New-York tribune., 1902-12-29


consent to allow her to obtain divorce her
own racing speculations were freely investi-
gated and the evidence for her counter-petitlon
against her husband clearly obtained Os
costly detective processes. The debasins III
f1uence of money in smart society coulo pe
traced at every turn of the proceedings
In the social notes written by Mr.. George
Russell and entitled For Better or worse,
reference is made 10 the increasing love OF pun
licity and to the decline of reticence as Signs
of social deterioration: and stress is also laid
upon the revolution in the status and recrea-
tions of women by which they are enabled not
only to skate and cycle to fence and swim, to
drive four-n-hand and tandem, and to become
tconsp!cuous figures in racing courses and bet
ting rings but also to dominate the hunting
fields cross their male friends at their fences
and ride over them when they lie submerged
in bitches. with airy cheerfulness which
wins all hearts" The presence of fash1onaple
audience in Justice Barness court day alter
day has been a direct proof that o1Vorce
spicery has taken the place of their grand
mothers prunes and prisms as the diet OF
smart women, and that no scandal is toc
prurient to escape the observation OF luxurious
drawing rooms AS for the horse owning, hunt
ing woman, she has been the heroine OF Ihe
drama in the divorce court. Romantic and SEN
DR.. Jamesons companion in the raid. Sir John
| WiIIoughby and hidden them away under her
| dress while she was sitting at the caro- taoe
| or riding across country; and when she mas
| been weary of paying her husbands debts she
| has retired to a cottage in the hunting country
where she could hunt and dine with divorced
| peer Lord Cowley, accept with him the hospl-
| tality of the neighboring country houses ana
| receive counsel from him respecting turf vent
| ures. fresh mounts and cottage furnishing All
| these matters are condoned as the ordinary
amenities of social experience in a hunting dis-
| trict; and the estrangement between husband
| and wife becomes the natural sequel 10 hIe
of pleasure. in which there is an unceasns
| round of gayety and frivolity without serious
| enonIoyn,ent or sense of moral responsibility
| One of the most sensational incidents or the
| trial was the outbreak of Mr.. Wilson, Lazy
| Hartopp's father against his son-in-la" anu
| Mr. Lawson Walton. Not content with leaV-
ing his daughters interests IN the hands Oh
| experienced counsel. he denounced IN open
| court the conduct of the lawyer who had been
| cross-examinng Lady Hartopp, and Publicly
| insulted the baronet before the jury. Ihls OUT
| break from veteran in Parliament was clearly
q gross breach of the dignity of the court and
| exposed him to penalties for contempt put II
was passed over with easygoing tolerance as
| the natural and pardonable result OF the over
| u--oreb+ feelings of an excited parent 1t was
| an ant Illustration OF the responsibility anu
| lack of balance and of sef-control which mao
| characterized this coterie Of pleasure seekers
| in their domestic and social relations. Ihe
| glironses Of the world of fashion offered during
this divorce trial have not been enhancing Ihe
life Of the leisured class represented py the
| Hartopps and Cowleys is passed on low lever,
where the air is electric with suspicion. ana
where husband and wife, after sharing a 'aste
for horse racing card playing and self-inoui-
gance and having no occupation more serious
than that of inventing inane nicknat"es ior
their acouaintances, or that OF raising TIC
wind" hv mortgaging estates for depts OF
nevninr tiaras for the purchase OF horses, enter
court with hampers OF soiled linen and raeseu
braas Of untrustworthy evidence against each
| other If this be a true picture OF socIai H-"e
land there has been q reversion 10 lhe eii
i feeblins habits and lax morals OF the hes'oih
ton period. Happily, what is Dest anu mus
.baracter;stic in social life Ia not Represented
nv the fashionable idiers. racing barohets "'i-
h,r+tnq women whose names are constantly
| onnearfne in print as guests or honor III th'
| preat country houses. There Is iePu'"
working world Of rank, refinement anu eeh'''
| courtesv: and simplicity OF manners. ihteiie0'
nal dignity and robust qualities OF chai ac'e'
bo,e NOT utterly disappeared In vulgar rou
o,d scramble for money and pleasure