The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-12-16

Daudets live In the swell Faubourg st.
German quarter OF Paris, their apart
mants being in the house on the Rue de
BelIechasse which is known TO thousands
OF Parisians as possessing the most mag
rfcent staircase in Paris Daudet cares
nothing for ostentation, and his apart
rnents are the very acme Of simplicity so
far as their furnishings are concerned.
Comfort is evident on every side.
but not show His study savocs partic-
rIarly of comfort, aid here the grea.er
part of Dsu1et's time Is spent, and hero
he receives his friends after the lamps
are lighted. Three large windows give
splendid light upon the mahogany desk
which stands in the center OF the room,
and when the author Sits at his work AMI
looks up his view carries him to beau
tiful expanse Of garden. Daudet is
sieat smoker, and cigars AMI cigarettes
are plentiful in the room. Boxes and
cases OF them are on table, desk,
bookcase and mantelpiece. There is an
open fireplace in the room and big
home in company with is wife, who Is
easy-chair stands In front Of II. This g
the authors favorite place when he is not
stretched at full length upon the sofa
close to the desk Daudet works but lit
tie now. He reads much, and In this
way he passes most OF his time.
Oliver Goldsmith enjoyed veal pie. He
said that with veal pie and whisky in
every mans house a rebellion was I'M
possible.
Cruden. the compiler Of the Bible con-
cordance. delighted in roast beef. III you
can get 1t cold, sir, with plenty OF mus
tard. II is fix for the gods
II the question should be asked as TO
what constitutes the power behind the
throne in Washington society, If the per-
son of whom such inquiry were made
thoroughly understood the case and
made the reply v herein lies world OF
significance, Il would inevitably be 1.-The
wealthy widows" Such, indeed, Is the
case, and anyone inclined to cavil at the
assertion or regard it in an unbelieving
manner, is altogether out Of his reckon
ing. when long ago Fielding in his Love
in Several Mosques" wrote, widows are
a study you will never be any proficient
in" he uttered In print great truth.
mightier than he himself had in reality
any idea.
When many years later the elder Wei
Ter felt called upon to administer to his
son the memorable advice, "Samyel, be
ware Of the widows" the world that
took Dickens to heart and read his books
with the attentive devotion almost that
a novice in Holy orders gives Holy Writ,
the laugh sounded out throughout Europe
and this country with such heartiness
that the mrthful echo lives at the pres
ent time.
There is however. another wholly diff
ferent phase OF the question, and that Is
the one intended as a starting point for
the present article. 1t is one of dignity,
honor and influence in the social world,
that certainly in Washington Is apparent
and appreciated by those who know the
galaxy OF women selected for present
mention
There are no less than four OF the
wealthy widows OF Washington society
Of whose existence the government takes
cognizance, and whose names, because OF
the valor and standing of their husbands,
have place on the pension rolls of the
country. These are Mrs. Ulysses S. Grant.
whose pension, dating from 1885, is SIG
n month; Mrs. Phillip Sheridan. whose
pension dating from 1889, is sos a month;
Mrs. w. s. Hancock, whose pension. dat
ing from 1856. is sl66 n month. and Mrs.
John w. Logan. whose pension, dating
from 1888, is Sl66 month.
A wel-known woman once asked Ru-
10 one Of his concerts. Madame" he
replied. II have only one seat at my dis
position. But II you do not object TO
occupying it I shall gladly give it TO
you" The happy woman asked where it
was. AT the piano" replied the great
musician, with q bow.
writer tells, i'm the Boston Gazette,
of a lady who was travelling from Proyi-
dence TO Boston with her weak minded
father. Before they arrived ther- he
became possessed of a fancy that he
must get off the train while IL was s,ill
in motion; that some absolute duty called
him. His daughter endeayored 10 quiet
him, but il was difficult 10 do il, and she
was just giving up in despair when
she noticed a very large man watching
the proceedings intently over the top
of his newspaper. As soon as he caught
her eyes he rose and crossed quickly 10
her.
Il beg your pardon he said you are
in trouble May | help youT AS soon