The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1891-01-18

Washington Is fast becoming an art centre.
We have quite school of painters here now,
and the Corcoran Gallery has regular art col
lege, which is supported by fund which the
millionaire phiianthropist left. Mr.. Wana-
makers gallery contains only few of the
finest pictures of Washington, and you will find
elegant paintings and works of real art in nearly
every statesman's house. The art tastes Of the
people of the United States have been greatly
improved within the past few years, and we
have number of ladies here who could make a
living by colors and brushes If they had to-.
Mrs. Harrison's ability in painting and china
decorating is already so we'll known that there
remains little to be said on the subject. The
private apartments of the White House bear
many evidences of this artistic talent on the
part of its mistress. Two water-color scenes at
Cape May, painted during her stay at that place
last summer, are prettiy framed in gold, and
hang in the Presidents room on the wall,
where his first glance on awaking will fall upon
them. By the dressing table in silvered frame
is third water-color, white orchid, the deli
cate tints of which are shown to advantage by
the moss-green velvet mat in which it is set.
Several bits of porcelain painting ornament the
walls of the library, and charming studies of
flowers are scattered about throughout the
sleeping apartments. The flower pieces placed
on exhibition at the Art Exhibit of the Cosmos
Club last spring are not considered by Mrs.
Harrison among her best works, and they
were only allowed to appear at the earnest So
licitation of those in charge of the exhibit.
piece of work of which Mrs. Harrison is justly
proud is the painting of orchids sent to Chi
cago, and from there to the Cincinnati exhibit
a few weeks since. A new feature of art work,
which Mrs. Harrison has recently taken up, is
painting on tapestry, in which she has taken
number Of lessons from Mr.. Putzki, German
artist, formerly resident of Indianapolis, in
whose career the mistress of the White House
has taken such an active interest as to get up
large class of scholars, setting the example her
self of going to his studio, where she was last
year one of the most punctual attendants
throughout Lent. Formerly Mrs. Harrison
took great pleasure in preparing bits of her
handlwork for distribution among her friends at
Christmas, but during the last two years her
official duties have precluded the possibility of
her keeping up this custom.
LITERARY ARTIST.
Mrs. N. s. Lincoln, wife of the eminent sur
geon, in addition to the distinction of being an
author and an acknowledged society leader, is
quite famous as a hostess, inasmuch as her din
charm of originality while in all other respects
conforming To the rules of conventionality.
This matter, difficult of achievement as it natu-
rally is, has been reduced by her to perfect
science, which is at once the envy and admira-
ton of those friends SO fortunate as to be in
cluded in the list of invited guests. With true
artistic instinct Mrs. Lincoln has made the out
ward setting of these little feasts fltting one,
and The dining-room is in all respects what it
should be to accord Herewith. There is har-
monious mingling of dark waXed floor Turk
ish rugs, polished mahogany furniture pretty
Grim soned-lined hooks filled with brc-a-brac,
and bronzes and pictures, over which the light
from log fire throws the requisite picturesque
ness Of warmth and shadow, There are hang
ing cabinets of rare china, and over the buffet,
hovering like presiding genius, is White owl,
the outstretched wings of whichtou on either
side the curved walls of the niche in which it is
placed.
cUPID's MAIL.
Among the most notable luncheons given by
Mrs Lincoln was that on last Valentines Day,
when each of the guests carried away with her
a dainty set of verses of pleasant personalities,
especially written for her by the hostess The
decorations of the table were symbolcal OF the
occasion, the centre ornament of crimson flow
ers being pierced by long golden dart. Just
before coffee was served loud knock was heard
and a smiling maid entered bearing big square
bag with paddock, marked in gold, "Cupid's
Mail" The contents being distributed, each
guest was gratified to find that special envel-
ope had been prepared in her honor and that the
cupids disported themselves among the hearts
and rose bowers in especially quaint and appro-
pirate manner.
AN APRIL FOOLS FEAST.
Another luncheon worthy of mention was one
given some years ago to Mrs. Winnie Grey, of
New York. at that time Miss Tillie Frelinghuy-
sen All unwttingly on the part of the guest
of honor, the date set by her for the luncheon
fell on All Fools Day, the 1st of April, but the
hostess resolved to take advantage of the same
and in her own clever fashion render the oeca-
whi,h greeted the sight of the amused guests
was a bic FOOLS cap of pink and blue satin, jing-
ling with bells. This was finally passed to Miss
Frelinghuysen, who upon lifting it up discoy-