applied from choice, but oftcner from necessity
The want Of leisure by the one party to pursue
it, has cut short many a "Woodman case,
/, and closed the doors to a curious and prying
!, world as to details that only needed time to
t render them rs sickenng and distressing as
4 those we refer to.
n Ill assorted matches in which unslccpine
r ambition and fattered vanity are mated to-
j gethcr, in which husbands labor for increase
! OF riches, and wives seek pleasure where they
: can find it, all tend to the "moral insanity" OF
ha Wnn1mun Il eI, IL,