After Dinner Gossip and Echoes of the Week.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXII, Issue XIV, 2 April 1904, Page 16

After Dinner Gossip and Echoes of the Week.

How It Feels to Be the Wife of a Mormon. The universally discussed question of the hour, the declining birth-rate, has, as we all know, been even more prominently before France than these colonies, and if interest in the matter is more keen here, it is only because we have not, as France has, had time to get hopeless over a problem which seems unsolvable, and wearied of discussions which lead nowhere. But a sort of spurt was the other day given to the question by a serious suggestion that by polygamy, and by polygamy only, was the present unsatisfactory state of affairs to be mended. The idea had frequently been ventured tentatively by individual writers, and hotly opposed, as was only natural, by the great bulk of individuals; but it was not until recently a great Parisian journal took the matter up heavily, gravely, and seriously, reviewed the pros and cons judicially, and, in short, conducted a social analysis on the whole problem of plural marriages. Amongst other means as arriving at a definite conclusion as to the excellencies or evils of polygamy, Mons Jules Huret, one of the best-known French journalists and eiitics, went over and interviewed some prominent Mormon wives of the old school, and he writes of his impressions and theirs in his paper, the famous ‘'Figaro.” Now, though Mormonism can never be tolerated amongst us in New Zealand, and though no one would ever urge it seriously here as a solution for the decline of the birth-rate problem, yet there is no doubt that it is a solution of a kind, and though we now regard it with abhorrence, it is idle to deny that there is interest in finding how those Westerners, who have lived in polygamous wedlock, explain the institution. Mons. Huret, having secured the proper introductions, announced his inability to understand how a woman outside the Oriental nations could share the love of a man with an indefinite number of rivals. One of the ladies (a Mrs Wells) promptly responded that they are not rivals. They are drawn together by their common love of the man. To this the Frenchman objected, ns most readers of the "Graphic” would do, that this sounds all very well in theory, but that it could not work out in practice. Love would ecase on the woman’s part directly the "sharing” principle began. "No,” said Mrs Wells, "not if the man knows how to distribute his love equally, but this needs power and tact, and in this way many men were unquestionably not worthy of plural marriage, and should not be allowed its advantages and responsibilities. The Mormon husband must of necessity be a superior man, and it was better to share the love of a superior man with ten others than io be the sole wife of an inferior personage.” This Mrs Wells appears to have thought an unanswerable argument, but Mons. Huret completely turned the tables by asking if she would not rather be the

sole wife of a superior man. “Certainly,” responded the lady, “but it is a fact that in a family of twenty children

—one of ten girls and ten boys, for instance the girls are generally superior to the bovs. Xow. since there are morn

superior women than superior men, it becomes necessary for the women to share with one another the superior men.” Mons. Huret then ventured to hark back to the question of jealousy, and drew tho following rather sinister admission from another plurnl wife, which seems worth quoting: “Of course, ft is necessary that the man should know how to divide his love equally.” “It becomes necessary, then,” I reiterated, ‘‘to ignore completely the element of jealousy T’

“If one suffers one should not show . It is not necessary to show it.”

“But how can that be done,” I objected, “if your suffering is violent? This is a question of sensibility.” “It is a question of discipline!” she answered.

There is a good deal of food for reflection in that last sentence most New Zealanders will admit. According to Mrs Wells “the descendants of a Mormon are stronger. There are fewer infirm, and deformed children are of rare occurrence. The wives of a polygamist are much happier than other wives. They rapidly rise in superiority above their sisters in single marriage, because, as they are not required to slave continually for their husband, they have leisure time for cultivating their own minds—time for self-improvement. When the husband becomes ill-humoured, also, it is an advantage to he one of several wives, because his anger, like his love, will be shared. Moreover, as husband and wife see less of one another and are not compelled always to be in one another’s company, their love will not become dulled and the joy of loving becomes more intense and at the same time more pure.” There is a great charm about the girl who agrees with you, all argument to the contrary notwithstanding. The girl who argues with you may be the girl who keeps you up to the mark mentally. But there is a certain soothing something about the girl who agrees with you that is delightful. ♦ •i 4? A Mcaatrons Gam'ble. There are one or two forms of wickedness which make even those of us who are most modern in our ideas on such matters hopeful that there may after all be somewhere in the next world a hell of the fire and brimstone type on the horrors of which the clergy of our youth so delighted to dilate. An instance of what-one means is reported in one of the latest London dailies, and it is, moreover, reported without comment, and quite as a matter of course. It concerns Mr. Daniel Sully, the notorious “cotton king,” whose gigantic attempts to corner the cotton market have recently collapsed, and whose failure for an enormdus sum was cabled the other day. It would appear that on February 17 Sully had some lady friends to lunch at a famous restaurant near the cotton exchange, New York, ami as a means of providing entertainment for his guests proposed a visit to the exchange. Shortly after two he took the party to the public gallery which overlooks the fateful arena, and began to point out prominent men. Brjt because a reaction had set in after the tremendous transactions of the previous week, the exchange happened to be dead quiet, and the ladies who had read sensational reports of the noise, and scuffling were disappointed. According to Mr. Sully’s admissions afterwards to a reporter, he determined to brighten things up a bit —to use his own words, "just for fun and to please the girls.” He went downstairs and spoke to a man on the exchange. New mark what followed.

Every person in the Exchange was all attention in a second. A busy hum of conversation tilled the place. Men came running in from the corridors and the ante-rooms. The floor filled in less than five minutes.

