The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1908-02-02

H4tS uHou6h on1rfty W hOPo ai@t @~AoS
Gladys Vanderbilt. as was, may not
add yet another example of the long
list of disappointed heiresses who have
gone the same road, It is not con-
soiing or comforting reflection that
ins this democratic country Of ours
there should be spch "a mania among.
the daughters Of the wealthy TO exS
change themselves for title and give
their large stores of gold to regild
some furnished and too often dis
sraced crown in q Tfofeisn land. 1t Is
not creditable TO o. as aspeople that
tho. daughters of the rich should sell
themselves to some nobleman who in a
majority OF cases care nothing for
the woman but all for her money.
That these nobiemen should sell them
selves for a price in good American
gold is no excuse tor the girls them
selves. The aforesaid nobleman usual
~ get a great deal more than their
value. and that balances any foss Of
alleged dignity they may feel.
And yet what grounds had Miss
Vanderbilt for believing or hoping
that her marriage viii be a happy oner
It may be--for It is difficult to under
start or comprehend the workings of
an ambitious woman's mind-that she
really has confidence in the man upon
whom she has bestowed her millions
and really believes she win live hap
PLY as his wife. Then again It is
possible that she cares nothing for the,
man and is willing to defy fate in or
der that she may become countess
and take her place with the nobility.
If the latter was the dominating force
behind the marriage we don't know
that any tears of sympathy should be
wasted on her. II she was willing to
sell herself and money for a title and
take chances for the future we may
let her gang her ain gait" and waste
no time sympathizing with her. what
ever the result may be.
But on the other hand, IL she was
really snamored of him and had faith
in him II IL to be feared that she is
slated for establishment and grievous
disappointment in the future. She can
refer to q long line of American heir
esses who have preceded her to their
aarrov That AnnAr9ca,a xraxxaau ,.aau
be the contented and happy wives Of
foreign husbands-when conditions are
equal--is true enough, and there are
Thousands Of such marriages which
have turned outfwell. but emily when
the two were on practically the same
level, and that Is ali. When an Amer
lean hetress WEEDS . broken down and
generally disreputable nobleman for
no other reason than to get title
ana be fitted to mingte with the no.
bility; and when one Of these descen-
dants 'of-a long line Of titled ances-
ters puts aside his pride and. taxes a
parvenue wife for no other reason than
that her money win retrievs his brok-
en- fortunes and make him again, ''re-
spectacle" in the estimation of his
kind; when such a marriage ID con-
summated how can we expect any good
to come Of It?
If Miss Vanderbilt was girl of the
good sense, intelligence ana informa-
ton she was reputed to be. she could
have called UP before her q long line
Of such marriages as hers and have
seen what q small proportion Of them
have been happy. or even satisfactory.
She would not have had to go far
Of such marriages as should have sat
isfisd her that little Of good is to be
hoped or expected from such connec-
tions. She might not even then have
been convinced Of her danger but she
would at least have taken the step
with open eyes. The list of American
heiresses who have been sacrificed, or
have sacrificed themselves on the altar
OF social ambition is long enough ana
grievous enough to have satisfied any
doubts she may have had on the sub
ject.
And in this particular case what Of
good can reasonably be expected? In
no country of Europe. perhaps. is there
less to attract true American than
in Hungary For centuries. 1t might
be asserted. there has been little in
Hungarian nobility that can be boosted
of. and the present specimen. to adopt
the language Of q well-informed con-
temporary. enjoys a reputation as ono
of the narrowest and meanest of men,
as poor representative Of true no.
bility. as an American girl would I'M
derstand it. as could be found in all
Europe. His avarice and parsimony
are proverbial among his own coun-
trymen and family pride will naturally
initiate against any feeling OF appre-
ciative gratitude. much less personal
affection. growing in his heart towards
his plebian bride. While gladly pock-
citing her 100000 dowry. he will
still consider her as his debtor. on
account Of being translated into his