St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-11-23
GENTILITY IN SIN.

Perhaps the most dangerous character in
Testing society is the SNOWY mercenary,
wholly INSCRIPTIONS and marrying adven-
turer, whose wiles lure women to the loss of
their money when they have enough to be
mpting, and to the miserable experiences
of such unions ending in disgIaceful ex-
posure and retributive helplessness when the
worst befals the woman. Newspapers chron-
icle these lamentable cases from time 10
time, Just as they do the other confidence
games, and it would seem as IL the warning
was sounded often enough for susceptible
people to be at least cautious. But presum-
ably the fate that propels such episodes is
not to be baked of its prey, and, on the
theory that those who are born to be drowned
will not be burned or hanged, ii is quite as
likely that the unfortunates entered
for such grievous matrimonial
blunders, must see them out
IT is the recorded opinion OF the knowing in
such matters that the most adroit and heart
less adventurer, given to any number of
marriages when it suits his turns the bold
Briton and the rakish, unprincipled Celt.
Occasionally an exceptional Frenchman may
be irregular, but he loves his own land too
well TO encounter any involuntary exile, and
its laws hold him taut to his bargains good
and bad. In this country the laxity of the
marriage laws affords so many opportunities
for the designing and depraved that but lit
tie subterfuge is needed for the sensations
that are too much of an old story to stir more
than passing interest.
While public sympathy and practical char
ity are well directed in relieving the dupes
of the adventurer's game they are rather
strained when the victims, like Barkis, sis
wilhn' F" to accept the situation aud condone
the treachery, with the added hope of re-
union when the grim, severing sentence of
the law is fulfilled in the penitentlary.
The New Orleans Times-DsinOcrH prints
version of q recent bigamous episode in st.
Paul, which, in the language of Artemus
Ward, is thrilling enough for yellow covers.
The facts of the case are recent and need no
reorganization, except to reiterate that the
deluding gentleman now serving a sentence
in Saltwater is an Irshman and the lady be-
reaved of him pro ten one of 'high social
rank" erewhile-the daughter of a Commo-
dore and the niece of Major General.
One might suppose that her three mating
experiences, the first ending in a divorce,
the second ending in death, and the third
interrupted by the penitentisry, would prove
effective as instructive agencies, but the
lady with prayerful loyalty to her states
prison bird ''trusts God that We NAV be once
more united" calling him in every refer
ence through this interview with touching
ala
husband totally disregarding the claim of
the wife, and ignoring the fact of any per-
sonal wrong.
This instance may be set down as q speci-
men of the paganism of the upper classes,
the result of cultivated indulgence, and of
profigate customs.
sympathy and charity are not so much
needed here as they are lower down for the
credulous, wronged and forsaken poor crea-
lures, similar to the one sent by the munich
pal judge the other day-not TO the reforma-
tory or workhouse but to the hospital to
undergo with what strength she might the
anguish of motherhood. Without any guiding
knowledge of life, or of the world such unfor-
tunate beings are easily shared and carried
under.
The abiding places of the poor ''are not al
ways porticos of moral philosophy" Often
times when there is no downright instinct to
evil, there is no fixed principle to speak of,
and no trained and inherited resistance to it
either. There are no ''high sociai'' infuen-
ces and considerations hedging them, and
once in the swift current of sin the high wall
separating them from the respectable worldn
is higher than ever. There is no recourse
Death is the only reformer, silencing all
pleas, projects and objections.
They are not apt to be attractive sinners.
Continental travel and relays of husbands
give them no romantic prestige, and refined
sympathy is away above and beyond them.
We hold our noses over these low-down
transgressors and wish they were cleaner,
and perfumed in way TO interest our Chris
tiap regard, in charitable public institutions
or out OF them. But after all the plain unvar-
nished fact is that ''true woman of high
social rank with young babe'' by man
who is another woman's lawful husband is
really not SO deserving of sympathy as the
shiverlng young creature about to become a
mother who stood for sentence before Judge