The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-04-03

Z lgSse5sA fancy of society become
49, ca as fashionable es sons
new cut IN q coat or
shane in a bonnet and one would literary
be like Mr.. Gunter's latest heroine Hiss
Nobody. from Nowhere unless the oooA u =.
the day had been read or SKINNED over % ~
ofteuer WAS the case The bOOk-makef5 tsi
us that this hope of social laureis IS tie only
chance of profitable labor. since the arr Oh
letters as practiced now. IS not lucrative
one, save by accident. ..., Tho.
XIV Fashionable lore we do not mean tnat
class oil books which have git edZes 40. 30
esneciai eve of the Young man who wants 10
MARI messages within, and send 1t auony-
mously 10 SOME maiden fair 10 see nor yol
those decisions and snares in the way Oh nc
ton known as illustrated poems WHICH ieAu
you TO expect 50 much, yet having lIniS
50 very near the beginning, and whlcn WeAa
sighted aspect II delegated 10 INC ~
shelves and look Of unartlstic uselessness II
lett TO remain upon the tables. Inc Eonius
who suggest me really clever usage l0I
these fat stale and improbable DooAs WIZ
confer tue same favor up u the artlstic puDiiS
that that good noble woman dld, VINO AsAeu
that all Christmas cards should De SEM 70
cheer the heather IN the dark, uncNAizeu
land
Not to 20 quite back to the days Of our
prandmotiers. the Duchess was typical
society novelist. She was reared by the sea-
side upon Yachts. in hammOcks swung by
the mountain breezes and IN siken-lined
boudoirs. until at one time. happily long ago.
the CAV world was luxurant with a crop OF
Airy. FAIRY LillIans Molly Baw IS ana
"Phyllises' sprung from the seed she had
sOwn. 80
Hugh Conway created such a sensation with
his Called Backn that long after the poor TEL
low WAS dead and beyond creating, AS well as
creation. the public was merci.essly imposed
upon by writers who did not scruple 70 forge
the dead aut or name 10 WORKS they knew
would not sell without some sucn recomnen-
dation. Rider Haggard was perhaps, TOO Jul
yersal in his popularity 10 pe eAacliy Iacs
There was enough blood and thunder IN MS
stories 10 satisfy the taste II the supporters
OF the Fireslds Companion VINO DO not eAactiy
constitute the most refined element OF society,
although she was so great a marvel oil he
ton that il agitated every centre where DOCKS
At one time Marion Crawford was discussed
around the elegant dinner table or IN draw
ing rooms more than any other writer Oh the
time But now when we hear OF some new
creation which he sends us from MS far OF
home il is simply look Of casual recogni-
ton We give him. forgetting the time when
DIR Claudiusn and Mr.. Isaacs" made US row
eloquent with enthusiasm.
Robert Elsmere was one OF the novels
which fashion fondled 20 folly. For time
uauLuL
often the discussions were not worth the
hearing. for its theme was one which few ~
IL did not get beyond our depth IN trying 70
wade through. Everything which Amele
Riyes' gifted pen has ever gwen us might 90
said TO have been the fashion. but no snort
story has ever been written IN America
which created the same amount o. comment
"a the Quick OF the Dead Every street
arab every school girl. every scholar and
collegian and every high lady OF the land has
pretended 10 have been shocked By ecStatlc.
erratic Barbara
Frank Stockton likewise enjoyed an ele-
cant and high-bred popularity. Ills Lady or
the tiger is without doubt marvellous bit
Of odd conception. and once pOndered upon
its UNIQUE problem presents itself with the
most aceravating pertinacity. Whoever wants
food for thought has but to peruse this brer
tale. Thirty minutes 70 read 1t, but thirty
wears Of thought will not solve the hidden
sequel
in his dav. and his Green books" as they
were called. excited the livelest interest
among the great folk Of London town. Among
his own quaint remlnicenses he tells OF nav
ING gone in q boOk-shop one day 70 buy some
manuscript paper, when lazy came IN ana
asked for the latest Green book lie SAYS
that he was panic-stricken at ngthoughts
and writings Of his called for which at the
time he had not even conceived.
The two great April events which beckon
us on to gayety, If not TO glory, are
Patti. the divine songstress OF the world. and
the leap-year Charity Ball. The lads ana las
sies of the town are each wondering what
their chance for these brilliant occa-
sions will be. 10 Is simply delightful
10 see the sterner sex ia tlls attitude
of suppliant anxiety as to engagements
for the society man minds beng lett upon
such occasions far more than ever does
..rfNI fsr. lfll.. an "a
evening of the 2gth OF April and be a fancy
dress ball. The ladies' had a meeting last
week for definite arrangement OF It's plans.
and IL bids fair TO be one of the greatest sue
cesses. Ii is 10 be hoped that no other enter
tainment will conflict with the Charty BAL
as its object Is so excellent one that every
one should unite 10 make It succeed III every
particular.
The Misses Stewart of Brook Hill. gave a
very beautiful dinner on Wednesday evening
in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Iunstau smith. nee
| Josephine Fairfax. The table decorations
were all in pink, the centre-piece being Two
hearts made OF carnations ana !olneo pI a
bow knot formed Of the same flower; The
guests were Mr. and Mrs. John z. Lowell.
AIRS. Rozier Dulaney, Misses Else Williams,
Mary Branch. Resale peasants, Messrs.
Ioseuh Brysn. Ran Tucker. John kuther-
foord. Henry Cabell lredel jenkins, EDDIE
Willis. Stewart Hume and John Bryan.
During the evening Mesnls. 1uAslai4 ON H.
Iredel jenkins and Lowell sang very delight
fully.
On Friday evening the Literary Club was
charmingly entertained by Miss Resale
Peasants. The subject was John Bunyan
and the essayists were Mr.. Henry CabeA ana
| MIR. John rutherford. Miss Resale Peasants
| read a selection from Pilgrim Progress. The
subiect WAS then discussed by Alr. Aston
| Cabell and Mr. Roosevelt Page. perfect IN
| itation of a parchment scroll was gwen TO
each guest AS a souvenir These were rolled
and tied by leather straps which were held
by true copy Of Bunyen's seal. and
when opened were found 70 contain
choice selections from his WORKS.
| The reading OF these by Dir. Roosevelt
| PAGE was a very interesting feature or the
| evening Among those present were Mrs.
| Ann rutherford. Mrs. ROZier Dulaney, Mr..
and Mrs. Thomas n. Carter. Mrs. Carmichael,
| Mrs Allison. Mrs. Arthur Seldom. Mrs. Iabb,
Mr. and Mrs. Gillian. Mrs. Minor, Mrs. Bay
| Tor Miss Resale Winston. Norma Stewart,
Hone Stewart, Juliet Carter, Helen Ruther-
foord. Mary Morris Jones, Mary Branch
Nessrs. Beverley Nunford. William Arcner.
| Richard Gaines. William Wickham, Stewart
| Hume and others.
| Mr. John Williams gave Theatre party on
| Friday evening to the Misses Story. or Boston.
| Mrs. Clement McPhail and Mrs. James
| Welch have returned from Old Point.
| Mr.. and Mrs. Tunstall Smith left last week.
Miss Phebe Warwick has returned from bal
| timore. ~ vo.L Aha