The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-07-29
NEW hooks.
Lsndsa withsut Any ClstAes.

Lsndsa withsut Any Csthes.
We have been unable TO determine with
precision the name Of the au thor Of "ihe
Storm Of London: a Social Rhapsody
Herbert B. Turner q Co., cos.cni. It IL
given on the title page as F. DiokbeHy.'
1t stands on tho cover OF the book H.
Dioksberry.' A publishers slip, thought
fully included a. Q bookmark, declares II
to be IF. Diclsberry'; and we cannot know,
Of course. which Is authoritative, or whether
1t Ii Diokberry or DioksberTy, or =. or H.
We have thought OF II - bsing possibly
name assumed for the occasion, and hence
not sufficiently familiar to anybody to be
treated with oonsistsnoy and accuracy
We do not know that 1t al very much mat
ters.
We find described In the opening chapter
here highly distressing state Of things
In London. Tho Earl Of Somerville. dri-
wing away from Agricultural Hall at the be-
ginning Of thunderstorm, closed his eyes
and reviewed. with agitation certain matters
that he had been privileged to witness. The
story credits him with profans exolama-
ton and makes him say: y never realised
tho brutal ferodty Of London lie until
| saw Its nocturnal Bacohanals sypthesized
! within 20 many square feet He had seen
London life represented by distin g,dshed
members of socisty. He recalled Lady
| Carlton In the character Of street rover,
. cigarette In her mouth, reeling along the
pavement. nudgns this ono. thrnsting
her dgarette under tho nose Of another,
pulling . polioeman's beard, shouting at
tho cab drivers. Hs bad sean 1 good deal
Of the real thing, but he had never blushsd
as he did while observing Lady Carlton.
But she was only an incident Of the show.
The last tableau was most striking. The
fronts Of the houses dropped away, reveal
ing what was going on within-gsmbltng
massage all the secret evils.
Enter the polioe. We were going to
ask where they were and what the Vice
Squad was doing. To be sure, they were
only the play police, but we must be sstis-
fed with them. Thsrs were no others.
The mining ev1doers scattered. Tho
Countess Of Lundy was caught In .
massage establishment. She had on .
night wrap. Tho story says: what
night wrapl' The su6ussd Earl, sitting
with closed eyes in the darkness Of bis
brougham, saw tho Countess a. she had
stood In front Of tho footlights. unblush-
ing. counting tho approval Of her public.
and he still heard In his ears the furious
applause Of London Society gathered that
night to look at her. u Seems to be ap-
propriate to say that they saw her. She
and her night wrap made the Earl think
Of French painting Of 4 female, surely
not unique, which revealed With subtle
suggestivensss tho ussome shape Of arms
and legs and full curves Of the breast
through foam OF white lace and chiffon
The relentless memory Of the Earl sup
piled him with q number OF visions equally
distressing. He saw many fine ladies Of
his acquaintance who were possessed Of
the .ferocious glance of the pleasure seeker,
the audacious stare Of the flesh hunter
There was more to come. Even then he
was on his way to torchiight picnic that
was to be held In Richmond Park between
midnight and morning. "An Society was
to be there. The Duchess OF southdown
was to take prominent part In the enter
tainment. Object lessons In rat catching
were to he the chief attraction. q fashion
able women had been chosen TO take the
parts OF the rats, and to be chased, hunted
and finally caught by smart nen Of Society
The whole persistent picture 90 tormented
the Earl that he went home and shot himself
with a revolver. He did this when the
storm was at its height. There was 1 clap
of thunder that shook the house as he pulled
the trigger. Tho shot was not fatal. He
awoke in the morning to find that tho storm
had had q very curious result.
All London was deprived Of its clothes.
There was not In all the town a stitch Of
clothing or OF any fabric that could be
worn. The Earl remained In his bedroom
for eleven days. On the twelfth day he
.sprang of his couch, took his tub and
brushed his hair, walked down tho marble
staircase and went outdoors. With q
unanimity that has been known to dis
tinguish its action on other occasions and
in other particulars all London Society
went outdoors on the twelfth day. As the
Earl walked about he did not recognize
anybody. for the story makes out that
people are recognized by their clothes
and not by their faces. He also found It
troublesome to distinguish classes. AS
women passed by he wondered to what
class OF society they belonged How could
the shop girl now be differentiated from
the Dukes daughterf He never could have
believed such dilemma possible. In front
Of his club he glanced through the swing
| ing glass doors and saw portly individual
standing; but he could not for his life tell
whether it was the hall porter or ono OF
| the members We believe that he came
to be able to distinguish American ladies
by the decision and freedom Of their walk.
It was some time before he recognized
Gwendolen. the girl to whom he was en-
gagged.
the storm she stood in one OF the picture
galleries leaning her elbow on an Etruscan
/ 90 h~v
Iely. Doubtless she was studying the
clothes. His eyes wore enraptured. Who
could she be-, Unquestionably somebody
from Greece. Greece alone could have
given birth to suoh . symmetric form and
such harmony Of movements.' Her lovely
hazel eyes, shaded by long, dark lashes,
lifted themselves to his as he approached.
They instantly fell In love. He said: ALLOW
me to lead you to lounge She replied
that she was not tired. After some mo-
ments Of conversation he remarked that II