The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-12-17
TALK OF ALL LONDON.
"DOdO," the New Society Novel, Is
the RAGE.


ing Woman Whose Sole Aim in Life
Is Pleasure-A Soulless Creature,
Who Has No Real Emotion, and
whose Conversation Consists Only
of Nonsense.
From the Chicago News.
All London is talking of DOdO. called
"A Detail of the Day" and already two
American publishing houses have issued
editions Of it. The book. which is by E.
f. Benson, son Of the Archbishop Of Can
terbury, gives a graphic portrayal Of a
heartless and worldly but fascinating
woman, whose sole aim in life is pleasure,
and who seldom allows herself to feel any
real emotion or to talk anything but the
most rafting nonsense, says the Argo-
naut. The character is said to be study
from life a fact which has added a
keener element of interest to the sensa-
ton it has produced.
Dodo is a London-bred beauty who
marries a marquis for his money and
title She thus announces her engage
ment to Jack Broxton, his cousin, who
loves her, and whom she loves to the linn
tied extent her nature admits.
Dodo caught sight of the two young
men on the chairs and advanced TO them,
The radiant vision was evidently not
gifted with that dubious quality, shy
ness.
why, Jack, she exclaimed in a loudish
voice, there I am, you see, and | have
come to be congratulated: What are you
and BERTHE sitting mere like two Patiences
on monuments Really, Jack, you would
make a good Patience on monument.
Was Patience a man? never saw him
vet | would come and sketch you if you
stood still enough. What are you so
glum about You look as if you were
going to be executed. / oughe to look
like that much more than you. Jack, I'm
going to be married woman, and stop a
home and mend the socks, and look after
the baby, and warm Chesterfords slip
pers for him."
And presently, when they are alone,
she goes on:
Jack. old boy, I'm very fond of you,
though l couldn't marry you. o! you
must see that. We shouldn't have suited.
We neither of US will consent to play
second fiddle, you know. Then, of course,
there's the question of money. I must
have lots of money. Yes, big must and
big lot It's not your fault that you
haven't got any, and it wouldn't haye
been your fault if you'd been born with
no nose, but l couldn't marrya man who
These are her views concerning her fu-
ture husband: --..
II shall be very good to him. can't
pretend that ] am what is known as being
in love with HMM fact, don't think !
know what that means, except that peo-
pie get in very ridiculous state and
write sonnets to their mistress front
teeth, which reminds me that am going
TO the dentist tomorrow. Come and hold
my hand--yes, and keep withered flowers
and that sort of thing. All, Jack, wish
that really knew what it did mean. 1t
can't be all nonsense, because Chester
ford's like that, and he is an honest man,
if you like. And I DO respect and admire
him very much, and 1 hope shall make
him happy, and | hear he's got de-
lghtful new yacht"
her IDEAS OF MATRIMoNY.
Here are her ideas about matrimony:
1T is contract for mutual advantage.
The husband gives wealth, position, and
all that, and the wife gives him a house
keeper and heirs to his property. Don't
frown, Jack. That's my eminently COM
mon sense view Of the question. 1t an
swers excellently, as 1 find by experience.
But, of course, there are marriages for
love. / suppose most of the lower middle
class marry for love; at ~least, they
haven't got any position or wealth to
marry for But we, the disillusioned and
unromantic upper classes, see beyond
that"
She marries Lord Chesterford, whose
character is told thus
Chesterford's old friends had all a great
respect and liking for him. AS Dodo had
said: He was an honest man, if you
ike Slight acquaintances called him
slow and rather stupid, which was true
on purely intellectual grounds. He was
very loyal and very much devoted to what
he considered his duty, which consisted
in being an excellent landlord and Justice
of the peace of his county, in voting
steadily for the conservative party in the
House of Lords in. giving largely and
anonymously TO good OBJ ects, in going to
church Sunday morning where he sung
hymns with fervor and read lessons with
respect; in managing a hunt in a liberal
and satisfactory manner, and avoiding
any introspection or speculation about
problems of life and being.
Dodo makes up her mind that the sim
plest and easiest way to enjoy life is to
convince her husband that she returns all
his devotion; she therefore applies her
self to acting part with such success
that she makes him the happiest of men
in spite of the fact that he finds himself
hopelessly out of his element in the set oil
people with whom she surrounds herself.
Their chatter, half subtle, half nonsensi.
CAL DeWlluerS MIN ana makes nm feel
like fish out of water. This is the way
their talk runs:
II really don't know whore should be-
gin If was going to turn honesto sad
Miss Grantham; 81 don't think I like
honest people. They are like little cot,
tages which children draw, with a door
in the middle and window at each side
and chimney in the roof with smoke
coming out. Long before YOU know them
well you are perfectly certain of all that
you will find inside them. They haven't
got any little surprises or dark passages,
or queer little cupboards under the
stairs"
'Do you know the plant called honesty.
Granted" asked Dodo; tits very bright
purple and you can see it a long way of
and 1t isn't at all nicer when YOU get close
than it looks from distance"
20, if you speak Of some one as an hon
est man." said Miss Grantham; lit i'm
plies that he's nothing particular besides.
l don't mind little mild honesty, but it
should be kept in the background"
give got large piece of honesty some
where abont me-" said Jack Il can't al
ways lay my hand on it, but every now
ana then feel it like great lump beside
NE"
Yes" said Dodo; II believe YOU are
fundamentally honest, Jack. I've always
thought that"