The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1883-04-07

| hpI anu ScpN lht
Dry, my pages of life are as vivid as wher
they were first conned. Shall lie blam
ed for wishing them to be read?
William Writ resided in Baltimore
when | knew his family. They were
considered very intellectual, and Mrs.
Writ issued the best and haudsomest
Flera's Dictionary" ! presume, ever
given to the public, showing not only a
fine fancy, but a great knowledge of the
poets and judgment in selecting mean
ings to the flowers designated. An
amusing little incident can be mentioned
in this connection. Two friends of mine
Ga naval and an army officer serenaded
the young ladies one night-onc with his
guitar, the other with his voice. In their
| appreciation of the treat presented to
them they threw out the flowers they had
worn that evening-natural flowers OF
course-but the romance was totally
destroyed when my young officers found
in each bouquet very practical-hairpn,
MI Webster can never be forgotten by
me, because | received merited rebpke
from him. 1t was Nahant. was con-
sidered good singer i'll those days, and
al his request was led to the piano. The
large room was full Of visitors, but my
sole ambition was to sing for Daniel
webster. So | must acknow ledge, in
the spirit of what the girls call "shoring
CD, L Sang Beethoy VEINS "Adelaide."
snail ever forget the expression of that
large, full dark eye, and the smile, half
Satire las he said ''4Nor will you sing me
simple ballad?' No praise for brilliant
execution. LteN small.
Society in Baltimore was enlarging-
"ldenening its circle and receiving in it
cultivated Eirginians-our young men
oestowing their affections on lovely girls
from our sister State. Assemblys were
held regularly, and attended by the elite
of the city. The theatre was not patron.
lied as much as now, for social gather
lngs superseded the drama. But the
French opera came to the Holiday Street
Theatre for eight nights, and we reveled
in music. Der Freyschutz,' La
Gazza Ladra," Somnambula, =" Bar
biere de Saville,' = Lucia di Hammer
moor We're the operas selected and
widely patronized. And the opera
brought out another feature among the
belles-that of hair-dresser; and it was
considered quite the thing to require the
services of Monsieur Daix.
Washington Irving visited the city to
attend the wedding of his nephew and
Miss Tenant. lie was the observed OF
all observers" Pleasant and genial,
when once reused to converse, he fire.
quently fell into fits of abstraction which
he found dit1icult to cast off. | received
an invitation to meet him at the house
of Mr.. Alexander Lorman, at the corner
OF Charles and Lexington streets. On
entering the room was greeted thus by
my host: 81 have been waiting for you
to make Mr. Irving talk" and then the
introduction took place. Fearing could
not meet the demands of my kind enter
tainer awkwardly, for purpose, swept
Oft from the pier table small, silver
vase 1t was enough; for lie not only
stopped to pick up the flowers, but in
his sympathy for me said many pretty
things, both of flowers and me So the
ice was broken, and Mr. Irving was the
| star of the evening.
To show to the daughter of John Neal
the friendly contributions of her father to
| my album was a pleasure granted me
last summer, which Mrs. Sherwood, her.
self SO justly known, appreciated highly.
And lastly. j must make mention of
Brantz Mayer. the friend of my girlhood
the cherished friend of my mature years,
who, though passed from mortal sight
leaves mementoes of friendship never to
be forgotten. His children and his chill
dren's children recognize me As their
| fathers friend under the sweet title of
"Aunt.'
| >hclS vi we're
given then than now. mean large dan
| cling parties at private houses. Invita-
tons were issued for two weeks previous
to give ample time for preparation--for
we had no stores for ready-made gar
mentS of lace or bTocade, and the taste
and ingenuity of the ladies were put in
to requisition to design trimmings for
their ball dresses Madame Bonaparte
was always conspicuous in black velvet,
relieved by the exquisite diamonds pre-
sented to her by Napoleon /, and moth
ing gratified her more than notice taken
of her pretty watch, with the royal mi
tial n in diamonds, set in the enameled
case.
One brilliant bali was given by Mrs
M at the Assembly Rooms. her OWL
house not being lase enough to accom-,
modate her extended circle of acquant
ance-and a fancy ball, given by Mrs
Ben Cohen, is still remembered for its
| brilliancy. SO successful was it in beauty
| VI SOoeuhCS lIdG IL was ltDCftlCu JIG iol
lowing week at one of the assemblies
My own dress was one hundred years old
and nothing borrowed for the occasion
but diamond necklace loaned me tt
complete the costume. AS | did moi
cram myself with history to keep up the
character, | was rather startled whel
Mr.. Kennel rushed up to me and sale
with great 6mpressment, " Did your lady
ship ever meet with the immortal Ad
dison?' / got out of the difficulty b,
saying | had received an Introduction
but that evening had fallen into a trance
from which | awakened only the pas
year. Indeed, madame. Then you
must be astonished at the wonderful adj
vancement the world has made - "Trul,
So" I replied; land in literature espe.
cially. l am now reading novel by ont
of you American authors, which, 70
graphic description, fine wit and purit,
of style, cannot be surpassed
"Ah. madame. is that 50? Will 20,
favor me with the name of the book p
Swallow Barn
Mr.. Kennedy clasped his head in boil
hands and rushed OIL amid the laughte
of the group around us. | write this lit
tie anecdote as it occurred, to give SOM
with the intellectual vein, which rendere,