The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-03-04

says 10 another. "and where are you going next
summer" The winter house, and the winter
campaign are only just opened, but the NOV
ing mania-the desire for change is always on
the alert. have noticed that there ara more
visitors from Maine than any other State hers.
Did my just written word "Inania" bring this
fact to my mind? Herein lies little mt OF
wit and humor which comes back TO me with
the suggestion. Two years ago was dwell
er in one of those Beacon Hill boarding houses
back of the gilded dome. Two-thirds of the
other "guests" were, 1t turned cut, from
Maine. Some had come down for few weeks
OF opera and theatre, others for the winter.
One day there was comparing of notes at ta-
Bile, and when it was found that Maine tipped
the balance, one of the handsomest OF her
daughters locked up with sly smile and said
We take Boston every year by Main(e) force,
which proves us lot OF maniacs" But Bos-
ton has great admiration great apprecia-
ton of these maniacs, and like much to be thus
taken by force. heard lady, who bad met
great many people, say the other day that she
had never yet met dull woman from
Maine"
And while thu Strangers come in forco to
attend the amusements, the native and the
householder are making the most OF these last
days Of winter iunketing. We are on the
home stretch now, and the fun is fast and fu-
rioue. Irving and Terry aud Booth, with the
Henschell concerts, the princess Ida" and "a
Trip to Africa last week, and for this, the
italian Opera, the Ideals, with any quantity of
readings and "side shows to entice the money
from one's pockets At the very last of this
February week came George Cable again, and
the Meionatn hall has been full with the kind
of people one doesn't seem to meet in crowds
elsewhere. 1t is the kind of people that one
saw at the Arnold Iectures-poets, artists,
journalists and literary people of all kinds.
The Irving and Terry nights have called out
notable audiences, not merely in numbers, but
in quality. One sees the dianends at the grand
operas. 1t was not the diamond people who
made the Irving audiences notable, though
one could see the sparkle now and then It
was 'the culture of Boston" There were
nights when all the Back Bay seemed to be
present, and between the acts held sort of re-
ceptiUn-going from seattle seat to exchange
compliments and criticism. But criticism is
not The word now to use in connection with
irving and Terry. Even the critics have pref
ty we'll dropped it here, and spend their time
in staccato notes of admiration. I must not
forget to speak of the success of the Grand Ar.
my entertainment, "The Old Boys ct the
Front, which noted in my last as to come
off this week. 1t came off with flying colors.
There was reality to it, depth OF genuine
feeling with the actors that stirred the audi
ence Some of the veterans ii sifs audience
were saisIIiTeu to tears, and no wonder.
= Lap year parties are the fashion of course
The young ladies who have had the craze for
Parloa cooking lessons now have the opportu-
nifty to put them in practise and fascinate their
leap year SWANS through the palate as well as
through their less mundane attractions. Ii that
old remark is true that the way TO- mans
heart is by way of his stomach these leap year
parties where the fair ones storm the citadel
with their Parlos cookery must be the most
successful of the season. But the young men
are knowing in this day and generation, and
they are perfectly well aware that these dainty
dishes fit to set before king, would not be
their daily fare from these. fair ones if they
should domicile her by their side in the pretty
little Marlboro street Back Bay houses.
One of these knowing ones whom I wot of.
asked his mother not great many days ago, as
they parted from pretty Bostonese in her
best clothes, what that suit had probably cost
The mother did little mental sum in arith-
metic and laid the result before her curious
man-child. He elevated his eyebrows and
gave little long low whistle-a Back Bav
whistte 1t was very refined whistle
When he had got his lips back from
that pickering performance he said quietly,
s'Well, mother, you won't lose your boy this
year!'
So perhaps the leap-year parties even with
the Parloa cooking thrown in will not be so
much of success after all, if by success these
Parloa cooks mean matrimony. But perhaps
they don't; perhaps they are only taking their
little fling, and they fling in the cooking, and
by and By they'll settle down, and add their
sweet single little selves to tbe-how many is
it this year of the surplus sisterhood-7O,0 900? ]
leave the fact, the suggestion and the question
to somebody more knowing than am.
NORA PERRY