Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-12-11
"Aueens of Society. ;,

We have received an advance copy of
this elegant and attractive volume, which
viii to-day be issued from the press of
Chas. Scribner & Co. 1t is book calcu-
lated to make a great sensation in this
country, and many fair females heart
will hutter at the perusal of the charming
descriptions Of dresses, balls and entertain-
ments. The fair, the good, the beautiful
of our land, from the early days of our re-
public to the present hour, all figure in its
pages, and their biographies. succinctly
given, and yet with particulars enough to
satisfy the curiosity of all, are well written
and give the outside world fair idea of
the manners, sayings and doings of the
gTandees who control our society by their
beauty, wit and accomplishments. From
that bevy Of fair ones who encircled the
heroes of our revolutionary war, to those
beauteous intriguantes who attended the
court" of the soldier of the Hermitage,
the elegant and talented frequenters of the
levees of Mr.. Polk, down to the "shoddy
aristocracy" who decked with borrowed
plumage the gaudy and Haunting assem-
blies of the Kentucky "rail-splitter," we
have picture drawn by a shrewd and i'm
partial critic, one who has mingled in, and
knows herself what constitutes good society,
and whose opinions on matters oftaste and
magnifcence may be taken as worth much
in the fashionable market The State of
Tennessee, ever famous for the beauty and
charms of its fair denizens, is well repre-
sented in the volume. We find among the
thirteen elegant steel engraVings which en-
rich the book no fewer than two Of our towns
women. The first is that of Mrs. Presi-
dent Polk. 1t is not pleasing portrait OF
that universally esteemed lady, and does
not do Justice TO the majestic bearing and
gentle expression of goodness which en-
dears her face to all who know her. The
other is that of Mrs. Dr. Cheatham. Ii is
an excellent portrait, not. however, giving
her her full expression of freshness and
life, but possessing enough of her sweet
ness and amiability 10 canse ii to be valued
and cherished by her numerous friends.
1t is gratifying to read the warm
tribute paid to the hospitality, chart
ty and munifcence of our fair
townswoman, during her late widow
hood, and the verdict of stranger will
find a warm response in the hearts of her
friends. Among other Nashville Queens"
we find fiattering notice of Mrs Aaron
V. Brown, and her residence at Melrose,
also Mrs. Robards, of the days of "Old
Hickory" and others. Mrs. Jessie FIRE.
mont has her smiling and pretty face
among The pages, while we award the
palm of beauty TO Mrs. John Jay, deci-
sion which will excite the jealousy only Of
the grandmothers of our bellies. Mrs. J.
j. Crittenden has pleasing portrait, but
lady friend of hers TO whom we have
shown it, though pleased, says at does not
do her Justice" Well, when did woman
get Justice done in a picture? Madame
LeVert, who il 40 we'll known among us,
has also her portrait here, portrait which
is satisfactory enough, but not complete,
as it displays none OF her figure, and we
miss the expression which gave so much
charm TO her interesting conversation.
Satisfied that no book will appear this
Christmas which will give 60 much food
for small talk, and give rise TO so much
dissatisfaction, not among those mentioned,
but among those lettout, we cordially COM
mend the volume to the attention of our
readers.