Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1897-08-26

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END, what is the good of it-what does
II lead? Way should a man be tied
to one woman when he has love
enough for twenty? The pretty slen-
der girl whom he chose as a partner
IN MS impulsive youth may become a
fat, coarse, red-faced female horror by
the time he has attained to the full
vigor Of manhood; and yet, as long as
she nVes, the law insists hat the full
tide Of passion shall flow always in
one dlrection-always to the same dull,
level, Improbable shore, The law is
absurd, but it exists; and the natural
consequence is that we break it.. So
ciety pretends to be Mortified when we
do-yes, | know; but it is all pretence.
And the thing is no worse IN Naples
than in London, the capital of the
M )ral British race. only here we are
perfectly frank, and make no effort to
hide our little sins, while there, they
cover them up carefully and make be-
lieve to be v%irtuous. 1t is the veriest
h~umbug-the parable of Pharisee and
Publican oyer again"
Not quite" | obsel we'd; "for the
Publican a penitent, and Naples is
not"
why should she be-" demanded
Ferrari, gayly; what, in the name of
Heaven, is the good Of being penitent
about anything? Win it mend mat
tiers? Who is TO be pacified or pleased
by our contrition? God? My dear
ccnte, there are very few of us nova
DAYS who believe in a Diety. Creation
is a mere caprice of the natural ele-
ments. The best thing we can do is
to enjoy ourselves while we live; we
have a very short time of 1t, and when
we die there is an end Of all things
50 far as we are concerned"
THAT is your creed?" asked.
THAT is my creed, certainly. 1t
Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomor-
dow we die 1t is the creed of Naples.
and of nearly all Italy. OF course the
vulgar still cling to exploded theories
of superstitious belief, hut the educated
classes are far beyond the old-world
notions
81 believe you" | answered, COM
posedly. / had no wish TO argue with
him; I only sought to read his shallow
soul through and through that | might
he convinced of his utter worthless
ness. According to modern civiliza-
ton there is really no special need to
be virtuous unless it suits us. The
only thing necessary for pleasant liv-
ing is to avoid public scandal"
Just SOL" agreed Ferrari, land that
can always be easily managed. Take
a woman's reputation-nothing Is so
easily lost, we all know before she
is actually married; but marry her
well, and she is free. She can have
a dozen lovers if she likes, and If she
is a good manager her husband need
never be the wiser. He has his amours
Of course-why should she not have
hers also? Only some women are
clumsy, they are oversensitive and be-
tray themselves too easily; then the
injured husband Carefully concealing
his own little peccadilloes) finds every
thing out, and there Is a devil OF a
row-a moral row, which is the worst
kind of row. But a really clever
women can always steer clear Of SLAM
der if she likes"
Contemplate %rufian, | thought,
glancing at his handsome face and
figure with scarcely yelled contempt.
With all his advantages of education
and his well-bred air he was yet rufflan
to the core as low in nature, IL not
lower, than the half-savage tramp for
HON no social law has ever existed
served:
"It is easy to see that you have a
thorough knowledge Of the world and
its rays. | admire your perception.
From your remarks [ judge that you
have no sympathy with marital
wrongs?"
mot the least" he replied, dryly;
they are too common and too ludi-
crous. The wronged husband as he
considers himself in such cases, al
ways cuts such an absurd figure"
Always" ! inquired, with appar-
ent curiosity.
well, generally speaking, he does.
How can he remedy the matter? He
can only challenge his wife's lover.
A duel is fought in which neither Of
the opponents are killed, they wound
each other slightly, embrace, weep,
have coffee together. and for the future
consent to share the lady's affections
amieably.''
"Veramente!" I exclaimed, with a
forced laugh, inwardly cursing his
~detestable %hippancy; that is the fash
ionable mode OF taking vengeance?'
Absolutely the one respectable way
OF doing it," he replied; lit is only
the c~anaille who draw hearts blood in
earnest"
Only the canaille' | looked at him
dYadIv utu emiIinp owes mot mine