The critic., 1891-03-24
THE CRITIC ABROAD.

"Well, they do not spend their time
reading sanity books by any means.
Dora Thorne, The Duchess, Mrs. Holmes,
and her contemporaries used to he the
favorite authors with the tender sex, but
their reign is over, dethroned in favor of
French novels. The publishers are Hood
ing the market with cheap editions, plac-
ing the books within reach OF every one.
ITO II young girl there IS n peculiar fas-
Cination IN book that she knows Is not
the pro- or thing for her to read. But 1t
tickles her literary palate, these sugges-
tive French constructions of eXtraordi-
nary love and remarkable crime with Il
latent tinge of rose.colored vice to give
the book a breezy flavor. And the money
that fond mothers bcstow to purchase
ribbons and other frills dear to the fcmi-
nine heart is largely expended in litera-
ture that is smuggled into the house and
read behind locked doors safe from NAM
mas vigilant eye"
DO you think any special harm comes
TO girls from the reading of these booksp
queticd the Critic.
"If the girl has healthy, well-balanced
mind all the books that were ever written,
immoral or otherwise, could not harm
her. ! agree with Victor Hugo's mother
that books never harmed any one.'
j. J. Barker, the attorney, stood conver-
sing with some friends in the rotunda of
the National Hotel last night, when he
spied the Critic looking over the register.
He tapped him on the shoulder, and said:
do you see that young fellow there"
pointing to n nicely dressed and prosper
ous-looking gentleman on the opposite
side of the room, "Well, | take credit
unto myself for making u man out of
him."
"Four years ago" continued Mr.. Barker,
"a raggcd-looking fellow approached me
in front of the Herald Office in Omaha,
asked me for some money, saying that he
had not eaten a mouthful that day. He
looked half famished, and did not strike
me as being a regular tramp. gave him
half dollar, told him to go and get
good meal and come back later and
would get him place to sleep and some
"'Oh, what fish you are,' SAID friend
at my side. That fellow will only go
around the corner and spend what you
gave him in drink.
III had such confidence in that man."
continued Mr.. Barker "that | bet my
friend 50 that he would not spend tin
that way. The bet was accepted and we
followed him to a restaurant, where the
entire half-dollar was spent for food He
came to me at the place | had appointed,
and not only paid a weeks board for
him, but also secured him position in
real estate office.
"The man refer to is the one pointed
out to you overthere. To-day he IS one
of the most active and prosperous young
business men of Denver and Is here in
Washington on an important land trans
action.
General Rosecrans was seen q few min
utes this morning by the Critic, to whom
lie talked freely of his late friend, Gen-
eral Johnston.
~ had good opportunities" the GEN
eral said, Ito judge of the estimate his
fellow. officers had of him even before the
Mexican war. No officer of his rank
stood higher. In the late war ! think he
proved himself the greatest of Confeder-
ate commanders. AT the battle of Chica-
mauga Bragg had the Army of Tennessee
with other troops from Alabama, Georgia,
Florida Mississippi and Longstreet s
Corps from Virginia. When General
Johnston took command the army had
been depleted by the return of Longstreet
to Virginia and heavy losses in battle.
On our side General Sherman had the
Army of the Cumberland with eight
army corps or parts of corps, or, in all,
about five full army corps. Look at what
he accomplished. From Resaca to At
lanta, pushed only eighty-four miles in
eighty-four days--a mile day. He never
retreated until lie sawit was certain de-
back on strong defensive position. In
these retreats he never left a thing worth
picking up. 1t was a wonderful stragetic
handling of a force too small for aggres-
sive work."
Speaking of the recent reception given
to James Owen O'Connor," said we'll
known lawyer to the Critic the other day,
reminds me Of the experience of a GER
tain member of the legal fraternity at one
| of the uptown theatres. He had consider
| able dramatic talent, or thought he had,
| and endeavored to play Claude Welnotte in
| the Lady of Lyons The play was for
the benefit of some charity, and the COM
pany, OF course, amateurs. The lawyer $
dramatic powers, however, were not
hooked upon with favor, and when Claude
and Pauline appeared on the stage The
hero was greeted with shower of Veg
| etables. He kept his head, however, but
the lady was forced to flee from the stage.
Hecontinued his speech to Pauline amid q
fnsilade Of potatoes, turnips, and oranges,
varying the words OF. the play now and
then with threats to whip the persons who
l
threw live cat at the unlucky Ciaude. II
hit him in the back, and its cries and
screeChes added to the general uproar.
The play abruptly ended, and Claude had
n violent quarrel with the theatre man
ager:,
room, where the expounder Of Blackstone
made an elaborate and eloquent defense
in his own behalf and III sentencing him
to pay light fine the judge said:
"'Mr. -, If you had played Cld,td.
.Helnofte as well as you have defended
yourself you should not now be before
me for sentence"
j worked on the same newspaper once
in this city with Major Alfred Jingle
Stofer, who is now the correspondent OF
the Richmond Dispatch. One day the
managing editor ordered us to interview
prominent citizens upon certain subject
When Stofer returned to- the office the m
G. asked him whom he had interviewed
and Stofer told him. When he mentioned
the name of Joseph c.. Willard the M e
exclaimed:
"Thats good. It's not often that vii
lard will talk. Let me see what hi
says?
Stofer handed over the interview. vii
lard had managed to talk without saying
anything.
"Oh tine dickensl" exclaimed the man
aging editor. THAT is a regular Jacl
Bnnsby decision"
Stofer looked little bit queer, no
ticed, but said nothing. About two week
afterward Stofer came to me one morning
looking very ehrk. He said;
~ went to the theatre last night and
know now what Jack Bunsby decision
is ! saw Florence last night as Captain
Cutie, you bet. was pleased TO find on
awfully after the managing editor made
his remark about the Willard interview
but was ashamed to ask. Now, know.
am going, too, TO read all OF Dickens
works. Most educated people seem 10 b.
familiar with them and ] want TO keel
up with the cultured procession"
BY the way, Stofer fingered for manN