Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-12-27
MARGRRY DAVIS OBSERVATIONS
Some Ideas Picked Up During The Past
Week

Week.
Now that the excitement OF Christ
mas is over, and we calmly look around
and note the pretty things that remain
TO remind us OF the day, think we
may say gifts were more plentiful than
usual. Did you ever see anything like
the number OF spoons given away? l
vas told that one OF our leading Jewelry
houses sold seventy-iive single spoons
the day before Christmas but even this
did not prepare me for their popularity
as gift, nor for the wonderful variety
in design and decoration. In many In
stances the coffee spoon was given with
dainty after-dinner coffee emp and
saucer, decorated by the doner, which,
of course, added TO the value.
The display Of hand-painted china
among the gifts exchanged was very
beautiful, and showed what strides
have been made by Wheeling women In
this work.
Speaking OF dishes reminds me OF the
terrible charge brought against Mrs.
Harrison, that she had ordered for the
White House not only very expensive
but a very inartistic set Of plates. She
denies the "soft impeachment"-saYs
she got her design from the famous
Lincoln china 1.-THE centers OF the plates
have the American eagle and flags, ana
the border OF dark blue, corn done in
gold). 1t was Of necessity inexpensive,
she saws, because their means would not
allow her to purchase an expensive set.
Think OF thatl What is there in being
the ''first lady of the land" II, like the
rest of us women, she must stop to
count the cost?
Next ouestion-"Shall we receive
New Years day?" and on this society
people seem to be divided. | hope
those In favor will come out ahead, for
surely il is good old custom, and 1t
seems pity to have it die out, as it has
done of late. Why not mo lily the az
fair? Don't make 1t formal day-par-
lors darkened, ladies In full dress, &c
but simply let the ladies OF Wheeling be
at home to their friends and receive in
an informal way those who care to call,
serving some light refreshment II de-
sired.
1t is not generally known that the
next benefit for the new Hospital fund
is to be a minstrel performance. The
arrangements are being made in a quiet
way by few Of the boys, who under
stand exactly how TO go about getting
up a thing oil this kind. The local male
singers will be heard not only in solo
work, but in q number OF quartettes,
which are always pleasing, and by the
way, 1t is too bad we have no regularly
organized male Quartette here with such
material to form it. What is sweeter
than an evenly balanced quartette OF
male voices and what more desirable In
getting I'D concerts? But this cannot
be done In a day, or week, 1t requires
much care In shading, as well as exper-
fence in singing, together before the
work is satisfactory. So go TO work in
earnest, boys, and make the male
auartette" feature OF the benefit.
80
Mrs. Cook Lee, OF the Board Of Lady
Managers OF the Worlds Fair, has
asked contributions in the way OF
natural products from each State, and
MlSS UdChSOu Ado pAOhioCN
In the way OF natural woods from West
Virginia. Now our little State should
make good display In this way, but In
order to appear TO the best advantage
the wood should be carved, and so far
as / can learn, there are no women In
Wheeling who have done much in this
work, and / wonder why? for it is ef-
iective, and a branch OF art that has
been taken up by women elsewhere
with much success.
Martins Ferry boasts an artist In this
line who has done beautiful work.
Among the best pieces done by her are
a reading desk and altar railing pre-
sented to the Episcopal Church at that
place. These have been much admired
and are beautiful.
When so much can be done in this
branch, surely there are women here
who can take it up and have good dis
play ready for exhibition at the Worlds
Fair. NARGERY DAw.