Year: 1870

assumes, are passing strange. 1t is not only in
the squalid and humble abode of the poor,
where such strong temptations presented
that villainy assumes its most frightfu mien, ,


but in the gilded parlors of the rich, where want
and its twin sister, temptation, are supposed


never to enter. If the hearts of certain men


now in this city could be dissected, the moral


scalpel-men who are constant attendants on


our places Of public worship, whose name ap-
apear in connection with every enterprise of


prominence and note-what a mass of now hid


den corruption would be exposed to the public


view Many of the habitutes of San Quentin


would, in the comparison, consider themselves


suddenly elevated to a high plane of virtue, and


would wonder how not few who sat as jury


men in their cases, and aided in their conviction


had not long ago become their co-mates in the


pleasing pastime of making bricks and the


other congenial employment of prison life. We


desire to illustrate the hollowness, hypocrisy
and profigacy, found in high life in this city, by
few circumstances which have leaked out and
come to our knowledge.


About seven years ago there arrived here from


the city of New York young man who boasted
aristocratic connections, and the possession of
considerable wealth. He came out here osten-
sibly for the purpose of launching out in bust


ness, but seems to have defrayed all his ex-
penses, which have been quite lavish, out of an
almost princely income. Some three years SINCE


smitten by the charms of one of the most beau


tlful OF San Francsco's daughters, he seriously


contemplated the joys, and not the calamities


of matrimony. He had been leading some


what fast life, prhase whose import conveys


considerable meaning, and which bespeaks the


full gamut of dissipation. For this reason the


parents of the young lady threw every obstacle


in his path, and would not listen to his preten-


sions for the hand Of their daughter. The prize
evidently became the more coveted, the more it
appeared to elude his grasp. He came to the
conclusion that he would have to change his
tactics or abandon all hope. With consummate
hypocrisy he suddenly affected reform ceased
frequenting bar-rooms, gambling hells and more
degraded places of resort, and professed desire
of cultivating religion. Every Sunday afterward
he might have been seen listening with apparent
attention to the lucid and entertaining sermon


of Brother Scudder Finally his pious, janus
faced policy was crowned with success; his adj
vances were not only encouraged by the daugh-
ter, but welcomed by the parents A day was
appointed Cor their marriage and they soon re-
yelled in all the sweets of matrimony. For a
couple of months after this interesting event he
still showed signs of reformation, but after that
time he cast the mask entirely aside. Instead
of spending the evenings with his wife he gave
himself up to the festive gatherings of his boon
companions, indulgng freely in the cup and the
other enervatng pastimes for which young men
in these days are particularly noted. In the
course of one of his midnight revels he met
splendid specimen of the demi-monde, with
whom he appears to have become infatuated
So marked and constant were his attentions to
this frail though beautiful creature, that the
TACT did not long remain concealed from his wife
and her parents. Transported by grief as well
as indignation by conduct so outrageous, she
thenceforth, refused to have any communication
with him. This did not affect him in the least.
on the contrary, he boosted to his friends how
pAgilV q hnnnma fraaA Of fha otn;,S -
yoke The dashing courtezan who had seduced
him from the hearth and all the sweet and peace
full allurements of home, finding that his means
were unlimited, took every means of driving
deeper the anchor which already lay in the deep
recess of his bosom.


Possessed of a deep and calculating nature
she saw she had prize in her grasp, which she
might lose at any moment and that the necess-
ity was imminent of securing it beyond perad-
venture. She then redoubled her tenderness
put on her most bcwitching smiles and iudulged
in all the changes of amorous dallances limiting
betimes of becoming his welded wife. At first
he treated these utterances as the passionate
offspring of affection, and merely an
swered that such a condition was impossible in
view of the fact that he was already united in
wedlock to another.


by this time he had ceased thinking of his
wife, who lived in great seclusion with her par
ents. His paramour redoubled her efforts and
intimated that he might easily obtain divorce
When he first seriously considered this proposi-
tion he became conscious OF the full measure of
his wickedness. He had gone too far to take
any backward STEP and he resolved to pursue
his career of vice and villainy


On consulting a certain attorney generally re-
puted to be as adrot INSCRIPTIONS, a means
was pointed out whereby the divorce might be
obtained. The plan seemed hardly practical, for
it necessitated mock reconciliation with his
wife. The plan, than which none more daboli-
cal was ever chalked out of the depths of hell
was this I was temporarily to heal all dic-
ferences with his wife--to introduce her to GER
tain of his male acquaintance, by whom il
should be his endeavor to have her debauched
This being accomplished he would file his bill
of divorce on the ground of adultery, and take
all the chances OF her filling cross bill. With
A singular infatuation which almost exceeds be-
lief, he determined forthwith to lend himself to
this internal programme. He wrote bescechingly
to his wife, confessing his many delnquences in
the most abject strain of repentance, and wound
up by asking her forgiveness. Having expert
enced too many instances of his perfdy, she
gave no heed to these professions of contrition
Enraged at her GOODNESS he resolved to visit her
and on his bended knees to attest the sincerity,
of his reform.


1t Itwould be waste of time to describe in detail
the numerous maneuVers he essayed for the pur-
P"'' " N'"P"sS'"6 hi' st"ni0 "lihj ouI nc HnalIy
succeeded, and was once more enthroned in his
wife'S affection. He seemed more loving than in
the first months of the honeymoon, and insisted
on her going almost every evening to parties or
theatres. AT first, without any taste for such
she finally acquired a decided rel
ish for them. He likewise invited to his table
several noted rOass, who may be seen on Mont
gomery street almost every day, who surieted
her with compliments of the most fulsome kind
Having accompanied her to the theatre, one eve-
ming, with one of these dsinterested friends he
feigned that he had business appointment of
Importance which he was imperatively called
upon to fulfill Immediately. He stated that he
would certainly return before the performance
would close. He failed, however, to make his
appearance. and the wife was left without any
other resource but going home alone or accept
ing the escort of her husbands accomplice,
which was eagerly rendered She hesitated. but