The ladies looked on delightedly. More, however, was to come. Brokers came, rushing across the pit as Sully strode about, buying cotton on every side. A loud din filled the place where silence had reigned a few minutes previously. All were offering Sully cotton, and Sully was ready to buy all and more than was offered. Excitement deepened. I’riecs were shouted from side tp side. j

Messenger boys came flying into the arena in response tn the frantic calle of brokers and dealers, who saw in Sully’al diversion the ehance of making large sums of money. Cables were despatched in scores- Pandemonium reigned as it did in the fiercest days of the battle of prices when Solly and his men were struggling with might and main to corner the market.

Scores of dealers, not knowing the secret, thought that a great new strategic move was being engineered by the Sully clique. Scores rushed to sell on the rise. Scores more rushed to cover themselves in the fear that they might be caught short and have to pay the penalty. As a result of this diversion, July cotton rose several points a pound. Then, again to show his command of the market, Mr. Sully suddenly- ceased to buy. To the uninitiated there may not appear much in this exploit, but it must be remembered that this dealing was in “futures” in cotton —that is to say, which was non-existant, and that the forcing of the. market to please his friends meant ruin to someone. Incidentally no doubt it was part of the millions for which he has failed, and that failure will bring ruin and desolation to thousands. Sully knew his move would cause enormous loss to someone, yet to please a fd\v ladies he was content to do this thing. Moreover, while the “Cotton King” was conducting his frolic, thousands of cotton operatives were walking the streets of Lancashire towns starving, the absolutely direct result of the machinations of the Sully clique in putting up the price of cotton to a figure which will not allow the factories to work at a profit. Well might the “Express” publish its account of this deplorable affair under- the heading, “Gambling in Lives.” ♦ ♦ ♦ A Preposterous Proposition. A PROMISE OE MARRIAGE MADE ON SUNDAY IS NOT BINDING. Sueh is the momentous decision of a Brooklyn Judge, according to the “New York Herald,” and there is consternation and desperation amongst the maidens of the United States, for in America Sunday is the day on which more courting is done than on any day- of the week. In England, especially amongst the wealthier and more leisured class one day is pretty much as another to lovers, and it is even odds that a proposal will come on Friday as on the “day- of rest.” But here and in America we know how almost entirely lovemaking is confined to Sunday-, or to be more precise, how large amount of it Is done on that day. We may therefore share very completely in the resentment which the Judge’s extraordinary decision has aroused amongst fair Americans. It is a well-recognised fact that the Sunday suitor is the only one who is taken seriously. The boys who call on week day evenings are charming no doubt, but as one indignant lady denouncing the law points out, it is only when a man begins dropping in regularly- on Sunday afternoons and evenings that his attentions begin to wear a serious aspect. No doubt a dance, where the sitting-out room has been arranged with forethought, is provocative of sentiment, and has led up to many denouements of a satisfactory nature, but will anyone who has studied youth contend that it can compare with sharing a hymn-book in church, loitering home —»

by the longest way round — and turning ever nrune-books or photographs after supper, as do properly" conducted lovers all the New World over on Sunday. If the statistics were available, and the writer were a betting man, he would wager his all that 95 per eent. of proposals take place on Sunday. And here is this dangerous precedent from Brooklyn. Suppose Mr Beddon in hia might should consider it good to eopy this law—he is always up to something—what should we do! The girls of New Zealand must be watchful and on the alert. For there can be no doubt to a certain unregenerate section of young people the Brooklyn law would be welcome. One can, for instance, foresee that the flirtatiously-inclined might enjoy all the raptures of being engaged for an entire Sunday, and be light heartedly irresponsible on Monday. The situation would doubtless have its charm. Yet how such uncertainty would undermine society. • The man whose feelings could no longer be concealed, and who had to propose on Sunday or burst —so to say—would be regarded with suspicion by his lady love; an estrangement might follow, and the whole dream of two lives be wrecked. No, our girls must keep their eyes very wide open, and nip any move in thia direction in the bud. ♦ ♦ ♦ An Infernal Machine. Auckland seems particularly unfortunate in its public bodies. If the Harbour Board cease from blundering for a week or so, the Charitable Aid Board take up the running and give some new and novel exposition of the height of ineptitude and incompetence to which' it can reach, and opens the eyes of the public to some fresh scandal. The state of the public ambulance has been animadverted upon times out of number, it has been complained over and over again, that it is rough and utterly unsuited to its purpose, and that it ought to be forthwith destroyed. The authorities have taken these complaints with the insolent indifference to public opinion which is its chiefest characteristic. The Costley Horae inquiry resulted in a condemnation which would have crushed any loss thick-skinned body of men. But not so here. The Charitable Aid Board simply smiled superior, said the report was exaggerated and unfair, and went on its way rejoicing. Last week, after a distressing lift accident, the ambulance was called, and no one who reads the evidence given at the Coroner’s inquest, can feel the smallest doubt that the horrible shaking and jolting of the truly “infernal machine,” supplied to the sufferer by the Charitable Aid Board indirectly contributed to the fatal result of the accident. Many people will feel with the writer that while the law may hold the Board guiltless, they are through culpable negligence not free of moral responsibility for the boy’s death. It is a pity some painful accident could not befall some apathetic member of the Board that he might be able to give an account from personal experience of the pleasures and pains of being jolted from side to side in the ambulance when' suffering of mortal agony. ,•