The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-03-24
TITLED AMERICAN WOMEN.
Most OF Them Purchase Misery Atoms

Most OF Them Purchase Misery Along
With the CorOnets They Buy.
Pnris Letter to tie 81. Louis Post Dispatch.
The unmarried woman Of wealth in tbs
United States enjoys probably the most en-
viable lot that falls to the share Of any fe-
male on the face of the earth. She is indie
pendent OF all the world. She can 20 where
she likes and do as she pleases She can buy
either pictures or precious stones, according
to her taste. She can summer in Russia and
winter on the Riviera, and there is no one to
say her nay. She can hoard her wealth If
her instincts are misery. or she can do good
with it without stint should they chance to
be charitable. But the moment that she
consents to permit an European aristocrat,
as greedy for money as starving wolf is
for mutton. TO assume authoritative sway
over her fortune and her actions she be-
comes one OF the dumb driven cattlen of
loveleSs marriage.
Apart from personal brutality, which is a
far more common cause for complaint
against the titled spouses of American wives
than is altogether comprehended, there are
two great sources of unhappiness always
lying in wait TO destroy the peace OF such
unions. These dangerous elements are the
gaming table and the demi-monde. High
play at the clubs or at Monte Carlo forms
the recognized diversion of society men in
Europe. The sums staked and lost often in
single evening are of startling proper
tions. Ten thousand dollars is looked upon
as mere trifle to squander at rou-
lette or baccarat The titled husband
OF wealthy American lady lost ten times
that sum at Monte Carlo some months
ago. had often heard it stated as fact
that American men are looked upon as
parsimonious and timid players in the club
life OF Paris. They want TO stop when
they have lost some 81. 900 or S3,0O0,n was
the remark OF French society man on this
question, while we, on the contrary, oon-
slider that we have at that point only just
begun" The recent catastrophe of the young
Duke Dues, who has been put by his
family under legal control aud has been
sent out to travel IN Africa on account of
the rapid aud thorough way that he was
sQuandering his fortune, is one Of the latest
instances of the kind on record.
As to the women of the demi-monde, the
hold that certain sirens of this class have
over the minds and hearts of their adorers
is a well-recognized elsment of danger in
European marriages. To begin with, such
little affairs cast no discredit on the gentle
man. On the contrary, he is thought to
have lent luster to his career, such as is
given by the possession of a famous horse or
dog, IL he is known to have taken charge Of
a celebrated actress or dancer. He shows
himself freely in public with the chosen Of
his heart, just as though that choice had
been ratified by the law and
by the church. She acts as the
hostess ofhis bachelor home. shares his car
riage and his opera box and is in all respects
recognized factor in his life. When he
makes up his mind to get married she is
supposed to be pensioned of, aud IN fact /
have known Of at least one instance in which,
on the union of rich American woman to
French nobleman, a stipulation was in
serted in the marriage contract for the pay
ment of an annual income to the BRIDE
groom's former mistress from the fortune
brought him by his bride.