The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-05-31
THE HANDSOME HAPPY.
WHO IND WHAT SHE rs, and HOW
SIZE PLIES her VOCATION.
"The UhIan OF Society.
tErou the Saturday Review

Lie l1dtlIsOuO - sAS S'
ETY.. She is as pitiless in her eHaclions as hel
renowned Prussian analogue. Her victim !;
not q French commune, but a wealthy adorer
and her booty not barn-door fowls and cigars
but dress, dinners anu diamonds. she can not
appeal to the rights Of war in excuse Tor mel
rapaclty, Tor her victim Is her own familiar
friend; but at least she can plead the cRstom Of
The d%efni-7nonde, whose greed she initiates. Fol
som tine the Harpies within the Pale have
envied the good fortune OF the Harpies out
side it. They have seen. With growing dis
content, a variety OF gooo shinSs liing. lnIo
the laps Of their rivals, and have 1retted at the
,crlpie which debarred them from proftinS by
il in their turn. Why shonld Anonyma alone
enact The part OF the modern Dame, and they
be excluded by o stupid etiquette from a share
in the Golden shower? At last their impatlence
has eliminated in a bold resolution 10 be bound
by no such restraints in future. Ihey nave
proclaimed the natural right oil fascinating Wo-
man TO live by her destinations. The result Is
that q new and formidable danger has begun
TO be added to the many which environ our
pilded youth. What the Circe OF Wapp ng.is
10 The Ingenious Jack ashore, that the Hand:
some Harry is 10 the Eldest Son. He Is lured
10 her side, and then pillaged. Lord Chester
field never foresaw the day, OF he would have
given. his son very different counsel, when a
FILTRATION WITH A woMA OF FASHION /.
would become one of the most ruinous luxu-
| ries in which a young man of fortune could
indulge. 1t is during the London season that
are then at their height. Ascot, EPSON,
Greenwich, Richmond, each is in turn the
scene OF them. Sometimes, to press less
heavily on . slngle adorer, The Handsome
| Harry apportions the expense of her small
pleasures among a whole circle. One luai
provides her opera box: another her riding
horses; upon the third is devolyed the costly
IL - q o-Io ~ har poillipD r,s hill. Whi1p "A
fourth loads the tables OF her pretty salon Win
china and vertu. Then, when the season Is
| over, glutteQ with spells, she TAPS her wings
and lakes TO fight, 10 pluck some especially
plump pigeon, leather by feather. without
| fear OF interruption, on the coasts OF Norway,
or 10 forage III Scottish castles in qnest OF new
prev. In October the Handsome Harpies be-
niu TO reappear In London hungrier than ever.
You may see them on their perches at the
| theatres, pluming themselves on their autumn
nal exploits, and; With fresh lustre IN tnelr
cruel eyes, preparing TO flesh their taions on q
| new assortment Of spoonies.
! But who aud what is a Handsome Harpy!
Simply young matron VINO has mistaken ner
vocation. Had she remained single, or mar
| ried under O happier star, the predatory in.
