The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-09-26
SOCIETY Sins
Henry Watterson Calls Attention
Of the -Four Hundred.

Of replies TO mis- criticisms on the Four
Hundred, Henry Watterson declined to be
interviewed, both during a recent visit to
New York and since his return, merely
observing that he had started out on no
other crusade, either moral or didactic.
than that belonging to his Office as a
daily newspaper writer
Tomorrow mornings Courier-Journal,
however, will contain the following eoi-
torial which calls attention to an article
by another writer on societys sins, and
thus may be considered as a reply:
The Courier-Journal ventures TO COM
mend to the-earefai perusai of Mrs.
Burton Harrison. once Virginian, bur
now of New York, the article reprinted
in this issue from the pen OF Mrs. w. III.
FELTON,, of Georgia. Miss Caroline Duer,
OF New York, might also read Mrs. tei-
tons article with profit. II not with in
struction."
MRS. FELTON's COMMENTS.
Mrs. FELTON, is a Georgian, the wife OF
a former member of congress and fed
eral judge. There are some interesting
excerpts from her article, in which she
warmly takes up the sudgels on the side
of Mr.. Watterson
1T is well TO understand that Mr.
Watterson's article applies to a great
many more than four hundred OF our
fashiopables In New York city. Per-
haps that is a sample lot, or a specimen
case. 80 to speak. but there is more or
less Of the same sort of goods in every
prominent city or town In the United
States"
They are doing their best as imita-
tors, copyists. and, according 10 their op-
portunity, they are treading I'm the steps
OF the great leaders in fashion and friv-
olity, and aping their manners and Gus
toms as nearly as possible. and compli-
mented themselves on their agility in so
doing.
"old Rome went TO pieces just In the
same way. A woman born TO the purple
commanded her carriage driver to roll the
wheels in the open street over her own
fathers dead body, and the crisis was
near at hand when Rome's glory was
changed into luxurious RIGHTEOUSNESS and
official venality. and these crimes were
permitted 10 pass unrebuked by its rul-
erS.
SOME OBJECT LESSONS.
Doubtless there had been many Jeze-
bells In the land before the unrighteous
woman known TO Hebrew Bible history
was flung from the palace window and
trodden under foot by the maddened
populace, One swallow does not make a
summer. but II 80 happened that this
Jezebel was the object lesson OF that par
ticular era and paid the penalty.
Mary Queen OF Scots was no worse
perhaps no better. than many women in
royal palaces during her time, but John
Knox made the wellSin ring with the
dangers that lurl<ed In licentious luxury,
and Mary became the object lesson Of her
time, and the way was easily paved
Marie Antoinette was vain butter
fly In the years preceding the French
revolution nattered, pampered. admired
and copied by thousands Of women OF
high and low degree in France and Aus
tria, but a time came when an object
lesson was needed, and the poor woman 8
head fell into the guillotine's basket She
was no worse. and perhaps no better.
than scores Of women of the mobiles in
afiiuence and pampered frivolity. hut the
rage OF an entire class was concentrated
upon her at the hated representative of
n hated class.
"A nation never goes TO smash so Ions
as It's women are clean and upright in
| morals and manners"