The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-29

portly, well-fed father hearkening the sins of a
| poor thin. miserable woman. who doesn't look
half as sinful as he does, go down the stone
alley past the beautiful garden behind the
! cathedral, while the mockirg birds and parrots
overhead make most frantic fun of your bonnet
or the fit of your basque, or something else
| about you which seems to divert them. On
Royal street, not far from the Cathedral, you
may gaze at Madame Delphines' house, with
It's oddly tiled roof wrapped in the
| interest which Cables brain has woven
around it. General Jackson's headquarters
and the house where the famous chess-player,
| Paul Morphy, once lived are also in this street.
| Not far from the Cathedral, also, is wonderful
| old second hand book store All old book stores
| are interesting and this one is especially SO.
| A glorious confusion of old books Piled to the
| ceiling on shelves, breast high on tables and
counters, kneedeep on the floors, with only mar
row paths in which you may walk. The pre-
siding genius is Napcleonic looking French
man, with breath significant of the vineyards
OF his own sunny France. Surely treasures are
here for bibliomaniacs Valuable sets and edi-
tons of books, clad in calf and gilt cheek-by-
jowl with the frivolous Seaside or the iniaui-
tous paper backed "Zola." Young Ladies'
Guides to Perfect Gentiity," Bridal Gifts, Az
fections, Offerings. Tuppers Philosophy and
the revised New Testament seem most multi
tudnous. There is something pathetic about
all secondhand books and especially about
these of New Orleans. The dismantled libra
ries of former Southern grandeur the scattered
gifts OF once affiuent owners. must awaken feel
ing of pity. sentimental though it be. The old
i Irenchman gives you the freedom OF
the old books and spoil Your gloves.
and sneeze your glasses off with the dust
and finally retire with two old books you have
no earthly for, but which your evil genius
forced upon you because one was only thirty and
the other only twenty cents. BY the time you
have seen the old French Opera house, the old
St Louis Hotel, now refitted and gorgeous, and
peeped into all the bird stores, shell stores and
other odd little shops of Exchange alley, and
have bumped against lot of other folks indulg-
suggest lunch. The Christian Womans Ex-
change. on Bourbon street, is of the incest
places known 1t is wholly womans affair.
lady at the cashiers desk, girl-waiters, and !.
you know in your soul that no hancock ever
concocted such restful cup of tea. The gumbo
soup is excellent the bread delicious, the butter
like Caesars wife, the tabecloth and napkins are
puritys self. and the water carafe the table
gives just the little touch of oddness requisite.
After lunch, to the exposition The vastness
OF the fair grows upon the visitor, and he who
is ambitious to see everything will have weary
time of it. Many follow a system of
dividing. the whole affair into sections,
and doing section every visit Lazy
folks who do not like making business
of pleasure just drift about, see what they can,
and let the rest go by. The Ohio annex to her
woman's department is full of beautiful work
from most deft fingers. Paintings, embroidery,
etching, woodcarving, china decorations, hammer
ed brass and copper all the most artistic aud new
est kinds of woman.s handiwork, are here exhib-
tied. Some books by Ohio women were in case
in this display, Edith Thomas's poems and Miss
Spragues Earnest Trifer" among them Miss
Spragues cabinet photograph stood near the
books-a very delicate, refined, thoughtful, girl
ish face, under much-plumed but most becom-
ing hat. In the woman's department proper
bewildering exhibit of feminine work is displayed.
The Northwestern States particularly to be
commended for their varied displays and the
tasteful arrangement thereof. Dakota's walls
are covered with dark green CLOTH on which are
wrought various devices in her native grains and
grasses, the effect being beautiful. large
buffalo-rug ornaments the center of the floor,
which is covered with the evercleany mating,
and the cases of fancy work and pictures are
arranged with charming effect Iowa. Kansas,
Minnesota, Colorado and Nebraska have
beautiful displays. The energy and
interest which is manifested by all
these representatives of our rowdy West are
attractive display, which is always thronged with
visitors. The Christian Women's Exchange is
also well represented by every sort and condi-
ton of fancy work, and fine neede-work well.
of this description is novel and entertaining
The fine knitting and lace work displayed makes
our best American work of this kind look some
what commonplace. shirt bosom of most
miraculously fine tucks and pufs and drawn
work made by the skillful fingers of Miss Isabel
Villa Garcia, of Mexico City, is ndubtabe evil
dence that rollerskating doesn't rage in Mexico,
or the time given to such elaborate stitching
would be otherwise employed by the average
Isabel. Connecticut shows chair that came
over in the Mayfower accompanied by pct-
ure of it's original owner, who occupied it on
her one hundredth birthday. In the New York
exhibit is an interesting assortment of needle
work, done by little girls of the Wilson Indus
trial School OF New York city. A lot of doyeys
are decorated in outline stitch with such appro-
pirate notices ''The needle and thimble are
industrys SYMBOL" when daylight is fit
ting we take out our knitting sPut
work in basket and spools in a casket." There,
the popular crazy guilt is omnipresent Reliable
statistics on the subject were not to be obtained,
but Mississippi and Missouri seemed to have the
greatest display of this whimsical invention,
while Florida signalizes herself by exhibiting
but one Whether this is to be accepted as an
intellectual pointer or as evidence that the
Florida womans leisure is all given over to kill
ing mosquitoes all visitors must settle to their
own satisfaction. Missouri boasts an autograph
quilt with the names of Queen Victoria and
Gladstone on its satin countenance. 1t is ut
tery impossible to give any adequate idea Of the
extensive display in the entire department for
women. No one can for a moment doubt that
the American woman is industrious, ingenious,
inventive and enterprising, and in this exhibit
she has far more to display than average femi.
nine endurance can investigate without ex-
haustion. The literary bureau of the womans
department IL an attractive place, and I found
myself happening in there every day, as one
drops into-a favorite book store for brief greet
ing with silent, but eloquent printed pages.
This bureau is now under the management Of
Miss Maud Howe, author of Newport
Aquarelle' and "San Rosario Rancho Miss
Howe has been so invisible during
my visits that I have been tempted to exclain1,
like Betsy Prig in reference to Sairey Camps
Mrs. Harris"-.I don't believe there amt no
SIGH person" Next my desire to behold a live
authoress fresh from Boston, cherish a strong
curiosity to see the young lady who is reported,
upon being introduced to Henri Watterson, to
have asked him what State he was from The
walls of this cozy little literary department arc
hung with beautifully framed pictures from st.
Nicholas, and other prints and wood-cuts of
woman's handiwork. Pictures of George Cable,
recognizable. The book-shelves which line the
room. are divided into States Massachusetts,
leading the van in numbers. Indiana having no