The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-03-08
N II VIZ o n K1 8 M 8.
From Our 0Dn Correspondent
NEW YORK, March 8, 1870.
MIR. Fechter.


BY this time l presume all Philadelphia |
has had Its say on the acting of Mr.. Charles |
Fechter shall await with anxiety the arrival |
of THE EVENING TELEGRAPH, in order to form
just idea of what the verdict of intelligent |
criticism there is. The plain truth about him |
in New York is that he puzzled the critics and |
the actors. Professional writers upon the foot
lights and professional actors behind them
were divided into factions, affirming that he
was the most eminent artist of the age, one that
he was the most fraudulent, and it is hard to
say which faction at the present date is the
strongest. A bashful critic at the Hub Gays that
New York gave him members and that Boston
gave him brains. This blushiug and embar-
rassed hint as to the real state of affairs cut
Gothamites to the core. What has Philadelphia
given Mr.. Fechter2 Both members and brains,
hope. regard him as q sort of refined and
spiritualized Boweryism-the kind of Boweryism
they might provide for sensuous angels in some
intellectual heaven. forgive his accent and l
don't mind his wig. He might almost wear a
red one, without detracting from whatever
artistic merit there may be in his performance.
The fault have to find with him is that he is a
sensuous actor, not an intellectual one. What
does THE EVENING TELEGRAPH think?
Tea in Lent.
Cewper never said falser thing than when
he wrote about the cup that cheers but not inc
briates. A London chemist has just manufac-
tured wine from tea, but do not assert that
anybody has right to carp at this, since wine
was made from water as far back as the marriage
in Cana of Galilee However, presume this is
hardly the same kind of tea which fashionable
New Workers drink In Lent. OF course you are
aware that in no city in the Union are Lent
observances so vigorously kept as in this city of
New York. Metaphorically speaking, fashion
abandons cosmetics for the chrism, and becomes
decent and dutiful instead of remaining deco-
1etee. She don't go out, except to church. She
don't receive visits, except informal ones 1t
gentlemen drop In in the evening she regales them
with tea Nine-oclock tea is one of the Lenten
institutions of Gotham, and the institution has
spread more this season than any other. Thin
bread-and-butter is sometimes added, and the
subject of salvation is discus sed over sandwiches
and the TIE Deum kept upon the tapiS to an
extent which ls tea-diousl
Fanny Hobart.
Have ever said anything to you about Fanny
Hobart !? / ought to have done so, if have
not. She is one of the nattiest and sprightliest
lady-writers connected with the New York
press. Hitherto some of the best things she
says have been necessarily associated with de-
scriptions of fashion; but to mention her as
mere fashion-writer would be to do great in
Justice to her exquisite and original humor, her
droll and genial conceits, the loving kindness
of a large and sympathizing nature, the joyous
bubblings-up of perpetual wit and good temper
For several years she has contributed one article
a week. entitled ''The Womans Kingdom" to
one of the most prominent of the New York
Sunday newspapers. The article is, 1t is true,
resume of all that is new in the world of
fashion, but the work of making such q resume
is lifted up out of the hands of feminine Jen-
kinsism in which 1t too long reposed, and made
to blossom forth in sparkling essayet, in which
all that Is necessary to be said about the fashions
is said but is made subservient to strings of
smart and singular thoughts, generally funny
sometimes poetical, often full of irresistible wit.
Mrs. Hobart likewise writes stories for children,
many of which, 1 believe, appear in some Phila-
delphia publication. The little ones-and the
big ones for that matter-who have been in
terested In them, will be glad to learn that she
has a face like Madonna in social life, blue
beaming eyes, hair aureated by the natural tine
ture known as sunshine and that her manners
are In exact correspondence with the faultess
freedom of her literary style.
BaII-Room Babies.
At some of the balls which have recently been
giyen, special accommodations were made for
ladies accompanied with babies. Strange as the
announcement may seem. 1t is literally true
One large room was changed into nursery, and
provided with cradles and cribs, so as to look
more like founding hospital, or the infant de-
partment of an orphan asylum, than anything
else. The other night party of young men by
some means obtained admission to the baby de-
partment of the ball, and set themselves to work
at changing the babies. No less than fifty in
fants, between the ages of four months and four
years, were changed in as many seconds, and
the party made their escape just as the anxious
mothers, fresh from the triumphs of the Ger
man, were making their way to the nursery to
visit and refresh their "tootsy- -wootses." Such
scene as took place! Such turning down OF
the right counterpanes, and turning up OF the
wrong cherubs! 1t was great transformation
scene better than that of the TtoeLOe Tempto-
tionS that spectacle of low-necked Rachels
weeping for their changed children. The walls
of the cherubim rose above the swell OF the
orchestra; but am glad to be able to add that
the proper babies found their proper mothers in
good time.
Dr. ThompsOn's Congregation.
At the service ON Sunday morning DR.. Thomp
son, who breaches at the Broadway Tabernacle
said q very good thing, which caused smile Il
overspread the features of his fashionable flock
1t was to the effect that at the next sociable
held by his church gentlemanly ushers woulC
be in attendance, whose office 1t would be t.
introduce members of the congregation to ont
another. 1t is what the ''fock" greatly needs
The nearest sheep don't know one another.
"NO Presents"
This Is the latest and the neatest invention
adopted among well-bred people who issue invi
tations to silver weddings. Tin, silver, ant