The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1901-08-15


the mother of his child ran away with
an Englishman It matters little that
he committed suicide soon after.
The point is the fond husband Mr.
John Bradbury pardoned his wife be
cause he loved her, took her to Mexi-
co for thre, years to redeem her repu.
,ation. and Aow has brought her hack
TO California
And the question which Is agitatlng
all the women OF high social standing
on the Pacific coast is this one thing
Shall we spurn her forever for
what she has done. or shall we do
what her husband has done-forgiye
her ard visit hero
It is a vexatious social problem
A Vexatious Problem.
This is the story Of Mrs. John Brad
bury
Mrs. John Bradbury ran away from
her husband and child and home in
Los Angeles with the husband Of her
friend. Mrs. w Russell Ward.
The went TO San Francisco and
were thrown in jail. nos at the in
stance Of Mrs Bradbury's husband.
He did nothing. Not at the instance
Of Mrs. Ward She was on midocean
on her way to Europe. Their arrest
was due to one OF che societies that
tries faithfully but futilely TO stem
the tides Of wickedness i'm great cities,
as King Canute tried to stem the
waves OF the ocan.
BY the courtesy Of the court Mrs.
Bradbury was excused.
BY the conscient tiousness Of the
court Mr. Ward was senteced to pay a
large fine. His wife paid the fine.
Mrs. Bradbury went away with her
mother
Mr.. Ward killed himself
Mr Bradbury forgave Mrs. Bradbury,
and they went to exile
For four years she-with him-has
been doing social penance among the
Sinaloa hills Of Mexico
After four years they have returned,
and society Is making up" its perturb
ed mind what TO do with her.
The men Of California society are
prone to great charity. They talk
about "extenuating circumstances" and
her youth" and the mans hypnotic
influence"
The women who are dictators in tho
society Of the Golden state say other.
wise.
Meanwhile there are many argu-
ments at the clubs, at teas an drecp-
tions, and especially heated ones at
hearthsides.
What will the women do? II all
depends upon them. the men concede.
Women are the conservators Of the
purity of the race. viii they let down
the barriers in this case of Mrs. Brad
bury? And If they do, are they doing
right? VIII they, by so doing, prove
that women are cultivating charity
as broad as the sea? Or will they be
proving by that liberality of Judge
ment that they are lowering their
standard, that the claim of a modern
cynicist, THE man half OF the hu
man race is growing no better and
the woman half is growing worse" is
not wholly cynical?
What Will Society Dor
Will society admit Mrs. John Brad
bury and by SO doing provoke again
the comment of that large part OF the
world that is not IN society, much
Is forgiven to mllllons?"
Here is the story society is review
ing as carefully as a Judge reviews
he evidence before pronouncing sent
ence Upon the relative weight Of the
points f. the story will depend Mrs
IBradbury's social future.
Mrs Bradbury was the wife Of young
John Bradbury. a millionaire
She Is but 22 years old She had
been married three years. She had
one child, an infant In arms.
It appears, so far as the world may
judge, and Mrs. Bradbury attests It
that her husband was devoted. He
was gay highspirited and Affection
ate
She had a friend the beautiful
daughter Of Juan Bandini, Spaniard
who was the wife OF w, Russell Ward
an Englishman.
It was the marvel OF Santa Monica
that lovely Senorita Bandini chose tc
marry The Englishman. He was mid
die aged, He was plain He was
poor. All these might have been for
given, but he was apparently common
Intacp