Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-25

!: !: ): :: !:
IAN If that were to be de-
N ON. X%xSN nominated q hobby it
1GHtS MANEN was quite . laudable
~ISHNl(sX one, SO she made bold
XM/A...H to say that zone must
E S9f + be very common in
deed not to be proud Of
ones blood"
Letting" murmured the spiteful boarder to
the second floor 'front.' "Her father was in pork,
her grandfather butcher and her great grand
father assistant to the beadsmsn of q king. A
pedigree printed in blood" but Mrs. Haut-
toms ears did not catch the whisper.
every woman has some hobby, think"
It was Lady Gray who spoke, dropping the
lace she was knitting and removing her glasses
to rest her fine dark eyes. At sixty they were
as brilliant those OF most women at half her
years. She WAS called Lady Gray because the
name seemed to suit her. She had
soft silvery hair aud was always robed in SHIN
merry doves and grays or ivory whites, with a
bit Of rare lace at the throat and fall Of it
about her plump white hands. She and the
children at the aristocratic caravansary on the
"Citcle" were great chums. and in lieu Of her
rather complicated name Of four syllables the
children called her THE Lady in Gray" the
pruning process was natural
MANY KINDS OF HOBBIES.
to cats. Her house is a me nagerie OF maltese,
angora and tortoise shells, while the common
variety swarms from basement 20 attic. Being
childless it is nice that she can devote herself
to pets but it seems almost a waste Of human
affection, said Lady Gray In gentle musing.
Whatever she did was gently done. "If Ann
should ever take 1t into her head to write her
memoirs her chapter on Cats Have Owned
would be read with interest. I'd call il her
Scat nj tow ocb h..a
There is one black one that prisoner
whom she had befrlended at Black
wells Island gave to her. Then when
her husband was a revenue collector he brought
her tortoise shell cat whose tail was shot off
in q moonshiner's raid in the mountains of
Tennessee. A snow-white tabby an army officer
brought her from Pine Ridge agency, and
big gray mouser she has is reputed to be q
great grandson Of one Of the cats owned by
Rosa Bonheur. Ann takes great comfort with
her cats, but don't care much Tor them; they
are SO treacherous.
II have another friend who has a lovely
hobby, only that the pursuit Of it often makes
her unhappy because she caunot find new
worlds to conquer. Her craze is orchids. She
spends fabulous sums on new varieties and
is quite miserable when she fails to obtain .
new one. or when there is not new one to OBJ
tain. On the whole, perhaps cats are more
comfortable, because tie supply Is always
equal to the demand" aud Lady Gray took up
her knitting again.
SISTER Janets mania is for sleeves" OBJ
served the first floor front. "She drives her
dressnlaker distracted with her peculiar notions
about styles in sleeves. Some women have two
or three bodices with which to freshen up
skirt, but Janet coutents herself with different
sets Of sleeves. She has mutton leg and Marie
Stuart. slashed and cling sleeves, sleeves that
stop at the elbow and sleeves that creep around
the knuckles. 1t takes more material TO con-
coct the various styles Of sleeves for one OF her
gowns than for all the remainder Of the gar
mont. It is really trying at times, for after we
are dressed for some social function size
changes her mind rs to the suitability of
her sleeves and we have to wait till her maid
rips out one set and tries another.
Dear me, what waste Of time" sighed
Lady Gray. And your sister is SO capable too
Now il her misapplied energy were only CEN
tered on some charitable work what Q grand
mission she would make it.
SHE CONFESSED HER HOBBY.
"Then you have no hobby, Lady Gray?" said
the sprightiy mstron-second floor, bay-win-
dow, open CRATE. a. m. l., acknowledgement
II you had you wouldn't be SO hard on other
peoples foibles. 1t is always the people who
are never tempted to err who tread the hardest
on the toes Of those who suffer temptation and
yield. Now I have oceans Of sympathy for
women with hobbies. because have one nv
self. Gloves! I adore pretty glove. All my
pin money is spent for gloves. 1 want the best
makes and the newest shades. A soiled glove
makes me miserable and rip causes me down
right unhappiness."
Lady Gray laughed softly as the sprightly
matron paused to match shades in her embroid-
cry silk. Why, my DEAR" she said almost
gleefully as she dropped the knitting again. II
have q hobby and it is near akin to yours
Hauds!" and she crossed those members primly.
while her eyes twinkled merrily; every woman
in the parlOr-"parlor and piano for use of the
guests of the house'-fastened her gaze on
Lady Gray's pretty white hands with their pink
FURNISHED nails and almost babyish dimples
They had been the secret admiration Of eyery-
body in the house-'.only people of genteel ap-
pearance and with references taken''-yet not
one OF them had ever guessed that the owner of
those hands was proud OF them.
"Lovely, like yourself" said the young lady
boarder, who adored Lady Gray. "H I had
hands like yours I'd havea hobby, too. See my
claws" and with disdainful shrug she held up
her own hands. decided contrast to those
folded over the back in Lady Gray's lap.
Child. You make me vain" said Lady Gray
with pleased little laugh. Then, with sudden
dignity, she remarked: II know that my
hands are pretty and worth looking at, and
why should deny myself the pleasure Of as
surfing myself of that Fact whenever wish? I
am an old woman, past sixty, yet you would
give your new diamond earrings to have hands
like mine and to know that they would
oAWoys tSmoAu ~. hHOW IL ID not Ials0
pride that makes me admire my own hands, be-
cause l am always wishing that other women
knew my secret. And whenever l see q girl
biting her nails or a dainty glove pulled off
hand that looks to have had only q chance ac-
quaintance with soap and water always want
to say to those persons, III you will let me
will tell you how to make your hands as soft
and white as q child's.' Now, il it was base
born or selfish pride would want to keep NV
secret to myself. wouldn't I?'' and Lady GRAY
looked around little wistiully, as though she
feared that some Of them misunderstood her
motive.
Gas though your ladyship would have any
but heaven-born thoughts" said the impuls,ve
young lady boarder. And will you really tell
me -"
THAT you bite your nails?" interrupted Lady
Gray archly.
when forget myself"
And are not very careful TO use your nail
brush every morning.
Moro, but then"
THAT you have spasmodic spells Of trying to
manicure your own nsils?"
Eyes, but, you see"
THAT you don't know anything about IT, 90
make them worse" continued Lady Gray uerci-
lessly.
ALxcTURx on HAND CULTURE.
II see you are all expecting . lecture ON
hand culture and shall not disappoint
you. think it quite as essential g An ar. a.
lessons on how to enter q room, management
OF trained dress, &C. OF ocurse Il isn't in
my power. nor Ia IL in the powar Of any human