Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-03-12
TITLED AMERICAN WOMEN.
most OF Them Purchase Misery Along With
the COrOnets They Ruv


the Coronets They Buy.
Paris Letter to The ~. Louis os;- u spatch
The unmarried woman of wealth in the
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 90 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 stunt should they chance 70 be char
table. But the momen: tina. she consents to
permit an European aristocrat. as greedy for
money as starving wolf is for mutton, to as
sumo authoritative sway over her fortune and
her actions she becomes one of the dumb
driven cattle of loveless marriage.
Apart from personal brutality, which ia n
far more common cause for complaint against
the titled spouses of American wives than is
altogether comprehended there arc 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 a single evening are
VI staEtHHS pfoporucUs- len Thousand dol
lars is looked upon Il mere trifie to suuan-
der at roulette or bsccarat. The titled hus-
band 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 parsi-
monious and timid piayers iii tne club life Of
Paris They want to stop when they have
lost some $4,000 or $1,000" was the remark
OF French society man on this question,
while we, on the contrary, consider that we
have at that point only just begun" The re-
cent catastrophe Of the young Duke d Uzes
who has been put by his family under legal
control and has been sent out to travel in
Africa on account OF the rapid and 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 we'll
recognized element of danger in European
marriages. To begin with, such little affairs
cast no discredit on the gentleman. On the
contrary be is thought to have lent luster
TO his career, such as il given by the pos
session OF a famous horse or dog, if he ia
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 rarfed by the
law and by the church She acts as the
hostess OF his bachelor home, shares his car
riage and his opera box aud is in all respect
a recognized factor in his life. When he
makes up his mind to get married she is sup
posed to be pensioned oil, and, in fact. / have
known OF at least one instance in which, on the
union Of a rich American woman to a French
nobleman, stipulation was inserted in the
marriage contract for the payment OF an an
nual income to the bridegrooms former mis-
tress from the fortune brought him by his
bride.