The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-12-31


RAISING position. 1t is a compliment to
me that l should be deemed important
enough to have my picture published, 1
suppose, but / cannot see what reason ex-
ISIS Tor printing it. In the first place, I
am no longer young and, therefore. my
picture would not prove attractive In it.
self. In the next place, am not a nota-
Die IN the true sense, for I have never
done or said anything that is historically
or otherwise interesting to the public,
therefore, why should my picture be
printedl"
called Mrs. Sage's attention to the
fact that not only was her husband re-
nowned, but that she herself had attract
ed great attention for much the same rea-
sons that gave prominence to Mrs. Cleve-
land. l contrived to ask Mrs. Sape's
opinion of this noted lady.
Mrs. Cleveland is not prominent
merely on her husbands account" said
Mrs. Sage earnestly. "She is admired
because of her personal qualities. There
is no woman whom admire more than
Mrs. Cleveland. When she came to New
York at the close of her husbands first
term, she had every temptation to frivol-
lty, yet there has never been trace of
the frivolous in her. She was lauded and
battered on every side, and the social at
tentions she received would have turned
the head of an ordinary woman. But no,
she interested herself actively in the work
OF the Presbyterian church here, and her
transformations good deeds were known to
but very few but the beneiciaries. Asa
member of hospital board composed of
women, have noticed that the young of
my sex-I mean women of about thirty
find 1t very difficult to escape being frivo-
lous. But Mrs. Cleveland is the only ex-
ception in that respect that 1 ever met
with -
Mrs. Sage's large bright eyes flashed as
she spoke, and in her animation she
looked no more than 80. She possesses an
unusually clear and musical voice, and as
l listened l could easily understand the
celebrity she has acquired as a fascina-
ting conversationalist.
'New York." proceeded Mrs Sage, in
answer to another question of mine, SIS
the most trying place in the world for
really gifted people to come to. They are
overwhelmed with adulation and with
trials. Consider the case of DIR. Paxton
He was simply overwhelmed with work
His life in New York was one long mental
and physical strain. He never got any
rest. 1t was a great honor to be made
chaplain of the Seventh regiment No
one has had more brilliant career in
this city than he has had. For my part
do not like New York as well as
do Philadelphia. Philadelphia is
the one place in this country In which l
should like to live. 1t is such a beautiful,
patriotic, restful place. lived eighteen
years there before my marriage, and as l
walked about Logan square there only
last Monday thought of the difference
between the Quaker City and New York
Philadelphians are calm, sincere, Gull
tured people. Their friendships are real
and lasting. Now New Workers. are
quick, transient, accustomed to constant
change. They seem to form very few
lasting attachments. | could send out in
vitations to some four thousand people in
New York whom l know, but how few
are really friends! / notice, however
that the men of New York prefer it to
other cities. Mr. Sage likes the city be-
cause it is the scene of his activities"
1 took advantage of Mrs. Sages cour-
tesy to ask her TO tell me about the Paul
Jones flag, for she is periodically Ameri-
can and an ardent Daughter of the Revo-
luton, her family being a historic one.
"That flag was raised last April, )" she
said. II consider it one of the most
precious relics, but unfortunately it is
crumbling away with age. Some persons
have wondered why it has but thirteen
stars instead of fourteen, but that may
have been the result of oversight. The
flag fell into the water during the famous
the British warship. But it was rescued
by the ancestor of Mrs. Stafford
who leaped into the sea for
it. Mrs Stafford herself kindly
sent me photographs of the old flag
The scene on that day last April was very
impressive I shall never forget it."
The subject of notable women naturally
led to references to Mrs. Potter Palmer
Mrs. Sage is very enthusiastic about her
Il 4l,r, ,do.sf FYl Of
American women" declared Mrs. Sage.
"Sne is an accomplished linguist, which
represents in itself severe effort. She
spoke for two hours in the French Ian
guage to French women. She spoke real
French, too. A young lady know spent
eight years in France studying the Ian
guage, and when she came back here was
asked what an adjective was. She re-
piled that it was a word which qualified
a noun and might be either a man or
beast Mrs. Palmer's learning is not OF
that kind. 1t is thorough, great as its
range is. She is. may say, a woman of
the intellect, as her sister, Mrs. Freder-
lex D. Grant, is a woman OF the heart.
And that leads me to say that Gen.
Grants children are all alike in having
good, generous, noble hearts. The gen
eral himself was the most domestic of
men, and his children show how success
There is a picture Of Mrs. Sage, well
known to her friends, and 1t is deemed
the best likeness of her ever taken.
| consider it, from what / saw OF
Mrs. Sage, to be very faithful. So took
my leave of the gracious lady without
giving her an opportunity to forbid my
printing one.
now determined to pay my respects to
Mrs Cornelius Vanderbilt. When drew
near the practically completed Vanderbilt
palace, l found several workmen ouslly
engaged in putting finishing touches TO
the royal entrance. The maRnihcence OF
the edifce abashed me tritie, and from
the general aspect of things l concluded
that the family had not yet taken posses
sion. However, there was an air OF hab-
itatlon in the Fifth avenue wing OF the
gorgeous pile.
The Fifty-seventh street door-if one
NAV use so plain a word in this connec-
tion-was open. Members OF the vale
taille, presumably, were hanging about
and men we're carrying things in and
out
II would like to see Mrs. Vanderbilt"
said I.
you can't" said tall, lanky man,
whom had not addressed.
SIS she out of town."
"Shes dressing"
l rather wondered how he knew, but |
without arguing the point l repaired to |
the stately home of William G.. Whitney |