Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-03-02
NEW YORK LETTER.
MEN, MANNERS, CUSTOMS, AND Cos
SIP or GOTHAM TOWN.
shepsrd's Dime r-stoddard's Failing
Health-The Prince and the Widow
New Fad in Handwriting, &c.
Correspondence o, tho Richmond DisD,,cn.l
NEW YORK, March I, Il

TO big dinner TO be given at the
Union League Club on tho evening OK
March 3D.. All the district Republican
leaders In this city have been invited. be-
SIDES score ~ other wellknown poiiti--
clans OF the city and State. Colonel Shepard
has no hesitation in saying that the OBJECT
OF his dinner Is 20 boom two OF his friends
for political ofices-that OF MAYOR ana
governor. just who these two men are
VIII not transpire until the evening OF the
dinner.
1t may not be out of place just here to
say that Colonel Shepard IS one OF the
most extravarant dinner-giyers in this
city. E1-Ministcr Edward Pierrepont, who
has on more thar one occasion stretchei
his legs under Yictoria's mahogany table IN
Buckingham Palace, and who has been en-
tertaincd at all the great houses in Europe,
said one evening recently. after dining st
Colonel Shepards house, that 10 was the
most magnificent banquet that ne had ever
sat down TO. The service was complete IN
every way. The glassware, the silver
ware, tho cooking, and tho wines were
simply perfect And, besides, there were
at least 81 900 worth Of rare orchids on
the table. Colonel Shepard gives one OF
these dinners 2 week during the winter,
and It Is pretty safe TO say they cost HIM
y, 900 apiece. His dinner to thepollticans
at the Union League Club will be reyels--
ton IN the manner of entertaining and
gastronomy if nothing else.
BICHARD HENRY sToDDARD's FAILING HEALTH.
Richard Henry Stoddard, poet, club
man, h,0'Gi1T. and first nighter, has be-
come so feeble az TO require the services or
some one 90 assist him IN going from place
20 place at night He is one Of the oldest
and most valued members OF the very eXclu-
sive Century Club, and can always be found
in his fayorite corner after dinner. He Is 10
longer young: his shoulders ale stopped;
he IS very thin, and his clothes mt him
far from snugly. His hair and beard are
very gray, and he walks with q shifting
the street: he still manages, however,
10 do a good deal OF literary work, and
in the ok-houses and among the pub
fishers Is considered one Of the best re
viewers IN this country. lie has very
positive opinions on oil subjects, partlcu-
larly poetry. He IS flooded with the et-
forts OF amateurs, and sometime, receives
a. many as one hundred illusions IN the
course of a week. His VITO, who IS also a
clever writer, usually answers all letters.
She ha, q touch Of kindness IN her nature
that her husband knows nothing about.
Whenever he does reply there Is now OF
couraging to a beginner.
THE PEISCE AND TIE PRETTY WIDOW.
A story has been in circulation for some
days % the effect that the Prince OF Wales,
Vhgwas very much smitten with a certain
American widow IN London this summer,
had instructed q leading bankin.-house to
forward 60 tbs wOmau's. address IN New
York each day costly basket Of flowers.
The maximum figure was placed at fifty
dollars per day, and as there was no mini
MUM. the story went that ttty dollars
worth of flowers were each day de
Lverpd % the beautiful woman WHO hal
captivated the heir 90 the British throne.
To - pretty enough story IN its way. out
~ lacks the essential element OF truth. At
least, the firm alluded 90 deny All know
ledge OK such commission. and the enc
woman who had been picked out by the
various C,ub-mcn for such distinction de-
MICS positively that she l. the recipient OF
any such courtesy from the Prince. As 1t
Is notorious that the Prince OF Wales IS III
debt up to his ewes and ears, the story
seems a trife incredible.
WILL THE PRINCESS or WALES WRITE?
