The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-10

Two women and ~ Man.
In the popular cOusiderat ton of the trl-
angle Of passion wherein LoRLYs ELTON
RoCERs stands AT the apex there Is apt
to he good deal of waste and no sinai,
misdlrection Of sympathy. Really. only
one person figures well in the combina-
ton and deserves such comfort and
support as public sentiment can afford.
This Is Mrs. CAROLINE GiDDiNGs ROGERS,
as she Is called the wife of lloGERs.
She is the victim of the whole scandal
lous intrigue and sharer in the trag.
edy which Is It's contamination.
She has been betrayed in her affec-
lions by bad husband. she has been
tortured with morbid appeals to sacrl-
flee herself and all moral principle for
the purpose of making II vicious rela.
ton respectable. Finally. her privacy
and that of her family has been out
ragged her name has been dragged into
unsavory publicity. Throughout she
has behaved with dignity and rectltude.
She seems to have added charity NJ
judgment and generosity Of impulse 10
sense Of duty. Every right minded
person must he on her side agGlnst all
other persons la the drama.
The other woman, TDA SNIFFfN. who
posed for some years as l,oGERs's wife,
il pitiable object as she lies n pris-
oner in a hospital facing recovery
that is far more cruel than death. She
will presently he obliged to submit To
a trial for the murder OF her two chill
dren, and even though n jury with the
strictly modern ideas Of duty should
bring In a verdict Of acquittal she will
have To 90 on through the dreary rem
nant Of her life conscious in every wax
ing hour Of the CHASTITY void that she
herself has created. Tie contemplation
Of her agony. present and prospective,
compels grief too profound for tears.
But such grief is far remote from SYM
pathy. 1t is the vain regret that is
expended upon the consequences of law
lessness and sin. 1t would he the mega
tlon OF all morality to ignore the fact
that this woman entered ON the forbid
den path with full knowledge and free
can only be said that since she defied
fate her salvation is in eXplation by
suffering and shame.
As for RoGERs. he also would be n
pitlable object If there were room in the
public view Of him for any feeling save
loathlng and contempt. Even bad men
will have nothing to do with the bad
man made manifest The good turn
from him with anger and scorn. the
bad with sickly terror lest they be com.
promised by association.
ROGERS. the lady killer. the trlhcr
with passion ana the Decaloguc. is vir-
tually dead. His sin has found him out
and so has the world. Hcnceforth de-
cent society has no use for him. II
may shock the moral sense Of many
people that while the partner Of his
wrongdoing will have 10 20 through
the ordeal Of the courts. he may wholly
escape criminal charge Tho only
section of the Penal Code to which he
seems 10 be- Hmeuabe Is that which
covers his relations with the woman.
1t is exceedingly doubtful whether cvi.
dence that would hold in court could
be mustered in support Of an indict-
ment. But II is of small consequence.
ROGERs is his own judge In this case nnl
it may he doubted whether any sever
ity could equal the lash Of his own con
science. lie is nm example to all men,
young or old. who feel drawn iowa ri
the path of vicious indulgence.