The record-union., 1894-10-06
new PUBLICATIONS.

talked-ot fancy alter very careful anaIy-
sis OF the claims made for il as moral
influence, and after arriving at the con-
clusion that Will e the purpose Of the au
Ihor is pure and lofty, and while she is
actuated by the most charitable Of mo-
tives, yet that she tails in her aim, and
instead of giving US a book that will
warn and shield the weak, Will serve no
such good purpose or in the modification
of social conventions.
We are moved to pronounce the book
bad, Notwithstanding that the Boston
Home J0u77tut commends it warmly, and
adds to its error when 1t says: The atti-
tude OF society and protesting Christians
towards two girls who sinned and slrove
nightly for redemption IS pictured in q
way that cannot be mistaken" So, too,
another Boston paper says OF it:
Virna Woods "a Modern Magdalene' is
one OF the most beautiful and broadly sympa-
thetic eXpositions OF modern existing facts
that we have read. Our mental ana spiritual
balance to-day is so singular and SO little un-
derstood that true purity OF character and so
called physical purity are lTremediably con-
founded in way which makes an Indepeud-
ent nature sorely inclined to despise the mass
OF mankind. "a Modern Mag
dalene' Is a quietly but powerfully eloquent
protest against prevailing conditions OF
"moral" society. 1t Is Al protest which Will
do immense good because the authors man
ner OF writing Is attractive, yet appealing TO
the truest sympathies OF her readers.
We think the book bad, and untrue
1t is the story Of two girls who go aStray.
One from home OF refinement and
modest comfort, where the atmosphere
was as pure and gentle as an angels
breath. With her eyes open, with full
confession OF her wrong to herself, with
declaration of desire 10 live as the mis-
tress Of a married man under the de-
lusion that her love is spiritual,
she elopes with him and enters
society abroad under mask, poses as
his wife, intrudes by such deceit into
homes OF virtue, anu when found out and
rejected INDUCES in sentimental whining,
because the tact that she was living lie
has been discovered. OF course she then
went TO the dogs with a rush, and
died the death that is reserved for
the depraved. True, there is a SEEM
ing of repugnance to the life she is
forced" to adopt after the death of her
paramour. And we are asked on this
account to condemn a convention that
closes the door of the home to such
creatures.
There is no mighty struggle" to re-
form, no ''heroic resolve" to die rather
than go into the slums. Moreover it is
not true that young women OF this class
constitute type OF those deserving sym
pathy. 1t is only now and then that one
such deliberately and cOolly piunges
downward. 1t is a libel upon CiYiliZa-
tion to present this woman as one worthy
of social consideration. Circumstances
DO not even defend her, necessity does
not excuse her, for she had no reason TO
desert home, no lack of love and Sympa-
thy, comfort, kindliness and spur TO
ambition.
The other woman was vicious from the
outset. 1t does not appear that she was
vile from false promise, deceit or the
weakness of an innocent nature worked
upon by a stronger Loving one man and
becoming sinner in common with him
admit That he deserted her-they parted,
and she appears TO have established her
self firmly in society, her secret being
hers only. Then, without the slightest
excuse or even the suggestion OF deceit
pracuced or Il susceptible nature played
upon, she enters into braZen relation
with another with Il nonchalance that
would make common harlot blush. OF
course, her sin found her out, and we are
conducted into all the miserable details
of a hospital for coin, where such Great
ureS indulge in lnfanticide, that they may
a little longer sin and avoid the penalty
OF crime. Shortly after she experiences
a stroke Of emotional religion, but still
sails under false coI0rs before the world.
Because the pious mother Of the man
with whom she Dargained would not
curse her son and receive his mistress
with open arms, we are inierentially
asked TO damn Christian profession and
roar loudly at social convention.
We are heartily sick OF this snarl at
the commonest dictates Of the social sense
OF cleanliness. We grant that the mother
OF the young woman who sought out the
paramour OF this fallen girl as husband
Tor her daughter with full knowledge OF
his uncleanllnesS is worthy of all re-
proach, as also was the bride herself, who
accepted as husband the youth who had
lived shamelessly with one she had called
friend. But that is an old story, aud its
repetition in this book adds nothing to its
lesson.
This second character for whom we are
expected TO shed tears, went into the gut
ter even sooner than the first, and, while
like many of the lowest, she had some
good womanly traits, some charity
Tor the fallen like herself, and mani
tested spirit of helpfulness for
the first wreck when she was in sore
need, yet the conviction is inevitable that
it was a fellow feeling that made her
kind, and that her character had not
heretofore betrayed the existence in her
heart OF any degree OF human sympathy
or womanly tenderness Tor the erring.
The revelations of the stealing of Chi
nese women, the insight into the slums
OF Chinatown, are not new. They have
all been done to the threadbare stage.
Indeed there is nothing new in Miss
Woods novel. 1t deals with matters
every one knows all about who has ar
rived at an age when they can safely or
harmfuIly read the book and drink at its
supposed fount OF warning"
Does any one really think that such
graphic and often nauseouS and sug-
gestive recital as this novel gives us,
will serve to check evil impulse in u
single life ? Can it be that there is 9
man or woman so ill-balanced as to be-
| lieye that it is through such stories that
moral lessons are best taught? Is it pos
slble that any one believes that by re-
citing the assignation to a degree OF nicely
that was plotted and carried out be-
tween a woman who answered to desire
| only, and a man who discovered that to
suggest il would not offend, Will help to
stiiten the virtue OF our women or re-
strain the RIGHTEOUSNESS OF our men
| on the contrary, il will more tend to lead
astray those who fancy they can steer
| clear of the whirlpool.
One Eastern critic defends the book on
| the ground that it exposes the cowardice
| of the man VINO was unwilling to pay tho
/ penalty Of indulgence. Suppose that to
| be SO, Is 1t necessary To frame the tale in
/ such detail as otfends the modest nature
! of every good woman who is expected to
read the story? We are told that the book
| gives us picture of "so-called virtue driv-
! ing on so-called vice" There is nothing of
! the kind in the recital. 1t is all case of
unreStrained passion pursuing a course
| to goal that was not only clearly in view
| by the parties, out was matter OF debate
among them. 1t amounts TO this: The
| lot were vicious sinners, and asked moth
| ing from society until they were found
| out.
| We have heart for the weak, sympathy
| for the erring. pity for the unfortunate,
/ forgiveness for the sinful, mercy for the
guilty. helping hand for the repentant.
no matter how late the hour. But that
we do not choose to embrace them and
nut them check by iowI with the uncon-