Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-12-25
THE NOBLE CHARACTERISTICS

THE NOBLE CHARACTERISTICS
OF our prominent ladies than to be scruti-
nizing their apparel. 1t seems to me de-
moralizing to have the dress and appear
ance of ladies described. In two recent
articles of the Argondut, the first and Sec
ond classes of San Francisco society have
been made the subject of keen but ad-
mirable satire, striking in the right direc-
ton. We hear so much of fashionable life
in San Francisco through society notes and
personal items, we are led into many errors
concerning San Francisco LADIES' find
many of them opposed to the publicity
given to private entertainments. Ii lady
is elegantly attired she should be satisfied
to please her friends, while those, perhaps,
of greater attractions are forced, through
necessity, to appear in palmer garb-grace
full, as seen, but not bearing the critics de-
scription of dress. To be described as
beautiful, when all your friends know you
as plain woman, certainly must wound,
or there must be strata in the nature it
would be well to inspect. To allow critic
to enter private house and carry away
items in regard to guests Is certainly
beyond the refined understanding.
AT A RECENT KETTLEDRUM,
Very largely attended, the lady whose So
ciety was very much courted possessed the
independence to dress very plainly, accord
ing to her income, and was satisfied to at
tract by brilliancy of conversation and
charm of manner. ] spoke in a former
letter OF circles of ladies who meet for men
tai improvement. Mrs. Williams, daugh-
ter of c. P. r. James, lectures to seven
classes during the week, taking history,
modern literature, Shakespeare, German
and French authors Tor her subjects. Mrs.
Williams has wonderful powers TO interest
and cause you to think for yourself. She
has great command of language, combined
with rare intelligence and memory and a
certain magnetism impossible to describe.
One of the librarians of a public library
remarked it was impossible to supply the
demand for some OF the French writers,
and asked the cause. The interest drawn
to Racine, Moliere and Corneiile by listen
ing TO these lectures and speaking OF them
to friends mad awakened desire to read
,, these works. Does not this speak loudly
in favor of awakening
AN INTEREST IN THE CLASSICS
OF all nations l am thoroughly in earn
est in regard to the necessity of interesting
the young in that which is worth knowing.
Adear, old, gray haired Frenchman came to
me on business. His face frightened when
he heard me speak to him in his own
tongue he became eloquent as he told me,
tho Ugh unfortunate IN many ways, he was
rich in having such friends as Lamartine
and Victor Hugo, and his face fairly
beamed as he mentioned Moliere and other
French humorists. He would be very
lonely here, he understood so little of the
spoken language, but for these friends,
who consoled him.
There are so many beautiful things on
exhibition for Christmas gifts this year.
First, the exquisite cards which are so APP
propriate for Christmas greetings and the
renewal of friendships and broken CORE
spondence. Our own cards compare IA
vorably with those from the celebrated
house of Marcus Ward of London. have
admired particularly the art books and the
portfolios of choice engravings from paint
ipgs of old and modern masters. Among
art books, cart Monuments, collection
of engravings from the works OF
THE EARLIEST PERIODS
Known to US, embracing art in architect
ure, sculpture and painting. In one
portfolio, to be issued in parts, l noticed
copies from Raphael. Titan, Dominichino.
Guido, Rubens, Turner, Scheffer, Dore,
Tadema, and many others. How pleasant
to receive these every month. There is
sufficient to study and to learn from the
subjects introduced to keep one busy
many quiet evenings, and to afford subject
for conversation during many more. By
such books and photographs we can be-
come acquainted with old and modern mas-
tiers, learn their peculiar styles, and gain
ideas which would assist US IN selecting for
our homes. have seen some of the finest
paintings in San Francisco; but some OF the
paintings to be found in the homes of the
rich reflect upon the taste of the pur-
chasers.
will take you some day with me to see
some exquisite works of art in some of the
beautiful homes 1 particularly wish to
show you some homes where the individual
tastes of the jewellers therein are displayed,
where even the frescoing was designed and
the furniture made from models furnished
by themselves. nj.