, 1892-01-06

more than a month ago. Since then the
light of the honeymoon has waned for
this happy couple and sickness and worry
have cast their dark shadow over them.
Mr.. Wilde has been Frustrated by
a serious attack of hemorrhage OF
the stomach, a malady which came
neal ending his life more than a yea1
ago and to future and fatal recurrence
OF which his physicians say he is liable
at any time. The evidences of suffering
and night vigils are on Mrs. Wilde's fine
a C and the pallor of death and appre-
hension on his. Yet their home is Lib
erty Hall, where aspiring artists-Amer.
lean, English, German or Kamschatkan
are welcomed with true democratic
equality. to meet each other and feel the
c~heeriness of home and hospitality.
AS for the worry" referred to. it is
the connection of Mrs. Leslie's name
however creditably-with the recent
sensation of young Albert Hope. the
forger and debauche.
Said Mrs. Leslie: This is the cuf
from my country's papers which has
rent my heart. 1t is the recoil of an in.
verted good deed which almost tempts
me to do another. From my first
meeting with that unfortunate boy |
a v been to him what | would bless
any good woman to be to a misguided
brother of mine adrift in a city of temp
t%ations, beset by the curses of an inner
tied fortune and bad associates. When
| saw, more than a year ago, that he
was falling from his former state OF
~worthiness and reliability | withdrew
from him my friendship and indorse-
ment. made him a present of a sum
of money he asked me to lend him, and
expressed my surprise and disapprobation
at his continuing to support himself in
luxurious idleness by borrowing money
which he had no sort of to re-
pay. He was only an innocent, weak
lad, SO far as | could judge.
81 no more suspected him of crime and
debauchery than | suspected his pure
minded and child faced friend, Tommy
Russell. Yet, when the worst came and
Hope was in prison in Philadelphia, | came
once more to his rescue. | forgave him
the offenses he had committed against
me in using my name for the purpose Of
inducing loans, and the forged check
upon my bankers which he her had
upon his person, and offered to help him
Oah ~ NASNtAA6 q SoL4RAobhAo0 Wv khO
Philadelphia bank upon whose charge
he was then under arrest. Before these
negotiations could be effected it was my
unpleasant task to see the infamous book
which he had written for Tommy Rus
sell, and which was in the hands of the
authorities. Though touched by his
grateful references to myself and my
past kindness to him, 1 was shocked
and Disguised with the horrible revela.
tons of the book as touching his own
life and habits. 1 felt that there was no
hope for a soul, much less a life, STEPPED
in such wickedness and unhealthfulness.
l directed my agent to stop negotiations
in his behalf, and sorrowfully washed
my hands of the whole affair.
"Ohl l am hurt to the quick by the
papers treatment of me in this matter.
Every word | have said in friendly ex-
c~ulpation of the boy has been grossly
misconstrued What have l done to de-
serve such unfraternal considerations l
love the papers, and have tried to show
my appreciation of their past goodness
to me. They stood by me through my
dark times, encouraging mt to stand up
under the heavy load of wrongs and per-
secution and to go IN inch by inch, re-
deeming my dead husbands financial
honor.
my recent marriage seems to AVE
opened upon me the walls of my coun
try's wrath. | was alone (for a good in
come and friends do not fill a woman's
heart), l wanted a home and protection
and love and peace as other women
have. | have no mother, father, sister,
brother, child or any near and dear kin.
Why should the newspaper people make
one of their own profession ridiculous?
'In all my newspaper work-and l am
now writing for several syndicates and
of course my w publications. have
never lowered my pen to say aught
against man Dr. m OF course l
could have lone 80. My ears are not
alone holden to Dame Rumor's voice and
the rattle of family skeletons. These
swords of persecution are generally two
edged. Few of us mortals are able to
accept the Masters pitying challenge,
Cast ye the first stone.