The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-15

arIso lively recrimnations. all OF which tho
papers on both sides profit by. or course,
everybody condemns the social weeklies' out
overvbodv reads them nevertheless. and Just in
proportion AS they become personal. improper.
and vulgar. does their circulation grow.
That the demand for social scandal must Dc
on the increase may be assumed from the num-
Der OF these periodicals which exist moro OF
los. .uccessfully. The most prominent are the
World. edited by Mr.. T. Yates; Truth, edited by
Mr.. II. Labouchere; Vanity Fair. edited by Mr.
IT Bowles; the Whitehall Rerie'r. I0uchstone.
the Man Of the World the Referee. Mayfair. the
Tyonyo. and the Hornet to say nothing OF other
minor publications. OF these the World has
lately produced sensation by an article called
"Faustinc with tho Foxhounds." in when inc
aristocratlc young lady Of the period Ia described
as towing with the curls OF her groom. aud other
Niso behaving improperly. Truth has been
distinguished by having no fewer than hVe
actions for libel brought against It slmutane-
ously In the first Of these an eastern gcntle-
man. by name Lambri. whom Mr.. Labouchere
accused of being card sharper. won his aston
in the second Mr.. Wybrow Robertson. whom
Mr.. Iabouchere described rs having been dis
missed for dishonesty from the Managing d.
rectorship Of the Aquarium. has been defeated,
and the Jury have found that no was 50
dismissed; two others which are pending
will probably be droppod-one by Miss LlttOn'
an actress and friend Of Mr.. Robertson's' who.
at the instigation OF that gentleman. brought
an action against Truth for crticisng her act
ing; and the other by Mr. Allhusen. who was
also a director Of the Aquarium. The ialuro
OF Mr.. Robertson will most likely discourage
his two friends; but II Is not the same with Mr.
Gay, the correspondent 81 the DAILY Telegraph
who complains that he was lbelled by Truth in
-. nd from tho sent
OF war. In this case the expenses OF
the action will bo betrayed by tho Daily Tele-
graph and the struggle is likely to be severe
and incidentally to rip up questions OF greater
moment than appear on the face OF the proceed
ings This sort Of publicity seems to answer so
well as an advertisement that the Man Of tie
World which is a very obscure sheet. printed a
most abomnabe charge against the brother
Of distinguished duke. and the noble
lord has brought an action against 1t. which,
considering tho prominence OF tho plain
| tin and tho nature OF the accusation
cannot fail to excite attention. Vanity Fair has
taken another and more respectable method Of
| increasing its circulation. Its Christmas num-
Der contains contributions from two dukes
| several countessos. noble lords. and well known
| characters; and II is one OF the most singular
| developments OF tho day that for the sake
| OF seeing themselves in print persons
OF the highest rank. without the small
est claim to literary merit are eager to
contribute to the social weekly" 1t is need
less to say that their contributions would havc
no value to the editor without their names and
that they would not care to contribute anony-
mously. This is not the case. however. where
ladies want 70 vent their venom against each
| other and a social editor has assured me that
all his most pquant bits of scandal IRE fur
l -. q F.g.
| in the highest circles.
Altogether tho social photographic-lt literary
| phase into which tho hdn monde has entered
is not particularly to its credit; and 1t Is sin
cerely TO be hoped that It has reached the ex-
treme stage Of its development