The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-04-16


Illustrated by Alonzo k1mbaII. Pub
fishers: Charles Scribner's Sons
New York.
The trend of all popular novels
these days seems to be to treat OF
unhappy marriages and the women
who inquire are the causes of the
troubles that result in the separa-
uons. Mrs. Humphrey Ward makes
the leading character of 1.-The Mar
riage of William Ashe" a selfish and
silly woman who ruined the home
and showed an Indifference to her
aft1lcted child that is unnatural. And
now comes the most gifted novelist
among the male writer's who makes
his woman sell her own daughter to
her rich husband, of whom she tired
for the sum OF two million dollars sc
she and her new lover could get
married and continue to live in swell
dom. The wronged husband pays the
money, assumes the blame for the di-
vorce, and the wife after selling her
child seems to have no fear except
that she will be "cut" by her circle.
When she is assured that among the
Four Hundred nobody will be ostra-
cized for any crime except poverty
she has no further qualms.
Are the society women OF America
the things described by Mrs. Humph-
v
If so, these writer's have done good
service in picturing them in such way
as to win contempt. If they are
caricatures, what good purpose is
subserved by delineating such char
acters?
The heroine of 1.-THE Orchid Lydia
Arnold, enjoyed everything rich
father could give to her-she lived
in the social atmosphere of the West
I1th wi
to have been ':let us eat, drink and be
merry" With money to burn. time
to devote to whatever gave interest or
pleasure, she had no ideals except to
get what would crafty her taste. In
the regular order of events she mar
ried solid and reliable man of
wealth. who loved her devotedly. but
of whom she soon tired because he
was not spectacular or did not keep
her interested. That is a very pretty
scene in the story when the man she
marres, happy in her promise, an
nounces the engagement to their
friends at the Hunt Club. He has
committed to memory the words he
intends to EMPLOY and begins, as he
stands in confusion before them: Il
am the happiest man in the world
and 1 want you all to know it, but
he forgets his piece, and looking
proudly ct his promised wife, turning
TO his friends he goes on:
81 ask you to drink to the happiness
Of the loveliest woman in creation.
When a man worshipS a woman as l
do her, and she has done him the
honor to plight him her troth, why
shouldn't lie bear witness to his love
and blazon her charms and virtues to
the stars? God knows I'm going to
make her happy if L can. To the
happiness of my future wife, Miss
Lydia Arnold"
That is SO genuine as to elicit heart
felt response even from those of the
company who have doubts about the
Genuineness of true love. and the
company drank to their health and
sang:
"For he's jolly good fellow
For he's a jolly good fellow"
For time the woman seemed
happy with her matter of fact hus-
band who, conscious of his own hap
piness. does not invent new novelties
to keep his wife amused. She tires
of his everyday sensible ways and
hcalthful love of home and wife and
child, and when Il dilettante fellow
with no money and less brains comes
along she falls head over heels in love
with him. Never accustomed to deny
herself anything she wanted she de-
termines to have the new lover. He is
a cad and a coward and a stick. who
would win nothing but contempt from
a high minded woman. but Lydia has
gone far in her mind from the con-
ceDtion of the sacredness of matri-
mony, and she tells her husband
that she loves this fellow and does
not love him. He then, grieved and
troubled tells her to move on" Her
dilettdnte lover is greatly concerned
when she tells him that her husband
will not be content to have her re-
main in his home as his wife while
in love with another man. The fell
low thinks the husband is unreason-
able. He prefers that situation to any
other He has only $4,000 a year-a
paltry nothing-and has expensive
tastes. She has no money and she has
extravagant tastes. He is too selfish
and self-indulgent to make any sac
ritce for her when she is ready to
throw herself at his feet and abandon
a true husband for the cad who has
fascinated her. Both agree that they
would be miserable if married with
out money in plenty. He sees no way
to get it and is ready to give her up.
loving nothing half so much as HIM
self She is ready to make any sac
rifice to get him. and after vainly
u
she resolves upon a plan that shows
her want of true womanlinesS that
will furnish the money for them to
marry upon and escape the only dis
grace-poverty. She makes a bargain
with her husband. who now that he
realizes she loves another wishes only
to retain their little daughter, that
he will permit her to get divorce. and
Will rive her two million dollars if she
will surrender all right to the child.
That bargain is made, the divorce is
obtained. the husband retains the
child and then father and daughter
drop out of the story. Lydia. with the
millions obtained by selling all right
to her own flesh and blood. marries
her dilettante lover, and returns to take
her place in the exclusive circle of
the Westfield Hunt Club. Will they
receive herr That is the only question
that troubles either of the couple.
Some of the more old fashioned sug-
gest that they ought to be cut and
denied a place i'm the social circle
where they had been favorites. But
it goes no further than a suggestion.
They have money. they know how to
play golf they are doing nothing il
legal. and they are received with