St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-03-11

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Readings in private parlorS have be-
come immensely popular in the East.
Some charity generally furnishes an
excuse for them. Large-siZed cards are
issued which give notice of the event in
the following form:
Mrs. SIS reading at Mrs. BIS,
Fifth street, Saturday, Feb. 20, at 2:9o
o'clock.
Tickets, S2.''
The reader sits upon a raised daiS,
which is covered with handsome rug
or scarlet cloth, so that she can see and
be seen by everybody in the room. She
is dressed Superbly, and beside here is a
table Ornamented with flowers in ele-
giant vases. The programme is varied
with music, vocal or instrumental, and
in either case the performer gives two
specimens of his skill, without so much
as waiting to hear how his audience
does after one. AT present this double
performance is quite according to
Grundy, however little it may be ac-
cOrding to the feelings OF those per-
formed upon.
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What st. Paul charity will step need
lily and accommodatingly to the front
ank demand a-reading as its only saliva
ton? Such an entertainment must GER
tainly be stupid enough to be proper in
Lent, and what an admirable opportun-
nity it affords for the exhibition of a
pretty girl with the ability to read But
where is the girl with such ability? 1t
was said to society women the other
day, The elocution fever does not seem
to have taken the girls here"
For which blessing, dear Lord, make
us truly grateful" she devoutly replied.
*%
Have you seen the latest thing in ex-
pressions of bereavement? 1t is a
mourning ring-a heavy gold band, per-
fectly plain, with seal in the shape of
a coffin. 1t has place through which
can be seen a skeleton in gold. On the
inside of the ring is an inscription Of
black enamel, giving the initials of the
deceased and the date of death. In
Chicago, for date of death, they substi-
tute date of divorce; and for chronic
widows, the rings come gotten
up on the family monument plan-With
room for the names of all the departed
ones. There is nothing like it for wild
overs. When a widower has his hat
Off, even the instinct of an old maid can
not tell whether he is in the market.
simple turn of the finger he announces,
Extraordinarily for proposals"
*.*
Speaking of widows makes me
think of photograph saw hanging in
a mans library here in St. Paul this
week. 1t was the picture Of the man
bending over the coffin of his wife. The
expression of his face made one almost
hear the photographer say: ga
little more solemn, please. Just let the
corner of your mouth droop trifie
more on this side, and let your eyes
rest mOurnfully about where my finger
is. There, that's better. Steady,
now, as dscOnsolate as you
can. Splendid! Thank you; that
is ALL" Then the man probably
uncrooked his back with sigh of re-
lief, and carefully folded up the spick
and span white handkerchief he holds
in one hand and put it away to be used
at the funeral. After that | haven't a
dOubt-he is an awful Screw-but he
fell to trying to argue away the extra
charge always made for photographing
two figures, basing his argument on the
ground that corpse in coffin is pure
scenery, and should go into the bill as
well as the picture as such. The ways
OI li6 leuIuell CHluec llldy NC pcCulidI,
but to perfect his peculiar ways go to
this st. Paul widower, mon Celestial.
TIE LENTEN QUIET.
A little card playing, a little tobog-
gaming, calling, shopping, and saying
ones prayers as the church calendar
prescribes, make up the sum of social
life at present.
Mrs. Gardner S. Moore swerved few
hairs breadth from the Lenten track
last Friday afternoon and gave tea
party for her sister, Mrs. John FL. Nor
rison, who has just returned from trip
abroad. 1t was very informal affair,
given chiefly to afford Mrs. Morrison an
opportunity to hear the celebrated comb
orchestra, composed of Nushkas, who
covered themselves with glory, un-
der the leadership of Miss Sturgis, on
Washington's birthday. Among the
guests were Mesdames Kenneth Clark,
w. f. Newell and j. p. Elmer, and
Misses Gibson, Ruger, Perrin, Dean,
Griggs, Gordon, Sturgis, Rice and
NThnotnn