The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-07-14

Journal and give neither the paper nor the
writer credit, will please take notice, for
they come under the same head in the cate
CORY of cOrmorants.
Miss Abigail Dodge (Gail Hamilton has
made Washington her winter quarters for
years because she is a cousin of ex-Secretary
Blaine and made his house her home. Her
literary work is too we'll known to need any
mention here, and the lady herself is too lit
tie known for one to be able to say much
about her, personally. She is plain, brown
eyed lady of the most unpretending type, as
truly great-minded people usually are. Ot
that much -maligned class, the spinster she
furnishes another proof of the advantage
gained by women of talent in choosing
single life. If Gail had married we might
never have had her matchless disquisiton on
the art of rearing children, published in
Harper's Bazaar several syears ago, which,
like the newspaper recipe, reads better than
it cooks. She did not even take Madame
Glasss precaution, and advise: FIRST catch
your hare" 1t has been loudly whispered
here that Miss Dodge is better in dealing in
politics, and that the honorable ex-senator
and ex-Secretary is not slow to avail himself
OF her aid in that line, in which Miss Dodge
furnishes proof also, of another truth-this
time very loud suspicion of my own-vlz:
that woman, though always relegated to the
post of second fiddle, is often a Cremona.
Four of our resident poetesses are from
Nealy, Mrs A. L. Ruter Dufour, Mrs. Rebec-
ca Ruter Springer and Mrs. Emily Thorn :on
Charles.
Mrs. Nealy and Mrs Dufour have identi-
fed themselves so long with Washington So
ciety that they are sadly missed now, when
they are so often absent from our gatherings
on account of i'll health. They are both
handsome women. Mrs. Nealy's face is a
strong one, and though her slender form has
grown trifle stout she is graceful as of old.
Mrs Dufour has the sweetest face IN the city
to-day, as pure and lovely as a girls l do
not think either of these ladies have ever
published IN book form, but their news
paper and magazine contributions are fine
enough to entitle them to be classed among
our writer's. Mrs. Rebecca Springer. the wife
of Hon. VIM. A. Springer, of Illinois, is a
sister of Mrs. Dufour, both daughters of DIR.
Ruter, of New Albany. Mrs. Springer has
published story entitled "Beechwood." and
1 understand she Is busily at work getting
another ready for the Sabbath-school press.
This lady has never mingled in society much,
being devoted to her family Sheis younger
than Mrs. Dufour by several years, but hard
ly as handsome, though she is comedy to
look upon.
Mrs. Charles is too we'll known in Indi-
aua to need any introduction from me, only,
as l am happy to tell you, that she is pros
porous here, and in moderate health, Her
frail body has long borne toe
heavy a burden, but now her son
has grown to manhood, broad breasted and
strong" and is beginning to lift the load
over to his own more powerful shoulders.
He holds a position in the Patent Office and
every dollar he earns goes to make the little
mother comfortable. Mrs. Charles has pub
lished a volume of poetry, as most of you
know, and is preparing another as fast as
other cares will allow, she being engaged at
present in the publication of paper in the
interest of the ex-soldiers, called the Ma
tional Veteran-a good paper, too, and well
worth the patronage of the boys in blue.
Lillian Razelle Messenger is another sweet
singer in our midst. She published, several
years since, a volume of fugitive pieces un.
der the collective title of Threads of Fate, u
which is full of beauty, though often so OBJ
scure that ordinary people find it a labor to
understand her fully. This is another
| doubly gifted with personal beauty as well
as genius. She is a lady of no ordinary
charms of person,
Mrs. Mary E. Kali is pretty widely known
through her campaign songs for Grant
though of all her writings these have the
least poetical merit. She has published 6
great many songs in sheet music, and does
considerable newspaper work in the shape
of correspondence and poetical contributions
beside. She edited a paper in Ohio tina
welded considerable political power at one
time, but l have forgotten the name.
MoUsE-IN-THEC CORNER,