The Wahpeton times., 1890-10-23
SOCIETY III ! lll ENGLAND.
The Standard of Morality Among sha
Upper Classes Rather Low.

Lucy Hooper III II London letter to
the st. Louis Post Dispatch says: There
has always been prevalent a conviction
that higher standard of morality is
common in the higher classes of Brit
ish society than is to be found in cor
responding circles in continental Eu.
rope. This is altogether u mistake,
In the carly days of Queen Victoria's
reign, when the court was presided
over ny young woman of the Sc
vefest virtue, matters were very diff
fcrent., The soiled doves existed then
rs now, and us they always will exist,
but not in large numbers. and they
were rot permitted to ilutter their sui
lied wings in the guarded precincts
where royalty sat in state. We or
they or somebody have changed all
this. Rank and fashion can do as
they like. l can mention, for instance
beautiful and titled Englishwoman,
Que OF the recognized leaders of Lon.
don society, who is the mother of a
child that can not we'll be accounted
for by any complication of her coniuyal
arrangements. Yet her social position
remains unquestioncl and unassaila-
ble. There is another well-known
woman of high rank whose intriwucs
have been numberlcss and fragrant,
and who is socially none the worse for
her countless cscapatlcs. But it is of
no use multiplying instances. for the
list might be extended indefinitely.
Only if any one who knew the inside
history of the English nobility were to
60 carefully throagh that pondcrous
volume, the British pccra~c, ,anuoin,ins
the pages as he read. the result would
furnish some remarkably spicy read
ing.
The comparative and praiseworthv
purity OF English morals. as contrast.
ed with those of the French, lies in the
outward cleanliness of their literature
and art. The novels and PLAYS, the
prints and photographs. and the COL
,.inns of the daily papers are wholly
free from indecorousncss, unless in
deed the details of some peculiarly
sensational divorce case disiigures the
latter. For your British moralist does
not distlain to write very nasty things,
if only they bc truc,on such occasions.
The publication. for instance, OF the
Colin-Campbell divorce suit would
have been as impossible for the French
papers as would that of Zolas novel
LA Terre." in an unmodilicd form,
for the English ones. But what is the
use of Keeping the British Young
person strictly secluded from ali siwlG
and knowledge Of vice. if, on her in
PRODUCTION to society. she finds herself
face to face with vice itself, arraycd in
velvet and diamonds, and smiled upon
by all that is most exclusive and Sc
we're. A dozen immoral novels and a
score Of improper pictures would hard
ly do that typical personage's princ-
pies half as much harm as does the
spectacle Of 4 fair female sinner, court.
cd and caresscd in fashionable society
by just the very individuals whose no.
tice is considered best worth having.
American society is far more partic-
ular in this respect. and long NAV it
remain so. But the power OF the An.
glo-mania is very great, and under its
influence some strange things have al
ready happened. That handsome
ex-mistress OF the prince of Wales did
not meet with Il rapturous reception
IN New York society few years ago
WAS largely due to chance. Still, she
was not reccivcd-to the credit of our
American hosteSses be it said. But
British peers, travelling with the wives
of other men and leaving their own at
home. OF else the heroes of the most
hideous of European scandals, have
found great social acccptation anc;
Iorlly entertainment in our principal
American cities. May these Instances
prove isolated ones, and may the cx.
pcriencc of the past teach our people
lesson for the future.