Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-04-02
Alefau0rla 6az&tte
TUESDAY EVENING, APRIL 2.
A Morning at the westmoreland.

L
soene at the Westmoreaud Club on Saturdays
between the hours of ten and two, or rather lei
Us say from ten to one, for at one or there
abous the fun begios and chatter, rather thar
reading, becomes the order of the day. Fol
the benefit ofthose who do not know already.
we observe that Saturday is the day on which
the reading room of the Westmoreland is open
to the ladies, and the result is that that most
we'll conducted establishment has become on
Saturdays the ''head centre" of very exoIu
siVe aud select symposium, whose ostensibe
tpurpose in going there is to read.
Those who really care to read-who do not
have the opportunity at home-and who 60 by
ten o'clock, can enjoy an hour or two Of quiet
that is delightful the room itself is very attrac.
tive, the literature that it offers is the choicest
and best Of its kind. and the privilege thus ex-
tended by the gentleman of the club is pecu'
liarly agreeable one, from the fact that there
kind. Thus it follows that up to twelve O'Clock
the room is occupied by few appreciative
people who enjoy it in legitimate and profit
able way; quiet prevails which is entirely com
Portable, because it is not enforced, but asserts
itself as the result of common inclination and in.
terest. After twelve first. class comedy begins
that is thoroughly divertlng, for about this time
| (alone or in oouples) the visitors drop 10 who
90 because it is the fashion, who think it we'll
| to affect love Of reading, whethor it be gen.
| uine or not, and who desire to look as imposing
| as possible during the seanoe. They are elab-
| oratey gotten up, and once upon the threshold
their countenances assume an expression OF the
| most rigid and irAexibIc solemDity, while they
eagerly advance (tip.toe) lest they break the
stiffness, and take UP their positions by wiu.
dow, hearth, or table, with book.
1t is clear that their minds are quite too
much preoccupied with the absorbing thought
I'VE must be st!' to admit Of any great in.
hux of ideas on any other subject whatever,
aud it is equally clear that nothing but the
strictest presence Of miod can ensure them
against that indulgence Of the "uuruly mem.
ber' which would be SO damaging to the gen.
uiae appearance of tho literary proclivities aa
sumed for the nonoe. But be that as it may, in
little while the real readers quietly retire
as the fictitious tide flows in, and soon around
the long green table (upon which the reading
matter is conveniently disposed) the visitors
are closely ranged. Each one is intensely 90.
cupied, looks as if she had been reading there
for hours, apd was now wrought up to very
concert pitch" Of Interest in tho mystery Of
some tremendous plot or the climax of some
solid argument. The scene is one of rare co.
lemnity and matchless imposition. A solemn
stiffness reigns that is oppressive, and not an
eye is lifted from it's task, when all at once
('tis now near one o'clock) there rises on the
stairs clatter and a buzz Of tongues that oan
not be ignored, and in flows current that is
to carry everything. before it and emanclpatee
~ IL 49, kho
imposed. The new arrivals are for the most
part the very brightest, smartest women Of the
day ; women who really read at home and
everywhere, because they like it. and who
having but little while to spare, and knowing
that the time is quite too short to read with any
sort of satisfaction, don't pretend to it at ali.
They have come to see who's there to amuse
themselves and other people, and to 'adjourn
the house." They mean to stay till two o'clock,
and while they are there they mean to talk
themselves and to be talked to, too.
"How dye do," says No. l, brisk little
body with beaniDg smile, as she stops IN the
door With fashion book in one hand and an
umbrella in the other.
OF course the students all look shocked but |
they contrive to bow in solemn silence still, and
reyerenty drop their eyes again upon their |
books. Nothing daunted, No. comes in, looks |
over somebody's shoulder, and Gays lthls time !
in stage whisper that rings all around the |
room =
"Aro you all really readiug?"
Deeply insulted, of course, the student signi. |
Ges that such is her engrossiDg occupation, and
drops her eyes again.
"What is it?" says No. l, deliberately taking |
up the magazine and looking at the caption.-l
"Oh! Mrs. Siddons as Lady Macbeth, with
cotemporaIy notes by George Joseph Bell
Yes, I've read it. Nice article, isn't it? II
like the Nineteenth Century, DOM you?'
affirmative response 10 dumb show, but |
No. is gaining ground, the Students rigid |
face has thaWed into a smile, she begins to !
think of freedom, and her eyes are following |
the little woman who now moves on (aready |
reinforced by an accomplice who has just come |
iD) and says to another victim:
"Why, how dye do? You here Why you |
don't say go? didn't know you cared for !
reading" twas ever anything more orueN.-
"WclI let's sec what you've got?' locking at
her book "Ah! Dick Tsylor's "Reminiscences
of the War. " "Wby, dear me, do you think
that's funny? John said be was dreadfully |
funny man, and | read those things because
thought they would be funny, but indeed l
didn't think SO; do you know. pom my word, |
J. q great UCGl I2LUel lc1u DllC'd'OEaC LII tuo
Sunday Transcript -
This rings around the room in On audible |
tone of voice, and Brio Brac'' who happens
to be 10 an opposite corner fooling With "Mc,
Leod of Dare" looks up and thioks the speaker
delightful creature, that she'd like to know.
But the invading army has increased and
feels its power; two or three others now are
busy "breaking up the session." and the spirit
of resistance fegned so we'll begins to waver.
One, wretched little wreck Of a marriea.
woman. who has married dreadfully and bad e
horrid time, whose only last remaining trace Of
beauty is pair of sparkling eyes and meIaa
choIy smile, accosts we'll preserved and th'ifty
spins,er of some ten and twenty that she hasn't
seen for years, and says With lapguid dravl
"Wbg how do you do I'm very glad to see
you. Have you forgotten me?"
"Oh no" replies the spiuster, I'm very
we'll, thank you. "
YES" says the Ianguid wreck, why you
do look very WE'LL" land With pstroniziug 81:
Of pity} she continues, 'and you're no. mar.