II will be news 10 some people that an
American publisher has made an offer to
the Princess of Wales for "a series Of maya
zine articles. A polite note was sent 10
Marlborough House q few weeks ago al
dressed % tho Princess, conveying the N
formation that this publishing-house de-
sired a series of articles from her, and that
If she accepted the offer she could select
her own { treat them az she pleased,
and Was u, lo he bound down by any
rule as TO tnc length % her productions.
There il another feature Of the letter thot
il more apt 20 attract the attention OF the
Princess than the idea o. joining tic
literary circle. II was q blank check toI
- $50, drawn on one OF the best known
bonkir,r-houses in this country for her
frst article. The publisher il anxiously
awaiting - reply 10 his letter. lie Feels
sancuine that no Princess Will consent to
his proposition.
AFLOoD or Stanley LtTTRArUBE.
AoroDos Of literature, Stanley's forth
coming volume. and everything relating
70 his travels IN Africa. ~ being looked
forward 10 with the greatest OF interest
All the great publishing OF New
York have tried 10 get the American rlshti
70 his work. Only one. of course, could
succeed and now that the contract ha,
been duly signed with the successful
house. tho other publishers ere flooding
tho market with Stanley literature. AL
sorts and sizes of books about Stan
ley and Africa are on the news
stands. and are meeting with reaq}
sale. II is just possible that the pun
lie may become sauated with Stan
ley literature before tho. great explorer
Gets ms work on the market. The latest
nlyicos are Il the effect tnat about half OF
tbe book il compieted and the remainder
will be finished IN two weeks after Stanley
reaches London. Nothing l. known ~
tins city vet about the possibility Of a Visit
10 this country. The man who had MS
lecture course in charge during his last
visit here feels confident that he VIII per
suade him TO deliver course OF lectures.
He saws that sucn course would n5t
$50 ZOO. and would make the African hero
the Greatest card on the lecture platform.
AP1AYwEIGHr PAYS TO sEE HIS Own PLAY.
There was genuine sensation on the
Rjalfo the other day. A pair OF prnncine
hav horses drove up TO certain tneatIe III
This town. and from the carriage there
emerged a well-fed, well-groomed. well
dressed gentleman. who seemed at peace
with himself and all mankind. hesteppec
M tot the bOx-otiicC with the ar OF prince
drew big roll OF money from ms pocattt
carslessly threw a twenty dollar 0lll al th'
man in the box-otiice, AMI IN non
cholaut manner said: Give mo gOOC
L box. ilt lttAtf a. la" ~
him. carelcssly put them in hisvest. pocket
bu.l0ued his coat, walked out 70 the euro
! d,ycd into his carriage, and drove away
amid n great Gathering Of hoots ana th'
rqttllng Of harness chains, wnile the street
bows looked on I'm wOudermeut. THIS dis
tinguishcd gentleman was aone other thai
/ Archibald c. GuntAer the author OF hai
( a dozen successful plays and as man.
novels, who q few years ago was as poor a.
/ a church mouse, but now Is 50 wealthy
| that ne keeps n coachman and tcotnai
/ AMI little surplus OF fifty thousand dol
/ lars in the Chemical Bank, besides receiy
( inc from his PLAYS and books the trlflin!
sum of thousand dollars week. VIVA
/ created the sensation was that Mr.. Gun
/ ther. Who might have had all the boxes II
| the theatre for the asking, actually pal'
/ his own money to see lis own play. he i
| one # the few men in New York who doe
not ask fayors from theatrical managers
| He has never been known 10 ask for seats a
auy performance. he IS conspicuous n'
/ shining light IN the city Of dead-heads.
PARK ROW WILL BE LIVELY SPOT.
The writer saw a cablegram from JOSEPH
| Pulitzer the other day announcing that AZ
| would return to America early N Narch
| He has spent a portion OF the winter II
| India. and was In Nice at the time or IN
/ carnival. His health is very much I'm
proved. and although his eyesight Is b.
= means restoraJ IL ~ much bette