The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-04-23

| IL not generally known what an exquisite
| and proficient needlewoman the Queen Is,
nor that she personally superintendent her
| daughters education In this feminine
| department. Perhaps the most interesting
| exhibit sent by the Queen to the fair is an
| example of finest linen daintily PIN
| stitched and embroidered, the fax from
which the linen was woven having been
carded. spun, and finally embeIlished by
| her own royal hands many long years
ago; the old Irish flax wheel which she
then used being still in existence"
Besides these the Queen sends several
| of her own water color drawings, views
in the neighborhood Of Balmoral.
| They tell very amusing story about
the versatile Mr.. Smith, who is author.
| painter and engineer. His famous story.
| Colonel Carter. of Gainesville" had just
appeared In the Century" and some
of his friends had begged him to make
up some day "just like the Colonel"
Mr.. Smith finally consented, and one
| evening sauntered into the Players Club
| dressed from top to toe as a Southern
| gentleman OF the old school-a veritable
| Colonel Kyarter." 1t so happened that
a Western railroad magnate-one Of the
| hustlng kind-was in the club that even,
| ing, and Mr.. Smith was introduced to
|
| tleman." The railroad man discovered,
much to his pleasure. that Colonel Dab
| ney" owned extensive lands through
! which the Western mans railroads were
| to run-that he was willing TO sell them
| for mere song-that in many other
| ways he was as gullible as could be
| wished for. The railroad man was hap
by, and showed his pleasure by ordering
a bottle of Mumm's for the entertain
ment Of the apparently simple Southern
| gentleman. "Queer. unsophisticated old
| duck" he remarked to a friend on the
| side And then the "unsophisticated old
duck" took off his wig and handed the
| Western man card, on which was en-
graved "F. Hopkinson Smith"
And then there was a supper, for which
the Western man paid.
! We read in a Washington paper that
"a Rochester man has invented self
| patching jackets and trousers. Won't he
| please invent self-darning stockingsY
The latest directory Of New York club
| men is reported to include the names Of
| eighty clubs and % 900 members. And yet
| il is said that club life in New York has
| less potent attractions now than formerly,
| and that it's influence is a much less i'm
| portant feature of city life. The Sun ac-
counts for this by saying that the in
crease in the number Of outside attrac-
lions, opportunities and distractions in
New York has made the club less Of a
social necessity than it used to be. The
clubs have multiplied with the growth
OF population, wealth, and luxurious liv-
ing. but their influence social centres
has declined, and none of the club-houses
are filled except on extraordinary occa-
Il A..
much the same conditions prevail in
Boston.
A correspondent Of the St.James' Gazette
brings out the marked difference in the
popular character between the people CT
Paris and provincial France, and the in
justice with which we give to the whole
French nation the characteristics of the
Parisians. 1--WE are always hearing in
England" ne says, about our gay neigh
bors' across the silver streak, but after
living among the French on the eastern
frontier these last few months / confess
1 can never hear them called merry with
out laughing. Wise, solemn, prudent, |
careful. II you will-but merry, never"
The French Sunday is talked Of as a hOli- !
day of gayest pleasure, but the French |
peasant works in the field on Sunday just
as on other days. We talk of the STYLE
the chic-of France, Of the pretty faces. |
and the dainty gowns and airs and
graces: but read: "They are not lovely
folk, these ever-toiling French peasants.
The long struggle for land and money has
prematurey aged them, and The wizened ,
look Of the inveterate mser Is on their |
careworn features Wealth does not bring |
comfort. any more than honest toll brings |
q merry soul-in France. AT work or |
play you never hear the Jolly song ot |
the plowman or the whistle OF his boy
Everybody goes at his work solemnly and |
gloomily."
Rubinstein has been greatly excited over |
a young prodigy, a pianist Poldi Spier-
mann by name, Of whom great things are |
expected. Rubirstein examined him, made /
him guess tones and chords, asked him /
questions about the old masters, and then 1
had him play a Haydn piece. Spielmann |
followed up with Rubinstein's p nat, /
Romanza, which he played so delightfully."- /
that the composer bent over and kissed 1
him. which is the more remarkable as he .
dslikes prodigies. Rubinstein, by the /
way, is the only living pianist whose
popularity rivals Paderewskis The othei /
day when he played at Bonn such throngs
came from Cologne and Coblentz that the |
railway trains were delayed.
Minister 70 France Mr.. Fustis, OF |
Louisiana is ripe French scholar and
brilliant debater.
Gail Hamilton hns before her the most |
interesting work OF her life. the biog- |
raphy Of James G.. Blaine, who be- |
queathed TO her all the necessary data. |
Apropos OF Mr.. Blaine. here is the only |
rhyme OF which he is said to have been |
Ia addressed 70 dear old /
friend and neighbor. Joseph A. Holman, |
on attaining his SEVENTEEN birthday:
II fairly makes me laugh
To think of three-score and a half
AS the measure OF your age:
For In sober earnest truth,
You still seem in your youth,
With the wisdom of the sage!
Faithfully. your friend,
James G.. Blaine.
This is better poetry than Washing |
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