OVER THE TEA-CUPS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 149, 24 June 1911, Page 15

OVER THE TEA-CUPS.

CRUELTY OF WOMEN. P

A story recently leaked out telling how two society ladies took the law into their own hands and administered a flogging to another of their number who had been cheating at cards.

This little incident has created a mild sensation in certain circles, but the most curious aspect of the case is that it is in no sort of way unique, writea an army officer, in an English paper. Aβ a matter of fact, when a woman's heartwhole indignation or enmity is aroused against another woman her first and strongest impulse is to inflict humiliating bodily chastisement upon her enemy, and when she finds a means of gratitying this desire—and I have had brought to my knowledge many instances of women being flogged by women—it is only true also that the flogging is carried out with a relentless thoroughness which the most callous of men would shrink from.

One such case occurred some years back in a fashionable hunting centre. In this case the wife was a well-known titled hunting woman, and the offender a young widow of very considerable beauty, and Lady Jane (let us call her) made the unpleasant discovery that she was being laughed at behind her back in consequence of the open way in which Mrs N. was parading her conquest.

Ridicule a woman will not endure, and Lady Jane determined to punish Mrs N. She was quite prepared to wait for a chance, but it so happened that that lady herSelf gave her one. Not content with having made a fool of Lady Jane's husband, it occurred to her one day to call on Lady Jane and twit her with her failure to retain her husband's love.

Lady Jane took it smiling, but after a short time she asked Mrs N. to excuse her for a minute. Within the minute or thereabouts she returned, accompanied by her maid and cook, two servants who had grown old in her service, and carrying a whalebone riding-whip.

Before Mrs N. knew what they were about, a duster had been forced into her mouth, the lady's maid and the'cook were holding her down over a sofa back, and Lady Jane was

PLYING THE HIDING-WHIP with all her strength. Wriggles and groans were of no avail. Lady Jane went on enjoying it till the whip was in rags. Then, and then only, did she release her, with the significant remark: "Perhaps that will teach you not to poach, my good woman." But the gentleman never knew why Mrs N. never would speak to him again. Far more often, however, the trouble arises over a woman friend.

Most people can call to mind two women, by way of being friends, One of whom ia completely under the domination of the other, to all intents, her slave. Two ladies, both in a very good station of life, whom. I will call Ada and Beatrice, were friends of this kind. Beatrice had no will but Ada's, but of all acts of rebellion one was particularly reprobated — namely, that Beatrice should admit any other woman to close friendship with herself. And when Beatrice offended she was "spanked" like a child, grown woman though she was, and submitted to it meekly.

One day, however, she meb Carrie, Now Carrie was also a strong personality, but at the same time really lovable. She took a fancy to Beatrice, which the latter reciprocated. Ada was furious. She attempted 'to assert herself, but her power over her "slave" was gone, and she found herself deserted.

As soon as she realised this she altered her demeanour completely, and when she met Beatrice in society was outwardly as friendly as possible. She waited six months, and then Beatrice's suspicions being allayed, invited her to lunch in her flat.

Ada had no servants —in her flat all service was done by the management— and, instead, a drug in Beatrice's coffee put her in her power. When the luckless woman recovered her senses she found herself in Ada's bedroom

STRIPPED NAKED AND GAGGED, her hands and feet tightly tied, a cord leading from her wrists to a hook in a beam, with Ada sitting looking at her, with a heavy leather dog-whip in her hand. She began by flicking her helpless victim, telling her that if she did not wish to be really flogged she must give up Carrie. But Beatrice was really devoted to Carrie, and, terrified though she was, she refused. At last Ada's patience was exhausted. She drew Beatrice up till only her toes were on the ground, blindfolded her, and then begun, first slowly and methodically, and than, losing all self-control, she lashed Beatrice with all her strength in front as well as behind, from her shoulders to her feet, desisting only when her victim lost consciousness. Once she restored her with smelling salts, only to recommence the torture, but the second time she let her down, literally cut to ribbons.

It is noteworthy that after a week or so in bed Beatrice recovered, and was none the worse for what she had undergone. Flogging, too, it seems, is a good cure for kleptomania. At one time, not so very long ago, society women, when caught shop-lifting were occasionally forced to submit to corporal punishment, not from their social equals, but from muscular shop-assistants, as an alternative to arrest and exposure. A wellknown London West-end draper originated the plan, it was suggested to the manageress of one of the departments, and the four strongest girls were appointed executioners, and carried out their duties con amore.

A personal account given by one known to mc gives a good idea- of what took place.

"Did they make a fuss We never gave them a chance. As soon as the door was locked we got hold of them and tied them down over a special big chair, and then just gave it them with big birch rods, two of us, one on each side, about a dozen each, as hard as we could lay it- on. Once they were tied it didn't matter how much they struggled, and there was no one to hear them squealing. Did we like doing it? 1 should think we did! It was the greatest fun in the world, and we were very sorry when it was stopped. Have I birched anyone else since? There are looks more eloquent than words."