The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1909-06-12
The Loves Of a Brilliant Young Man.

Robert Townsend. a young gentleman
narrator Of the interesting love affairs re-
corded in Mr.. James Branch Cabell's story
called The Cords OF Vanity Doubleday,
Page 4 Coz. Robert was a writer of
novels and an undeniably glittering in
tellect. His heart was warm rather
than true, and it was both fastidious and
sturdy.
His first love was Stella. He and she
felt the Weltschmerz while they were
still very young. The singing Of a whip
poorwill may have had something to do
with il. The moonlight glinted in Stella's
eyes. which we're blue. She said .Don'tl'
Nevertheless Robert kissed her. 1t
seemed to be a good enough way OF treat
ing the Weltsohmerz. Stella rs not
angry. but she was circunspeot. That
was dear Of you she said. but don't
try to do it again The wisdom Of all
the centuries was in this mandate, Robert
observes. Stella was Is. When she grew
up she married Peter Blagden, who was
rather dull and who drank. He strangely
had glamour in her eyes. 1t persisted
as long as she lived, but she did not live
very long.
Betty Hamlyn came after that. 1t
was Betty who said: "Do you know,
Robin, the saddest and the most desolate
thing in the world is to practise an etude
OF Schumann's in nine fats. and the next
Is to realize that a man who has been
In love with you has recovered for keeps?'
Then there was Miss Montmorenci, the
actress. who without her dimples might
have been taken for the Venus of Milo
and with them was far lovelier. Robert
and abe had ~bewildering meetings in a
garden, but they could not be, married,
for she was married already.
Robert went TO Europe and it was in
Liege when the hotel burned that he
escorted the beautiful Mrs. Barry-Smith
over the roofs Of the neighboring houses.
Probably this young widow was as beau-
tiful as any lady in the world. She priced
her beauty and was at pains to retain It.
Robert tells us: Il am quite sure upon
reflection that to Elena Barry-Smith her
beauty was a sort Of tyrant. She de-
voted her life. / think, quite simply to
the retention Of her charms; and what
with the fixed seven hours for sleep
no more and not a moment less-the rigid
limits OF her diet. the walking of exactly
Ave miles a day and her mathematical
adherence to a predetermined programme
Of massage and hair treatment and mani.
curing and face creams and so on. Elena
had hardly two hours a day at her OWL
disposal She was exceedingly clever
and the manifestations OF her mind hae
great variety. Robert once told hel
indeed that being married TO her woulc
be the very next thing to owning a harem.
But he never was married 10 her; she wa
only one OF the many.
He was rather brutal in breaking OF
with Rosalind Jennett. whose intelli
gence doubtless was not quite 30 higl
flying as his. He was telling her tina
people OF her sort might not wisely mat,
with people OF his sort. you are q shad'
too terribly at ease in the universe. 20,
sensible people he said. She was be
wildered. She protested that she lovet
art. Yes said he. but by the TIMES
syllable . thought too volubly. my dear
You are the sort, that quotes the Ru
baiyat.' We were glad that she va
not unduiy cast down. As she slippet
tho engagement ring from her finger sh,
had SUFFICIENT strength Of character t
AK him not 10 forget the hall light ant
1t was not long before she married Mr.
Gelwix..
Robert had love Affairs besides these
We found them all exceedingly inter
esting. Ayoung man OF fancy and hume
and an excellent narrator.