The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-03-17
A wuIM Oh TIE HOUR

Wv tttfHahNAr
wuTM Oh THE uOUR.
A whim Of the hour is pussy willow
lunches, which is not without a poetry
If suggestion as hafbingers OF the
coming spting One was giving to Mrs.
Cleveland d few days ago, at which all
the coloring of The dining room reminded
one Of the SOFT, dove COlOred catkins. The
hostess wore a pure gray gown girdled
win white ribbons. The china was
.triped with pale gTayish bands. Down
the middle of the table ran a strip OF
rrav satin embroidered IN silver, At each
.ornor az which was a statuetie IN silver
tf.et the Russian fashion, about six
inches in height OF d dryad, a wood
lvmph. or Diana hunting Great bowls
~ silver and crystal stood on the satin
dlled with pussy willow branches,
frightened by masses OF suowdrops and
ionouils Three pussy willow twigs lay
by tie plate Of each guest tied with broad
silver ribbons.
The wife Of the ex.President looks
older than on her earlier visit to New
y ork. but her smiie is as ready ana her
manner as unailectedly cheerful. Her
complexion is somewhat sal.Ow, rs #
late hours or strong coffee mad told ON
her. but she il far from suming a disap.
pointed or unhappy woman. At the
lunch la question she wore a pOlOnaise
or dsrk.gfoen velvet opening ia antique
sivle over "a p|etlicOat Of cream. Empire
hat of green velvet with dropping ostrich
plumes. 4 friend who has TAXED much
with Mrs. Cleveland lately feels sure of
two things. first. that she viii take al
vantage OF re ease from the CONSTANT OF
ana official position TO 90 IN for much
out.Of.dOOr exercise, even Of The athletic
solt. i|nstaucing the fact that She Is
taking Of having a tricycle. built 10 order,
and second, that her literary plans, If
she has any, are very vague and With
Out much encouragement from her
friends. The Gliders, will be unlikely for
he present 10 mature. Mr. Cleveland Is
In no haste TO have bis wife rush into
literature. The rush Of charitable and
literary and semi literary organizations
TO secure her name on their lists Of
officers OF members, is in view of the
very absurd rumOr that society did not
intend ID receive her, very amusing.
One lady says that such proposition
reach her Il the rate OF Two and three by
every mail.
In view of the common theory that
tue MortOn's will be the social
lights Of The present administration, !,
is Of some very slight interest to note
hat before her departure for New York,
Mrs. Morton set a precedent if she keeps
il up In W ~ashingtOn, it will mount 10 a
fashion Instead OK pinning flowers to
her cloak ON the street after the winters
fur sud flower" fancy, she let her
fagorites. pale pink roses they were
usually, lie ia her lap as she sat in her
carriage. The r0s,s, or bright hued tu-
lips sometimes, Were moi lied in y
boQuet or punched In any sort Of order,
but allowed 10 lie in loose, tangled fra.
grant masses. Sometimes she lifted one
10 her lips as she was whirled past a
friend on the park carrisge-wav, and
sometimes she tossed one 10 an nrchin
playing by the roadside. Ii is an cx
irayagsnt way Of wearing flowers, but If
a social leader says so, Of course 1t will
60.
Dolis fof those Harrison babies are
lust now the order OF the day. II The
casual mention by a newspaper cores
p0ndenf, OF the finding OF a rag baby on
he main stairway OF the White House
tho day It's new tenants moved 10, has
had bali the effect IN other quarters Of
The country that IL seems to have here.
those children can stock n doh city in "a
week or two. Rag babies indeed A
crippled girl In Brooklyn IS dressing a
court lady for the lille Marthena. The
herself interests me more than
her doll. have seen her, day after day,
for a year past, when hsye happened to
pAss through Il certain street ia tie
morning. She IS always At the window,
ana her face always wears the same pa
ibelic, troubled, w%ounding expression
that hannts one with n lingering sense OF
a tender iliad OF pain. Her gray-blHe
eyes. the delicate carve OF her lips, some
thing in the turn OF the head, and the
very facial continuation suggest Il mute
appeal Aud yet she Il. when You speak
to her. AZ cherry a. q chipping bird.
Hers Is q strange Story. Her lalher was
a German, wao brought her 10 this
country, having her mother ut home
uutll BIZ could supper. the Two 0i them,