The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-12-23
THE WAGES OF SIN.

THE WAGES OF SIN
Sensations, no matter what the real
facts. are read and devoured with avid
ity by the reading public In this age
and generation. Anything tina; par
takes of sensational character pub
lished in newspaper is read with more
interest that the home news. In order
to cater to the demands of the SEN
sation loving public. newspapers vie
with each other in securing sensational
stories that satisfy the morbid desire
of readers for something out of the
ordinary The Chadwick trial prom
ises to I'LL long felt want. and every
one is on the tiptoe of expectancy for
every new development. The Nan
Patterson trial and the land. fraud
cases have also come in for their share
of notoriety, but not TO the extent of
the Mrs. Chadwick fiasco.
Predicating our opinions upon the
meager evidence in the case the state
ments OF dupes to her wiles and fasci-
nations. the sorrow Of old grey-headed
bankers. who have been dupes Of her
eaprices, superinduced by a bevy Of
French waiting maids, domiciled at
her mansion for the avowed purpose
Of catching the unwary in her net, and
weaving around them a web from
which it is impossible to escape with
out sacrificing large amount of world
ly possessions. Mrs. Chadwick has cer-
tainly won an enviable reputation.
The more charitably inclined would
be apt to designate her palatial man
sion as den of iniquity, but the legal
definition would put it in the category
Of a house of assignation. Where a
gilded palace is fitted up with private
apartments for gentlemen and their
friends; where wine flows freely, and
French waiting maids dance the cou-
ehee-couchee and can-can for the edi-
fication and amusement of the patrons
1t is not conducted upon the business
principles usually prevailing at bank
ing institutions. Many an old gray
headed sinner, whose outward reputa-
tions is supposed to be beyond re-
proach, will go up against Mrs. Chad
wick's game and loosen their purse
strings, whereas in their business re-
lations they are considered close and
penurious.
A short time ago Mrs Chadwick
chaperoned a beyy of II beautiful
young ladies on a trip to Europe, pay |
ing all their expenses. She went for
the ostensable purpose OF purchasing
diamond, but in reality to create an
impression with the susceptible crown
ed heads of Europe with hcr galaxy of
pretty American ladies, to charm them
with their hypnotic influence, for the
purpose Of inducing them to part with
a few coverings of the realm.
In her New York home Of gilden
splendor, and alluring enchantments,
she practised her vocation preserrins
the wealthy banker and capitalist to
of her sex, and she
worked the graft for all it was worth.
EIany men, fearing exposure, bore their
lRisfortunes and loss of money with
sedFet fortitude, but when bank was
wrecked. pretended rerorse was tie
Dnly course open, and 1t is being I
worked to alleviate tine shame and dis
trace brought about BIZ too frequent !
gisits to Mrs. Chadwick'5 den of in
uuity. That Mrs. Chadwick will escape 1
1er just deserts from the meshes Of !
he law through legal technicalities. no
,ne doubts, and her many victims vii!
be left to suffer the consequences Of
overt acts, brought about by the en-
-angling alliances of cupidity, with
heir only assets, the memory of many
happy evenings spent with Mrs. Chad I
wick and her French waiting maids, I
the wierd coochee- -coochee
and can-can gyrations of beautiful
girls imported especially for the oc-
casion.
Sympathy is wasted upon .ne men
who in an ungarded moment, seek the
society Of notorious charlatan. and
hey are unworthy the hospitality ac-
,orded to the prodigal son who wasted
nis substance in riotious living. When
hey return to their families, after hav-
ng undergone the exposure and dis
race Of their midnight seances, there
will be no fatted calf killed and no t
iumptuous banquet served to welcome 6
heir return to their homes. Il
Instead of killing the fatted cali, itIt