The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-01-25
/ T4sDtsry;sls ~ g. a. 4 Sy;nsIr,,. J; 80 !.


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B s. The Honorable Flotence Cowper, II as
the poor woman idsistSd eons i1Hssfibinp
l1efseM hxy been oonfieip ned fo ,nef,S]
asrvitude, for fSa : yaars..s It sounds q
little strange TO add that the offence for
which she was convicted. and sentenced
was that OF stealing two silver spoons.
Her name has been floating about In the
European and American press for some
time, and IL has been associated with
many reports, more or less vague,
touching her aristocratic origin and
many Grimes. Now that the unhappy
creature has reached point at .which
she ls out OFF from even the show of re-.
spectacle position, there is q sad interest
and q wholesome instruction in looking
back at her caroer, aud marking the
fatal steps by which her descent has been
made. 9f.'o ; =
To understand the, extent OF this vo.
mans fall, it is needfuI to know what she
was and what she had been. She was.
during the past few years, one of that
class OF educated female adventurers.
little known here, but common abroad,
who correspond to the male chepaiier
dindustrie Her birth, in spite of the
protraoted efforts OF the London detect.
ives TO ferret out the truth, Ia still
wrapped in mystery. There is no DOS.
sible doubt about the identity Of the
person who. in her childhood, was
Miss Florence Oowper's ostensible father.
He still lives, and is, by occupation, a
florist. When Florence was twelve years
old, however, she was placed, under O
new name, at q fashionable boarding
school. Here che got the gloss or veneer
Of bearing, and the measure OF attain.
ments, of which it is hard to say whe.
iher they we're subsequently most useful
or pernicious to her. In few years
after she married a man OF fortune, the
match being probably brought about
through the influence Of the titled per
son who caused her to be- educated. She
had wealth now and social position.
She was presented at court-a distinction
Of recognized significance, and meaning
more with subject than foreigner.
and apparently had little to do but bask
in tue sun-shine of happiness. But
while thus cherished by prosperity, she
WAS divorced from her husband. The
reason need not here be dweIt upon:
bnt, despite the cloud cast upon her
good name, such s,s her fascination
that she soon fouhN mother rich hus.
band. Tho latter has aince drunk him
self into an insane asylum. While living
with him. Florence acquired tasts for
brandy, which has olung to her ever
since, and to which much of her subse-
auent misery is to be attributed.
Her plunge downward after this was
rapid indeed. A year or two more she
was in an asylum for fallen women. She
came out, and, being hampered by debt,
the trustees of her first husband relieved
her. having been authorized in some
way so to do. Then followed q relapse
to the temporarily abandoned strong
drink. and then long catalogue of in.
genious extortions. Her beauty and
culture were still available. and she used
them unscrupulously to entrap and over.
reach those whom she could get in her
tolls. Among the number were several
weli-known persons, whose dread OF pnb.
llclty, III most cases, kept them quiot.
There were exceptions, and these, by
craft, and once or twice by legal strata.
gem, Florence contrived to battle. Ten
years had gone by at this sort of thing,
and she was going fast down the hill.
As she became less fresh and more brazen
and Incorporate, the woman began to
steal. She first took jewels and watches
from the houses Of her friends. As her
standing even in the demi. monde became
lower, and money more scarce, even the
smallest articles that conid be puwned
were stolen by her. Finally. as we have
seen, she has been tried md sentenced
for the theft of two spoons The pun.
lshment seems harsh for such an uct. but
there wore two other indictments aguiust
her, and there is no question whatever
ot her having perpetrnted many similar
offences. Brandy and unbridIed PTS.
slons have brought tho unfortunate wo.
man to pass shameful 10 her sex, to
her education. and to her social advan.
tages.
Florence Cowper's story is full of sug.
gestive warming. 1t is one Of those
cases that seem to end in calamity with
the certaiuty of mathematical demon.
stration. 1t is. so to speak. symmetrical
in vice-bad going to worse III regular
degrees, 30 that the climax could be pre.
dicted by M experienced observer ut ul.
most any stuge Of her progress As
girl, she was Unsuitable of admiration,
and this led her into that wretclitd habit
Of universal coqnetry, which is us ncura.
Die. md sometimes almost as destructive.
ua the habit of eYraasiva ,lr;,,L ;,,, ;t.oIf