The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1890-10-16
SOCIETY IN ENGLAND. J
The Standard OF Morality Among the
Upper Classes Rather Low.


rs Lucy Hooper in u 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.
ISL society than is to be found in cor
responding circles in continental Eu-
rope. This is altogether mistake.
In the early days Of Queen Victoria,
reign, when the court was presided
over by \ young woman Of the SCI
verest virtue, matters were very diff
ferent. The soiled doves existed then
as now, and as they always will exist,
but not in large numbers. and they
were rot permitted to 1lutter their sui
lied wings in the guarded precincts
where royalty sat in state. We OF
they or somebody have changed all
this. Rank and fashion can do as
they like. can mention. for instance,
beautiful and titled Englishwoman,
one of the recognized leaders of Lon-
don society, who is the mother of
child that can not we'll be accounted
for by any complication OF her conjugaI
arrangements. Yet her social position
remains unquestioned aud unassaila-
/
woman of high rank whose intrigues
have been numberless and fragrant,
and who is socially none the worse for
her countless sscapades. 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,
go carefully through that ponderous
volume, the British peerage, amounting
the pages rs he read. the result would
furnish some remarkably spicy read
ing.
The comparative and praiseworth,
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
umns Of the daily papers are wholly
Tree from righteousness, unless in
deed the details of some peculiarly
sensational divorce case disigures the
latter. For your British moralist does
not disdain to write very nasty things,
If only they he true,on such occasions
The publication, for instance, of the
ColinCampbell divorce suit would
have been rs impossible for the French
papers as would that Of Zola's novel
LA Terre,' in an unmodtied form.
for the English ones. But what is the
use of keeping the British Young
person strictly secluded from all sight
and knowledge of vice. it, on her in
PRODUCTION to society, she finds herself
face to face with vice itself, arrayed 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 princi--
pies half as much harm as does the
spectacle OF fair female sinner, court
ed and caressed 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 may it
remain so. But the power of the An
glo-n1ania is very great, and under it's
influence, some strange things have al
ready happened. That handsome.
ex-mistress Of the prince of Wales did
not meet with q rapturous reception.
in New York society few wears ago
was largely due to chance. Still, she
was not received-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, Or else the heroes of the most
, hideous of European scandals, have
found great social acceptation and
; lordly entertainment in our principals
American cities. May these instances
, prove isolated ones. and may the ex-
perience of the past teach our people
, lesson for the future.