The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-12-24

OF course it would be unfair and unpalo-
| sOphtcal to assume general corruption in
the fashionable life OK England simply be-
cause Mrs. OSBORNE. . lady Of high social
position. stole the jewels Of Mrs. Haze
GREAvE. . lady moving in the same society.
It was very extraordinary proceeding.
| but tn. exposure OF Mrs. OSBORNE as a
| thief follows q succession OF revelations OF
different phases Of moral degradation In
English society which iustifies US in re-
earring it as another symptom Of pre-
vailin- morbid condition.
While Mrs. OSBORNE was guest OF Mrs
| HARGRE.,yE at Brighton her hostess missed
certain jewels OF great value. and as the
| secret drawer where they were kept was
| known TO Mrs. OSBORNE alone among the
| mpauy at the house. Mrs. H!,RGREAvE's
| suspicious fell on her. These suspicious
| took the form OF charge or tnsinuation
| OF theft when Mrs. HAkGREAvE brought
| suit against firm OF London Jewellers FOE
the return OF the articles or for their value.
| Therefore Mrs. OSBORNE brought suit
asainst Mrs. HAEGEEAvE FOR Libel.
During the trial OF the case the synpa-
:hies OF the public were with the plaintiff.
and very naturally. 1t seemed much more
should b. unfounded than that lady
OF Mrs. OssoRSEs standing should be
thief in house where she was an
houored and trusted guest. In their vexa-
ton over such losses women are sometimes
utterly unreasonable in their suspicious.
1t was even suggested as an explanation Of
Mrs. HAanEEAvE's conduct that she had
taken the jewels herself and disposed Of
them for the benefit of a lover who was
named. and that she had cast the infamous
reflection on her guest to avoid her own ex-
posure. When Mrs. OSBORNE appeared on
the stand as a witness in her own behalf.
the manner in which she gave her testi-
mony. and the indignation with which she
denied the charge Of theft. created favor
able impression generally. Only the ma
lieious were disposed to believe her guilt
probable, if even possible. But since then
indisputable evidence has been obtained to
prove that she is the thief, she has been
compelled to confess her crime. and a YER
diet for the defendant in the libel case was
rendered on Tuesday.
Her exposure is, OF course. 10 indication
tina. disposition to thievery is frequent in
English society. It simply shows that even
high station is not always proof against
the tempsation to which vulgar criminals
yield But Mrs. OsBoRNE's thievery is only
/. single and new link in long chain Of
evidence suggestive OF moral decline In con-
temporary English society OF the higher
and highest kind. The insinuation, SO gen.
orally accepted as in itself reasonable. that
Mrs. HARGaEAvE sold the jewels herself to
assist her partner in an intrigue. is further
Indication Of this social depravity. Accord
ing to the private scandal OF London such in
triGues are so frequent in aristocratic circles
at this time that they are taken as mat
ter OF course. They are discussed in con-
versations between ladies' and gentlemen
az an ordinary topic Of interest The
necessity for getting money presses 50
hardly on many Of the members Of the
aristocraey. impoverished comparatively
by the decline in the productive value
OF landed property. that they are not
always oversqueamish as to their methods
OF attaining the end. The revelations OF
many divorce cases in that sphere Of society
present pictures of greed and positive
moral depravity which are very black.
As compared with London. the fashion
OF New York Is Puritanical In its mode OF
life. Even mere wealth Is more powerful
socially in England than here. The English.
at least. are frankcr in their alteration Of
Mammon. 4 story Is told Of an American
in Russia who would not bow to the Car
until he WIS told that the potentate
was millionaire; but II truth. money. the
incomes OF people and their expectations.
are more q subject Of conversation in Eng
land than here. The American who tells of
his exact income is rare. but an English
mn u. aiI,. tn, ,rix-a ha y,F
ton Of his own accord. The pecuniary side
Of marriages is made far more prominent in
England than here. English delicacy as to
tho subject is not so nice as the American.
Nor Is the English delicacy concerning
revelations Of conjugal association so SEN
sitive as ours. as is proved in long series
Of divorce cases. Merely for the sake of
gaining money the Countess RUSSELL ex-
posed relations OF her married life which,
we should have supposed. no lady could have
revealed except by absolute compulsion.
She also gave publicity to irsinuations Con-
corning her husband which it Is hard to be-
Gevs that woman Of delicacy could make
either In private conversation or public tes-
timony. The London Times reports these
divorce cases in high Life with absolute full
ness. and it thus presents to all the world
faithful picture Of the moral state OF that
circle Of society at this time. 1t Is q
surprising revelation OF grossness and
RIGHTEOUSNESS. In our own country
there Is NO parallel to it In the society cor
responding; or. at least. II the degradation
occurs. it is sedulously hidden from the |
public view. Wives who seek divorces will |
leave New York to journey to distant States |
where they can obtain the separations for |
other causes than the single cause OF |
adultery allowed by our law. though they
have good reasons for the divorces hero
on that ground. They do not want to |
go into tho nasty subject. and will In. |
cur the great trouble OF exiting them |
selves from New York rather than bring 1t |
forward before the public in legal proceed |
ings. They will even submit to the disap- |
proval 81 the Church rather than confess TO |
the world the true reasons for their course /
in seeking TO escape from their marriage |
bonds.