The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-04-15

readeTs-if / like 'em all right; if they
don't / m sorry, but then they can leave
EN- alone
1t is in somewhat of this cheerful,
debonnair style that he introduces the
characters of his novel The Orchid, who
are confined to rather smarter set
than Mr.. Grant has hitherto presented
the members of the NeStdeld Hunt club,
indefinitely described as .'one of number
of social colonies in the eastern section
Of the country which in the course OF
the last twenty years have come into
being and fourished.n One is tempted
to identify the Westfeld Hunt club
with the Westchester Country club Of
New York, and some of the other de-
tails of the novel, notably the conditions
of the divorce which furnishes its theme.
suggests the possibility that the charac-
teTs Of the Orchid may have been taken
from members of that ultra-smart and
worldly New York set known to the
vulgar many as the Four Hundred. At
any rate the rather sOrdid story of
Lydia ArnOld's first mercenary mar
riage to Herbert Maxwell. of her sub
sequent love affair with Harry Spencer,
of her divorce from Maxwell in order
to marry Spencer and of the conditions,
the REIMBURSEMENT of all claims upon
her little daughter by which she Sc
cures the divorce without legal blame
and two million dollars alimony be-
sides, sounds strangely like a new piece
Of society gossip from Town Topics or
a divorce story from one of New YOrk's
yellow journals.
For consummate selhshness Lydia
Arnold the Orchid for whom Mr.
Grants story is named, has fewer equals
in fiction than, it is to be feared, in life.
No attempt is made by the author
either to Shield or to condemn her. Her
point of view, and the point of view of
her fashionable friends who decide, af-
ter some little elaboration, to continue
their friendly relations with her in spite
of the scandalOus circumstances attend
ing her divorce, is set forth as plainly,
perhaps, as possible. 1t seems to be,
as far as Lydia herself is concerned
simply Il question of getting what she
wants at any hazard habit in which
she has become confirmed by lifelong
usage and to which all her training and
experience have contributed. Her
friends are supported in their decision
to uphold her, tacitly at least by the
reflection that if she has proven herself
a selfish, incOnsiderate and faithless
wife, heartless mother, and a perfect
~ mercenary and immoral woman in all
the most intimate relations of life, she
at least still has plenty of money, one
of the most beautiful country places in
the Westfield Hunt club district and en-
tertains as lavishly and delightfully."- as
ever.
As usual Mr.. Grant has the intended
detergent social influence of the clergy
q I.
but one who plays less important role
than his clergyman in The Undercur-
rent In accordance with the teaching
of the church, he opposes divorce and
advises the social Ostracism of the often
ders in this particularly fragrant case
But he is oVerruled by the other mem
/ bers of Lydia's set in his flock by argu-
ments like these;
1T wouldn't make any difference in
Lydia's case if every clergyman in the
land would bind himself never to per-
( form the marriage service in the case of
any recently divorced person. She
would be content with a justice of the
/ peace If clergyman were not forth
coming. If, as appearances indicate.
/ she has Overstepped the limit the only
| thing which would cut her to the quick
would be If the people whose friendship
/ she values were to turn the cold Shout
/ der on her. That's the only criticism
/ she would really care for. But I don't
! wish to be understood as advocating
| TINS in Lydia's case for I'm her closest
self"
/ opinion in this country, anyway?
one Of the evils of universal liberty is
( mat there are no recognized standards
o. benavioT, 1t is all go-as-you-p please.
/ Consequently a social boycott become
eHecliEe only when the particular set
I 10 which the offender belong. chooses
to take the initiative-which is awk-
Warq Tor where, exactly, is one to draw
the line?''
"she certainly deserves to be