One may query whether "the snobbish curiosity of the crowd" or the snobbish information as to how "the King sipped his second pint glass of water" was the more reprehensible. Of course there are both men and women who delight in the personalities of the Press, especially when they concern themselves. Many ladies of rank and title are only too happy to have their dresses described to the man in the street, and their physical charms discussed by Tom, Dick and Harry. And when the Press is amiable enough to oblige them in these little yearnings for personal publicity, let us hope that the labourer, being worthy of his hire, hath his reward.
The following extract, taken from a daily journal boasting a large circulation, can be called little less than a pandering to the lowest tastes of the abandoned feminine snob, as well as a flagrant example of the positively criminal recklessness with which irresponsible journalists permit themselves to incite, by their flamboyant praise of the demi-mondaine, the envy and cupidity of thoughtless girls and women, who perhaps but for the perusal of such tawdry stuff, would never have known of, or half-unconsciously coveted the dress-and-diamond gew-gaws which are the common reward of female degradation and dishonesty:
"Miss W., a young American actress, has burst
upon London. She has brought back from Paris
to the Savoy Hotel, along with her golden hair
and lovely brown eyes, an enormous jewel-case,
innumerable dress-baskets—and a story. It concerns
herself and how she made a fortune on the
