The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1891-03-15

bib-apron of green gingham. Mrs Harrison is
decorating a plate with delicate pink convol-
vuus.
There is but one thing more interesting in
fiction and the estimation of the public than
George Elliots books-George Elliot herself.
Therefore, when lecture at the Catholic Uni
versity was announced on George Eliet's
"Philosophy of Marriage by the well-known
author, Col. Richard Malcolm Johnston, for
Wednesday afternoon, it filled the hall with an
audience of highly-cultured people, an audi
ence composed largely of readers and admirers
of George Elliots genius. The speaker gave
bits of biography and close analysis of Marion
Evans's character. giving her credit for mind
of most superior order. He dwelt upon her
emotional nature of endowment and inheritance.
followed her development into the debatable
land of the Free Thinkers, and marked the in
huence of Henry Lewes's mind upon hers, but
he barely touched upon the influence of this
intellectual companionship, which caused her
TO blossom and develop new powers under the
sunshine of love and appreciation He spoke
of her as one of the most unhappy women of
the age, especially after her union with Lewes
whom he called ''the ugliest of human
beings, with the head of q Scotch dog"
Whatever she came to feel afterward; Mr.. John
ston thought, tended to swing this grandma
Sured woman, so full of womanliness and sweet
charity for all, back toward the conservative
lines of life." ''Never beautiful of feature,
with but little personal chsrm,' he painted her
marriage in old age, when her intellectual en-
ergy was spent, as longing for good mans
name to speak Ter her when she should be gone
forever and that the word ''wife" might be
written on her tombstone as kind of expiation
for the misspent years. Even while taking this
view the speaker humorously pictured the way
IN which old men speedily brighten and smarten
themselves up to form new ties after recent be-
Teavements, saying that women, being more
constant seldom presented such a spectacle.
Mr. Johnston's style as lecturer is simply SUI
perb In treatment in literary way, and his
Of o1an IL
gentle sarcasm and "nimble WITT at
times being irresistible The lecture was so
much above what one ordinarily listens to in
that line that it were pity that Col. Richard
Nj. Johnston had not been assigned to others of
a similar character in the course. On next
Wednesday John Brisben Walker, Phi. D., will
lecture on ''Social Problems for Church and
State" Mr.. Walker will be recognized as the
talented editor of the Cosmopolitan, of New
York, and he will doubtless handle his subject
vigorously.
Tne one hundred and third meeting of the
Ladies' Historical Society was held at Mrs.
Horato Kings on Friday morning. Mrs. W.
Ross Browne, who presided, opened with
resume of French literature. Other ladies
treated of the literature of the eighteenth cen
tury in fiVe-minute papers, Mrs. Asaph Hall
speaking upon Mintesquien, Mis-. j. Sayles
Brown upon Montaigne, Mrs. j. Stafford upon
Button, Mrs L. o. Talbot upon Fontenelle and
Mrs. McNair on Voltaire, Mrs. w. II. Browne
gave translation Of Votaire's ''Zadig,n and
Mrs Z. B. Vance read a selection from Rous-
seau Delightful music was rendered by Mrs.
Isabella Bittinger, Mrs T. s. ChappeIl, and
Mrs. c. B. Rheem. Mrs. Asaph Hall paid
tribute to the founder of the society in the fol-
lowing poem:
TO MRS. KING.
Lady, who art to us the shining sun
Around whose love and light we circle free,
Receiving from but giving naught to thee
What can we but like birds when night is done,
Or Ike the flowers that feel the day begun,
Bui voice our gratitude in melody
Aha An look our thanks INKS that thy kind eyes may see
what can we put appropriate thy ray
To growth of knowledge that is growth in power.
To growth of wisdom that this power shall bless
To growth of virtue, waxing day by day,
To growth of beauty till it wears the flower
Of !oVe which is the crown OF perfectness?
Mrs. King in acknowledging the compliment
extended her warmest thanks to the ladies for
their earnest assistance and uniform kindness in
securing success to the society. A surprise
awaited her in an adjoining room, where the
ladies had in store for her beautiful Japanese
stand. on which rested an artistic case contain
ing their photographs-all which are most
highly priced. Mrs. w. H. Holmes added to
these charming testimonials fine watercolor
picture representing s'Sprngtime, painted by
her husband. The society adjourned to meet
the first Friday after Thanksgiving.
"Alice" regrets exceedingly that she should
have announced Mile. Decca's engagement ON
the authority of one who was supposed to
know but who, after ALL was telling a fairy
tale. On the word of the gifted singer, the
statement is now made that Mile. Decca is not
only not engaged TO Mr.. Mllsheimer, but does
mol know any one bearing that name. On Eas-
ter week Mile. Decca will be in Omaha, one of
the cities in which she is to appear in concert
during her professional tour West. EVERYTHING
concerning Mile. Decca is matter of interest
TO Washingtonians, and, as they are not to have
the pleasure of assisting at her wedding in the
early spring, it is to be hoped that the echoes
of her Western triumphs may reach us as
proudly as did her recent great successes in
Boston.
The Short Story Club met on Wednesday
evening at Mrs. G. Crandell's residence, 61O II
street. AS usual there was good literary and
musical programme, the story of the evening
present were Mr.. and Mrs. Dieudonne, Colonel
and Mrs. McCreary, Capt. Pickett, Mrs. H. N.
RalstOn, Mrs. Bell, Mr.. and Mrs. Nj. ID. Lincoln,
Mr and Mrs.s. ID. Lincoln, Mrs. Z. Hort, Mrs.
Lucy K. Leggett, Miss Snow, Mrs. Briggs,
("Oiivia, ~ Mrs. Belya Lockwood, Miss Carrie
Harrison, and many Others.
Mrs. c. NJ. Pepper has returned from Detroit,
where she recently went to attend the funeral
of her sister, Mrs. j. I'll. DesRosiers Owing to
this afflietion Mrs. Pepper will not be able to
return calls.
Madame Mendonea has invited number OF
friends to a box party at Albaugh's to see Sara
Bernhardt in "La Tosca."
AT. aud Mrs. Walter H. Acker, Of 1881 u
street have Issued cards for tea on Wednes-
day, from to g.
n