| siinct in her bosom would never have attained
| such alarming proportions. In the one case 1t
might have been subdued by the conjugel and
maternal instincts, and In the other 1t Wouic
probably never have exceeded The bounds Of
that petty p~iIfering which is eXcusaole IN an
| old maid. AS 1t Is, marriage has eXasperated
her acquisiliveness. She regards IL as a state
OF life allowed in Scripture which lends Itself
| conveniently 20 practices, which, 10 say The
least, are not exactly Scriplural. To her, home
| and its endearmenlS are as a tale tolQ o. an
idiot. No'vision of children lisping their sires
| return, or pleading Tor morn!A:. bounties from
| o mothers hand, dlsturbs the even tenor OF
I,,r ,oaroannru r,pStnuo All the nn1fnS. me-
iaphorical as well as confectionery. are strlclly
reserved for herself. Her husband is a dunn
my; her children are Invisible. Linked Tor
life 10
a TORPID F2IBBLE,
with the tastes OF q m.lliner and the soul Of a
city alderman, she must amuse herself ABROAD
or die of enuui. From a distraction flirting
has become her business. Once there was Il
dash in her flirtations. There was u time when
she figured as tue barrack beauty oil q garrison
| town, and gave free pay 10 that weakness lor
| the military which the Grand Duchess OF &c
| ~rolstein so Gandidly arows. Even In that early
| stage Of her married life The tongues OF local
sossips We're set wagging by The freedom win
which she raced about the country with e
posse of young ensigns. Having graduated
| will! so much distinction in This local schooi OF
| Cupid, she boldly resolved Ioenlarge the tor-
lion of her gauaairies, and enter The lists Will
! the lriskieSi of risky matrons. In LONDON me
buXom charms which the young enslgns found
| 50 irresistible have been toned down TO SATISFY
| the more critical eye Of iaslldlous guards
men and self.complacent handles. A more
delicate pink sufuses her cheek: o new and
golden CLEAN plays over her tresses. TINS
| singular development OF beauty entails a
| corresponding development OF wealth. but
Dummy's income is limited. II he is capa,
BILE oil feeling a dislike. it Is the dislike OF
| paying his Wile's bills. Pinched for means
Ito crafty her unbridied extravaganza, cur
heroine has been forced to join The ranks OF
| Lhe Associated Harpies. Henceforward fir
la,iou has become selt-supporting,. not 10 say
| lucrative. He who fIrts must pay. She
| smiles Tor consideration, and Is captivating
for value received. There is a graduated
tariff Tor tokens OF her regard, from u passing
d~aliiance 10 a
CONFIDENTIAL INTERVIEW.
Sentiment, even slch sentiment as the
rowdy young ensigns inspired, has long since
dropped out oil the TRANSACTION. 1t IS simply
an affair Of the market. Bnt 1t is managed
with due regard ~ the preJudice5 o. society.
The same sort Of machinery that crops up III
Il corrupt borough is Called into operation.
is il u diamond star fo- her hair That she Gov
els Her Imam in The moon" possesses un-
| limited credit at the fashionable jewellers.
A %tlfLy-guinea dress! The IMAM IN the
NOON Is equal 10 the occasion, amt the deit
fingers OIL ll6 GI.eEU vi luiliiuelS atC SSS'u
motion 10 crafty her wish. II is even
rumored that for the rent oil The fashionable
mansion in which she weaYes her web lor
wealthy noodles, she is beholden 10 the same
mysterious. but benevolent agency. Inus sne
has solved The difficult problem OF living al
the rate OF ten thousand j year on an income
of one, without landing her husband ID bank
ruptcy, or even wolnding his susceptioilitles.
But the spectacle OF q married woman. dress
Ell, bpdeckeL, amused. and even housed by the
DISTINGUISHED generosity OF q circ'e OF conlrl,
butorv adorers, is one ii the c r1oslties OF
ADVANCED civilization. which. from our grand.
mothers point OF view, may fairly be reckened
Win the 1naryels of electricity and steam.
Even more astonishing to our grandfuthers,
with their str!cter notions Of honor and pune.
tito, would be the sleel. cyaicism displayed by
the partners and accUlnplices OF these TALL
reuuisilionisls. II j: alleged By some Of Oui
foreign critics, that EGgiishmen IN the lowe!
Glasses are in the habit vi putting up thelr
wives TO auction. III fashionable society The
practice OF utilizing them Is more Ingenious
They are usetl Us decoys iOr rich Simpletons,
The matrimonial Gallo Is satisfied With Il nom
mai dignity as master Of his cwn household
Bills and Invitations run in his name, but the
uur:en Of his wiie's maintenance IN luxury
and OF her personal adUrDneLt is shared
among his very good friends aud cronles, lei
aGurers. IL may be true thai our ancestors
did not take a more elevated view OF the con
iusal tie than the husband OF to-day. Matrl
uuuuial tiallios have existed il all ages OF the
world. Blu q husband who efl;.ceS himself
lilat
MS WIFE A PLAY ii .AckAL
,,O ttnT0nt