Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1891-05-09

| Irlenu fuDlO encouraged u lTuJoTHul III
lection between us, and now he Is gone
feel 1t more than ever my duty to protect
her, us II were, from herself She Is SC
young and llght-hcarted and thoughtless
that-but you understand me, do you
not?"
bowed. understood him perfectly.
lie wanted no more poachers on the land
he himself had pilfered. Quite right,
from his point of view! But / was tho
lrigEtful owner OF the land after oil, and
II naturally had different opinion OF the
matter. However, / made no remark,
and fegncd to be rather bored by the
turn the conversation was taking. See
ing this, Fcrrari exerted himself to DO
agreeable: no became q gay and enter
tanning companion once more. and after
he had fixed the hour for our visit TO the
Villa Romani the next afternoon. our
talk turned upon various matters con-
nected with Naples and its inhabitants,
and their mode OF life. hazarded
q few remarks on the general
immortality and loose principles that
prevailed among the people. just
to drrw my companion out aud
sound his character more thoroughly
though l thought I knew his opinions
well.
''Pooh, my dear Conte," he exclaimed
with light laugh, as he threw away the
end OF his cigar, and watched II as IL
burned duly like little red lamp among
the green grass where II had fallen,
''what is immortality after all? Merely a
matter OF opinion. Take the hackneyed
virtue OF conjugal fidelity. When fol-
lowed out to the bitter end what is the
good Of it-where does 1t lead? Why
should man be tied TO one woman when
he has love enough for twenty?
The pretty slender girl whom he chose
as partner in his impulsive youth
NAV become fat, coarse, red
facee female horror by the time he has
attained to the full vigor OF manhood:
and yet, as long as she lives, the law in
sists that the full tide Of his passion shall
flow always in one direction-always to
the same dull, level, improbable shore!
The law is absurd, but 1t exists; and the
natural consequence is that We break 1t.
Society pretends to be Mortified when we
do-yes, know; but 1t is all pretence.
And the thing Is no worse In Naples than
It is in London, the capital Of the moral
British race, only here we are perfectly
frank and make no effort to hide our
little sins, while there they cover them
up carefully and make believe to be vir-
tuous. 1t Is the veriest humbug-the
parable Of Pharisee and Publican over
again"
Not quite" observed, "fOr the Pub
lican was repentant. and Naples is not. !"
''Why should she be?' demanded Fer
rari, gaily; "what In the name OF heaven
is the good Of being penltent about any
thing? VIII it mend matters? Who Is
to be pacided or pleased by our contri-
ton? God? My dear Conte, there are
very few Of us nowadays who believe In
Deity. Creation is mere caprice OF
the natural elements. The best thing
we can do is to enjoy ourselves while we
live; we have very short time OF 1t,
and when we die there is an end OF all
things so far as we are concerned"
THAT is your creed?" / asked.s
"rhat is my creed, certainly. 1t was
Solomon's in his heart Of hearts. Eat,
drink and be merry, for tomorrow
we die 1t is the creed OF Naples, and
OF nearly all Italy. OF course the vulgar
still cling TO exploded theories Of super
stitious belief, but the educated classes
are far beyond the old-world notions"
II believe you," I answered composed
ly. i had no wish to argue with him; l
only sought to read his shallow soul
through and through, that / might be
convinced OF his utter worthlessness.
According to modern civilization there
is really no special need &c
be virtuous unless 1t suits US.
The only thing necessary for pleasant
living is to avoid public scandal
Just SOL" agreed Ferrari; land that
can always be easily managed. Take
o. woman's reputation-nothing Is sc
easily lost, VIC all know, before she IL
actually married; but marry her well, and
she is free. She can have a dozen low
ers II she likes, and II she Is good man.
ager her husband need never be the
wiser. He has his amOurs OF course
why should she not have hers also? Only
some women are clumsy, they are over
sensitive and betray themselves toe
easily; then the injured husband (care-
fully eoncealing his own little
peccadillocs) finds everything out
and there Is devil of o rOw-a moral
row, which is the worst kind OF row. But
q really clever woman can always steer
clear OF SANDER II she likes"
Contemplate ruffian! thought, glanc'
ing at his handsome face and figure with
scarcely yelled contempt With all his
advantages Of education and his we'll
bred air he was yet ruffian to the core
as low in nature, II not lower, than the
half savage tramp for whom no social
law has ever existed or will exist. But
merely observed:
at is easy to see that you have q thor
ough knowledge CT the world and It's
ways admire your perception. From
your remarks Judge that you have no
sympathy with marital wrongsP"
Not the least" he replied drily, "they
are too common, and too ludicrous.
The 'wronged husband as he con-
siders himself in such cases, always cuts
such an absurd figure"