West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1882-03-31
EnsIl.h society OF The period.

macy OF the upper ten thousand caught a
glimpse OF their own faces, that a genera,
cutlery sounded throughout society,
What was happening? What unscrupu-
lous hand was rudcly destroying the false
art of cant and by pocrisy I Such thlngs
were unheard Of, not TO be mentioned
such unnatural characters were not to be
portrayed the minds of pure English
men and women were not TO be polluted
10y suggestions of incidents having no
Counterpart in TerI life.
Perhaps the indignation was a trlfe
overdonc perhaps those who rallied The
loudest were only those who had quite
lately left of blushing. Anyhow, it was
not uncommon to hear it said: "Have
you read Moths 2" "Ob, no." "OI
course not-no one could, no one does.
Do you think OuidG meant Lord Ny
and Mrs. IL III" Il think $3.50
very hke-quite the thing" 81 knew
whom she meant all through. Shocking,
dreadful woman 3ou.C mo- have the
book in my house" and 80 on. And, un-
less one booked oneself "a month before
hand, Moths was not to be had at the
circulating Libraries, and more copies
we're sold than even of mans" the most
popular OF French novels in England.
Disraeli, it is said, naled With envy be-
cause, although the FIRST volume of EN-
dymion' aso in every hand, the second
and third were never cut.
"Moths" tabooed, moths" censured.
Moths sacrificed by the Saturday Re
view, moths read and and r, nounced, is
now going to be dramatized. AS the le-
gltlmate property o. its author, it was uu-
nj Tor publication as the plumber of the
adapter, It will brave the crude glare of
the t%ootlights, and ali London will flock
to see what all London sDath,metiz,d Us
untrue aud immoral.
One more chapter might be added to the
book, one more scene to- the play. Ouida
might triumph and repeat what she uui-
city affirmed in answer 10 the bitter d.,
nunciati0ns showered ON her ''Such
things are. l pain, from life, and have
not said all l could"
In one of the midland counties is the
seat OF a proud and ancient family. The r
boast is one which has been often made.
Out not always proven-that all their men
are brave and all their women fair. The
reigning lord leads a quiet, dignifed, hon
orsble life; and if he secretly grieyes that
Die countess will never give an he,r TO his
house, he surrounds her with az much re-
spect and courtesy as if this was not the
blt'erest disappointment of his existence.
His mother, a widow before the eafld,m
bad detcended TO her, lie one of those
proud, grand women, born for the purple.
and who lend to their rank more dignity
than they borrow from it. She lie known
far and wide for her charity, her pjeiy.
her numerous deeds Of b~enevolepce.
Churches snd scAOole, poorhouses and
hOiel cottages, testify all over her estate to
the noble use she has made Of her fortune
and Influence. Sister Of the one, daugb.
ter OF the other, born in the midst OF
those high ana eleyatiDg examples, was a
girl 50 fair, so beautiful, that he fame was
spread abroad while che was still IN the
school room at Der country seat.
When she came out she took London bv
storm. Her debut in the world of fash
ion was a triumph. Lady G-astonish .
ed society by her apiomb, her ~self-posses-
SION, her cool contempt, and the audacitV
Of her manner she never glanced At
"detrimeBtsls'-thst is 70 say the inclegi
bles-aDd promptly made her choice. Her
hrsl season 20 d girl was her last, but of
her admirers che selected one. At 10 she
msIried a man Of %, notorious for his
vicCF.
lie drank 10 excess, he gsmbled, he led
a life 50 Wild and 50 dlssolute. tbot even
his tide aud mis- wealth, the imperyious
arnor which English society hardly ever
pierces, could not prevent a thrill Of bor-
ror at such a match. Lady G--wss
warned, threatened, im2lored. dindless
Of her youth ond innocence, II was
thought wiser 70 bare before her the
shameful autecedeats Of her future bps-
b nd. She was deaf alike 10 entreaties
and rccriuinati ns, bent on having her
own Will, and answering on opposition
with Tie CAIN reply 81 will make MIN
Dr mar bIn."
Did spark Of love, q wild dream Of
regeneration, an impossible hope of 10.
claiming the young man bear any part In
her cold determination II is hard 10
say harder still to believe that a deeper
and more questionable motive lurked IN
ihal gnlith bosom. Whatever Lady g.
may have thought or wished, a iev brief
weeks a. marriage forever d.spelleI the
Illusions She might have entertained. The
husosnd pursued bic reckless road 90 ruin.
drinking baroer, gambling more furiously.
sq%u7ndefing an Inheritance on the turt
snd wastIag health. honor, aud The lss,
sbfeds Of bic reputation % profioste our.
suits. The wife, Der mothers darling.
her brothers pride, Che d|lugut,r Of race
OF tails, 5,came. in less time than would
aesn credible, the fastest n al The Lon
don bellies, the most photographed Of the
fasrioasbIe beauties, The most talked OF
anroR the many women whose bsmes are
DO every mouth Down la her own conn
~, among the tenants who uspd 10 won
der 1t hey young ioYelincss. who watched
Dor success With I.s.og eyes che ceased TO
be mentioned az al and many would