The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-07-19
BRITISH MORALITY.
French, English and American Morals
COnrrasfAd


ConSrssted.
From Lucy R0oper's Letter to 81. Louis Post
Dispatch
There has always been prevalent con-
viction that higher standard of morality
is common in the higher classes Of British
society than is t. be found In corresponding
circles in continental Europe. This is alto
gether mistake. In the early DAYS of
queen NlcsOrta's reign, when the court was
presided over by a young woman OF the
severest virtue, matters were very different.
Inc solled dove existed then as now, and as
they always will exist, but not in large num-
bers, and they are not permitted to fiutter
their suliled 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. can mention,
for instance, a beautiful and titled English
woman, one OF the recognized leaders of
London society, who is the mother Of a
child that cannot be accounted for by any
complication of her conjugal arrangements.
et her social position remains unquestioned
and unassailable. There is another we'll
known woman Of high rank whose intrigues
have been numberless and fragrant and who
Is socially none the worse for her countless
escapades. But it is of no use multiplying
instances, for the list might be extended
indefinitely. Oily, if any one who knew
the inside history of the English nobility
were to go carefully through that ponder
Gus volume, the British peerage, annotating
the pages as he read, the result would fur
nish some remarkably spicy reading.
The comparative and praisaworthy purity
or English morals, as contrasted with those
OF the French, lies In the outward cleanli-
ness OF their literature and art The novels
and plays, the prints and the photographs
and the columns Of the daily papers are
wholly free from indecorousness, unless
indeed the details of some peculiarly sensa-
tlonal divorce case disfgures the latter.
For your British moralist does not disdain
to write very nasty things, if only they be
true, on such occasions. The publication,
for instance, Of the Colon-Campbell divorce
suit would have been as impossible for the
French papers as would that of Zola's novel,
La Terre," in an unmodified 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, If on her introduction to society she
hnds herself face to face with the vice itself,
arrayed in velvet and diamonds and smiled
upon by all that is most exclusive and
severe. A dozen immoral novels and a
score of improper pictures would hardly do
that typical personage's principles half as
much harm as does the spectacle of
female sinner courted aud caressed in fash
ionable society by Just the very individuals
whose notice is o1sidered best worth having
American society is far more particuler
in this respect and long may it remain 30.
But the power of the reigning Anglomania
is very great and under its Influence some
strange things have already happened
That handsome ex-mistress of the Prince
of Wales did not meet with a rapturous
reception in New York society few years
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 accepta-
ton and lordly entertainment in our prin-
cipal American cities. May these instances
of the past teach our people lesson for the
future.