The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-03
called Commonplace whose title exsss,y a ).

miso nAOhEL-IeS, ! D6ueVo So OUT she also
wrote book OF 'Sing Songs" for little people,
iuu OF the most delicate and lovely fancies, ex-
pressed In the most musical manner-a little toe
dinicult for children, perhaps, but very charming
TO the older members OF the family. The "Sing
S0ngs'' had touch OF Blake.
Mrs. N0RToN-lt Is no easy matter to write for
children, and few authors have made o success OF
that branch Of literature. Mrs. Mary Mapes Dodge
Is one OF the few. and the author OF '.Alice In
Wonderland" is another.
MORE BEDTIME STORIES.
"Here is Mrs. MoultOn's More Bedtime Storless
tRoberts Br0s.), which are hardly up to the mark.
When read Lucy to sleep want something OF Q
more cheerful KIND" continued MRS. Norton.
zine child cries over these and says they give her
bad dreams. Read me those stories In the morn
ing, mamma she said they make a lump come
In my throat at night and can't get to sleep.'"
Miss RACHEL-rhe stories are too sad for chill
dren. The nrst volume had the same fault. IL II
hardly worth while to thrust s0rrowful tales at
the youngsters. Let them read the arabian
Nights" and "Robinson Crusoe" and "Tne Book Of
Nonsense" They had much better laugh than
cry. The crying Is sure to come later in liIe
The DEMONSTRATING OF crying. know OF
brother physician wac never lets his children CRY.
no matter what happens to them. His Oldest
child Is eleven years OF age and has never wept
tear In his lie.
Mrs. NORToN-That is brutal. Don't the man
know that tears are often the greatest relleY
pity his children and his wife. too.
The DOCToR-He Is o very good father, and the
best OF husbands. He never whips mis- children
either. This crying business is merely notion
He even carries II into the hospital where he Is
surgeon, and has got the nurses into such good
training that they in turn have almost gotten
their little patients under control But to return
to Mrs. Moul,on. think she is much better cor
respondent than story teller. If she would only
put little more Jun into her stories they would
be very good, LOT they are well told and certainly
have good morals.
THE TREASURE HUNTERS.
"If you want book with an adventure IN every
chapter here 1t is" said Fred, pulling copy Of
.The Treasure Hunters" (Harper Brothers.
out of his pocket.
Miss RACBEL-And the chapters are very short
at that. picked up the book the other evening
alter you had gone out, and read 1t through before
bedtime.
FRED-It interests one in spite Of himself; for.
although the incidents are often ridiculous, they
are told with air OF sincerity which practically
washes them down. l don't know where Mr..
George Manvllle Fem could nave got all his ideas
from. 1t mast have been long time ago when
ladies were surrounded by bloody miners in tho
streets OF San Francisco, and shot at and insuled
generally. imagine that such row as that be-
tween DAVIS Adams, Larry Carey and tho
roughs must have been strange even in San Fran
cisco In It's widest times.
Miss RACHEL-Dld you ever know anything as
sudden as Dawson's love for Mary AdamsY 1t was
worse tnan a mushroom. Tor 1t Jumped up at q
glance from her soft, dark eyes. No wonder
Adams was suspicious OF him az first. Tor his con-
duct did look little singular.
FRED-Larrv Is a good character, sort OF
Mark Tapey;, His backthor rs, stick did good
tlOuQ0t OF cracking /
would think OF cracking nut.
Miss RACHEIe-lt is wonderful how neatly they
got out OF all their tight places. Three men
seemed to oe plenty to put tribe Of Indians to
FRED-rhe way they scooped up the gold made
my mouth water All they mad to do was to pick
It up. No wonder they got rich and puilt pig
gold Tor the taxing would amass q fortune In as
short time as they did
DRESS REFORM.
'ThOse girls appear to be having lively discus
sion IN the library suppose We step IN and sec
what II is all about" said the Doctor TO his WE
FELICIA las her mother enters)-Rache and are
having it hot and heavy over this book on "Dress
Reform" (Roberts Bros.l. l think that It Is
deal OF good sense IN 1t. The editor OF the book,
Abba Gould WoOlson. thinks that the way that
women dress Is an outrage, and she would Ike to
clap US all into Boomer costume. Imagine me
walking Fifth avenue or sitting in box at tho
opera dressed like Dr. Mary Walker.
MISS RACHEL-i0u may laugh at the dress as
mucn as you like, thnK 1t Is very amusing my
mas Week / quite envied ' Dr.. Mary. can con-
ceive OF no greater blessing than dresses that do
not touch the ground by half foot. / love to
wear long trains at party or an evening at
home. but 1t 0rends my sense Of the fitness Of
things to make street sweeper OF my pettl,oats.
nothing to be done about It. If ladies are to wear
skirts at all they VIII wear them long. We Ameri.
cans tnnK that there is an air OF reckless wealth
about silk skirt That drags through the mud and
slush. 1t IS on the same principle OF some per-
thinking 1t looks generous TO fill your tea cup
Mrs. NoKroN--I should say that there was con-
siderable difference between this book and the
"UgE Girl Papers" you were reading last week.
FBLICIA-A decided difference: and l believe
more in The "Ugy Girl PAPERS" than In this BOOK.
1t Is much better for woman to make herself
handsome than to rob heraelf OF every trace OF
beauty. as she would II she followed the rules laid
Miss RACHEL-Felicia am ashamed OF you; you
do not mean what you say.
FEIICIA-Well perhaps do not mean all that
my words seem to; but do hate THIS nagging at
girls about their dress. We are not so dreaduly
unhealthy yot we do not do the things these ureSs
MISS kACHEL--lt IS the hobby OF these reformers
to have the weight of all Tue clothes come upon
the shoulders. That would never do for me. DO
you remember, Felicia, the agonies we suffered IN
those redlugOteS Oh ours.
FELICIA--indced DO. Life was burden with
all tnat weight on my shoulders; 1t seemed to drag
Inc TO the earth.
MISS RAcHEL-It may do for some people, but 1t
does not suit my Case. like some OF the weight
to come upon my nlps. Now that you nave gotten
over some o. your Indignation. my lair cousin. I
Will confess that 40 not agree altogether with
the opInlons set 1Ort III tnis little volume. In the
first place believe In the use not the abuse, OF
corsets l should la TO pieces without them.
FELICIA-Ihe writer says that she never yet
knew u girl or woman to Say that her corSets were
laced tightly.
MISS RACHEL-Of course not for those who do
lace won't acknowledge It, and those who DO not
have nothing TO acknowledge. Aunt Jdne what
90 you think of this Here IS one woman doctor
VINO saws that we should not wear our clothing
any thicker over the stomach rnan any otner part
OF the BODY that there Is too mucn heat there
way, and that all our underciothes should be maue
In one piece, SO that no one part shall be any
warmer than another
Mrs. NORrON-All have to say Is that the woman
is crazy. know that little extra flannel over
the stomach in Cold weather Is q great help.
These reforming women are humpugs who merely
write Tor Tie sake OF nOtOrety. have no latin In
them. We're not Our grandparents as healthy and
as strong as any peopie need want to be- ana tney
wore coIsets, hoods, thick quilted petticoats and
any thing else they wanted to?
FELICIA-Ilere Is one woman who thinks that
opera singers even should dress In something ike
Boomer clothes. Imagine the beautiful Kellogg
the stately Nilsson IN pantaloons aud short
skirts. with ner hair cut short and Just reaching
"A np cken