The New York herald., 1879-11-02

ing may be said to slightly character that is
otherwise kindly one. but the lady is at the Same
time very popular. Her husband. Mr.. CORVALLIS
West. of Ruthin Castle. is Q well known country
gentleman. and Lord Lieutenant of Denbighshire.
1t is not easy to read the libel. if libel i. be,
upon this lady without q smile it is extrava-
gantly absurd. The ingenious writer described her
as having Photographic studios in her garden and
running from one to another in different dress all
day. He said she had silver bath at night. and was
SO devoted to photography that her little dog was
called Collodion. her cat Iodide of Potassium and
her parrot Camera Poll. 1t was further insinuated
that she received commissions the sale OF her
photographs and that she very jealous of Mrs.
Langtry for outdoing her at the cameras. Now. all
this very offensive and it appears that Mr..
CORVALLIS Vests first idea was to so down to the
Office and infict condign chastisement On Mr..
Rosenberg after the valiant fashion OF Mr. Levy
Lawson's attack upon Mr.. Labouchere. Wiser coun-
sels however, prevailed and he has appealed to the
law. How the will end it is impossible to say,
but is equally impossible not to see that there is
good deal of truth underlying this particular libel
PHOTOGRAPHIC BEAUTIES.
The fact is that this for being photographed
which appears to prevail among the fashionable
beauties of the day is by no means creditable TO
them. 1t all very we'll for royalty. for statesmen
popular actors ana actresses 10
for the public takes a legitimate interest in
such people. but the exhibition of photo
graphs which should be simply private prop
crty is offensive to any with the least
degree OF refnment. Copies of lady's
photograph should be confined to her family and
friends and not the property of every cad in the
street who to spend shilling one of them.
And it is quite evident that these photographs are
taken for the express purpose of exhibition. so
various the costumes aud the poses of the stters
while scarcely week passes without some new adj
dition to the ranks Of these queens of the camera
And what Is to be deplored is that the list
headed by the names of ladies in the highest
position in society. upon whom ought to be able
to rely to set q good example, Here. selected at
random. are some of these private herones of the
Photographic studio. whose portraits are every
shop window in London just now:-The Coun-
tess of Dudley. the Countess of Lonsdae.
Mrs. CORVALLIS West. Mrs. Langtry, Mrs. Wheeler.
Mrs. Arthur Beere, Mrs. Price, Miss Sheridan and
the Misses Graham the worst offenders. and.
their Ekenesses appear side by side with those of
women Of notcrously bad character, it is hardly to
be wondered at that such exhibitions cause great
deal of tittlc-tartle and scandal.
MERE QUESTION COPYRIGHT.
Mr. CORVALLIS West said, pathetically. at the pre-
liminary examination of Rosenberg before the
magistrate, that he had taken every possible means
stop the sale Of his wifes photographs but that
sheer twaddle for he has nothing to do but avail
himself Of the express provisions Of the Copyright
act. or. the other hand surely the lady
exist for q few months without facing a camera.
This, Of course, is only part Of that mad craze
tor notorety at all hazards which distinguishes
us nowadays; but it is the less
q very unhealthy symptom Of the decadence
of our domestic life. II there thing upon
which an Englshman used to pride himself it was
that his home was sacred-his home was his castle,
the old saying but what we to say to this
exhibition of the portrait Of its chief divinity to he
the delight of other homes than the rightful
owners. "Oh, that those lips had language" said
Cowper, apostrophsing the portrait of his mother.
and If that respectable and highly descended lady
could have spoken she would probably have con-
fessed only to . modest admiration of her sons
poems But If the lips Of one Of the be-photo-
graphed beauties Of the period had language they
would tell that the lady was fully conscious of
her own charms. that she had been taken in se-
ductive an attitude possible, and If that wasn't
fetching enough ito use the slang of the day.
she would try what different attitude would do
another time would perhaps be unkind to hint that
the husbands OF these much advertised ladies like
Sertorius in Juvenals Sixth Satire, and 'Iove the
beauty not the wife, but assuredly this fashion Of
being photographed is strenuously to be deprecated
The press has already taken the matter up and it is
be hoped that the leaders Of society will combine
to vote it "bad FORM" and thus extingush it for
ever. "Allow much Of your person Sir
Godfrey can help me to-" says Pope in letter to
Lady Mary wortley Montagu with reference to her
picture by Kneller. and that remark somewhat
coarsey and yet tersey expresses what the husband
of the period helps the vugarian to when he allows
the promiscuous sale Of his wifes portrait In the
.hop ~iudowa ~ he nh hoto0raphera.