Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-05-26

ments OF the Vanderbilts or the
Astors, and Mrs. Childs gold dinner
service is vastly superior to the
more famous one Of Mrs. Astor. Mrs.
Childs is also the possessor Of the Nea.
politan china Service, which her husband
bought over the heads Of the South Ken
sington Museum for $4,000, and it is
said that with the cut glassware, candle
lahra, and other appointments, she has at
least $50, 900 invested in table decora-
tons Her cook is one of the best IN
this country, and her dinners are perfect.
She has entertained more distinguished
foreigners, and Americans as well, than
any other woman in this country. Mrs.
Childs's reputation is secure. AS mat
ter Of fact she is the real leader of So
ciety in this country.
ANOTHER KIND or WOMAN.
This pushing little woman, with snap
ping black eyes, who comes dancing out
OF the Victoria Hotel, is Miss Kate
Field. She is not, as many suppose, a
sister of Cyrus W. Field. She Is no re-
lation to him. Hers is a very familiar
figure on Broadway and Fifth avenue
these days. She dresses with remark
able good taste, and while fighting Nor
monism she does not forget that a French
bonnet looks well on her dainty head,
and that a properly-cut gown from the
great man dress-maker in Pans sets oil
her trim figure 10 advantage. When IN
New York she lives in the Victoria Hotel
in a suite of apartments not IA from that
occupied by Mrs Cleveland. Her rooms
are full of pictures. 6ric-0-Oroc, and the
latest books and magazines. She IS IN
vited out very much, but is not seen IN
society as often as formerly.
1t has always been a mystery to Miss
Fields friends why she remains single,
and there was report awhile ago that
she was TO be married. This is unfortu-
nately not So 1t is said that at one time
she was engaged to be married to a dash
ing Spaniard, but that he was false to his
VOWS. and Miss Field turned against him
and the rest Of mankind at the same
time. There is one woman IN New
York who is always greeted with a
round of applause whenever she APP
pears in n public meeting or on pub
lie platform. 1t is Mrs. Della Parnell, tae
mother of the great Irish leader. She Is
a pleasant faced old lady. whose sole
ambition seems to be to aid her son in
his noble work Of freeing Ireland She
never tires of talking about him or the
Irish cause, and she has raised thou
sands of dollars by her own personal
efforts to be spent in helping her unfor-
tunate kinsfolk across the sea. 1t was
whispered about awhile ago that Mrs.
Parnell was losing her mind. This, l
am happy TO say, 10 not 80. She often
overwOrks herself and becomes physi-
cally disabled, but her mind IS as clear
as the MONDAY sun, and she knows
every move that is being made by the
great Home Rule party.
In manner she is pleasant and agreea-
bic. She is easily approached, and
makes friends with everybody with whom
she comes in contact. Her income IS
small. For many years her home was IN
Bordentown, n. j. but the old place IS
going 10 rack now, and Mrs Parnell Is
more frequently seen in this city than
ever before.
AN EDITORS CLIMB.
1t was more an accident or good luck
than newspaper enterprise, / fear, that
made me the depository OF the last chat
OF Allen Thorndike Rice about himself
and his career and that chat was at once
so free and comprehensive that 1t be-
came Of deep interest, and even OF i'm
portance, when he was suddenly struck
down.
During the last week of his life he
spent two days in Washington exchang-
inc calls with the Russian Minister and
getting his final instructions from Secre-
tary Blaine before sailing RS Minister to
Russia, and it was my fortune to see
considerable Of him and talk with him
much during his stay. The first day he
assigned to the State Department, the
second day to the interests Of the North
american Rcu,ew.
Last winter he arranged with me to
look after the Washington interests OF
his magazine. to suggestavailable topics,
and help him to induce prominent men
to write articles.
When he called on me told him what
| had done and gave him list of topics
and of writer's.
"Do you know Secretary Window
very well - he asked.
| answered that 1 had the honor.
can right go up and introduce me, "
he said.
We walked up to the Treasury De-
partment. 1t was 3 o'clock. | had
newspaper-man's privilege of entry, but
the door was at that hour closed to
strangers. "You are New York news
paper-man - said, as We approached
the Cerberus, land / will use that fact. "
"Wait, said Mr.. Rice, 1" ! am afraid
that won't do. | am virtually news
paper-man and am proud of the guild,
but ana not technically one, and cant
afford lust now to crawl under the tent.
Can't YOU get me n card ,"
At that moment It occurred tome that,
az Minister TO Russia, perhaps he had
all privileges, and / proclaimed at ran
dom TO the doorkeeper that this visitor
was thus on footing with the senators.
That functionary turned the key and
bowed low. We passed up.
After the first words of complaisance
were said Mr.. Rice added " Mr. Secre-
tary, the North american ReUicW would
be delighted to have an article from your
pen. Subject and title, Interest 1t
is theme you have studied. You once
saved the country many millions of dol
lars by the bold adoption of u policy Of
funding at a low rate, and you certainly
have views worth hearing as to the cause
of the continual fall in the rate of inte
rest.
Secretary Window laughed, thanked
the editor for his invitation. and replied
that he could not possibly think of try
ing to write anything while so much en-
crossed IN the public business as ut
present. After that, if such a time
should ever come, he would see. There
was little argument by MIR. lice in ia
favor OF it, and an exchange of good
wishes between the high officials, and
We bowed ourselves out
In tine evening he drove around and
asked me to call with him upon a Su-
preme Court justice whom he had never
met, hut from whom he wished TO evoke