The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-03-16
What Parisians Think of Our Scandal.


A Paris letter to the st. Louis Globe
says regarding the French view of the
Beecher-Tilton scandal:
1t is remarkable. in the first place, how
Indifferent they are to Beecher's alleged
treachery to the husband, and to his
friend Moulton, except as it bears di-
rectly on the central questionable in
trigue. The strictly moral part of the
matter does not affect them; it is the ro.
mantle, amOrous, dramatic part which
appeals to their sensibilities and imagin-
alton. Their inquiry is, What did Beech
er do2 How did he manage it? How
did Mrs. Tilton deceive her husband so
long? Why did Tilton keep his peace
for years after he had made the discoy-
cry, and then expose the whole AFFAIR."
Their ignorance of the facts is amusing
they rarely succeed in getting facts, for
which, truly, they have great contempt.
Some of them think thai Beecher is the
editor OF the Tribune, and that the Tri-
bune is a religious paper; others, that
Tilton was the adopted son of the
preacher, who had reared him from a.
founding; some, that Mrs. Beecher was
Tiltons tirst wife; and, having been d.
vorced, he married the present Mrs. Til
ton, and Beecher took the divorced
woman; others that the plaintiff and
Beecher's paper carried down Tilton's,
and that Iilton attempted to seduce Mrs.
Beecher in revenge, and failed, and that
Beecher retaliated in kind and sue
ceeded. There is no end to the droll
misconceptions of these people, who can
scarcely be put right, since they behold
everything through French speetacles.
The women here have much more in
terest in the case than the men, and
express their views with a freedom that
is unknown in the United States. L
mean, of course, those who are married,
because the unmarried have no indie
pendence; being perpetually under the
surveillance OF their elders. have had
q number of talks with ladies touching
the scandal, and will give their varied
views.
Nearly all of them believe In the cler-
gyman's guilt. They jump to this con-
clusion without reasoning; for his guilt
is to them the romantic side, and that
side they are determined to see. Be-
sides, intrigues OF the sort are far COM
moner than in your country, and when
they are limited, the hint is generally
held to be well based. The opinion of
society is that, as there are so many un-
discovered infidelities, those that are
rumored must have a good deal of foun-
mored, which is very illogical, yet quite
like the average of reasoning.
The Parisiennes unite almost without
exception in denouncing Mrs. THton-
not because she fell (they seem to ap-
prove of that) but because she confessed
her fall to her husband. They can not
understand why sife should; they say
they never heard Of such thing before;
that she is weak, foolish to wonderful
degree, and acts like woman out of her
senses, Many of them feel confident
that she is and has been tor a long while
insane, since. she was in no danger Of
exposure, had nothing to gain and every
thing to lose. Women in this country
never make voluntary confessions of the
kind, and despise the women who do.
"What would become OF peaceful do
mestic relationsT" exclaimed Nine. -,
the other evening, elf every wife were
to take her husband into confidence of
her gallantries. 1t is madness to think
of itr'
The ladies' who have favored me with
their views are amazed that whole
country should be convulsed over single
intrigue. They can not comprehend it
at all. The affair, they say, is OF interest
to the relatives and friends Of the per-
sons involved; but what business is It of
the entire nation? Hence, they add,
such thing would have been settled
without any ciamor, or thought of re-
course to law. They are puzzled at the
carrying OF the case into court, for they
have always heard that Americans killed
the seducers OF their wives without Civ
ing the seducer any chance to defend
themselves, as in the case of Sickles,
Cole and others.
The English, they assert, bring suit
for damages; the Italians overlook the
otfense; the French send challenges, the
Americans assasSinate. Why, then, was
there not an assassination in this affair?
The question | am unable to answer. In
fact, dozens Of inquiries have been made
of ME that 0ah hot satisfy. ! am COM.
PEELED to admit the case to be peculiar--
often beyond my solution. The women
are amazed at this. They think | should
know all about it, that there is no use OF
being an American unless can nnraveI
all the my steries in the conduct and
crimes Of my cpuhtrvmen.
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