Birmingham age-herald., 1895-02-10
Social and Otherwise.

OOOlNOl NlW V OA VI IT AOVs lAn items. ef social Interest VII be gladly
 c. Ball. 2ls1 Highland ayenue.I
 A brilliant woman has written brilliant bookl Mrs. Van Ransalaer Cruger, New York woman of fashion and wealth, finds time, notwithstanding very many and constant social duties, to enrich literature with books sufficiently strong to make any writer famous. She is the wife of Col. Van Ransalaer Cruger, one of the leading citi- zens of New York and comptroller of all the Trinity church properties, and also possessing large income, which enables him to surround his wife with every luxury and comfort of life. Besides wealth, Mrs. Cruger has all the opportunities which come 10 a woman of good blood and good breeding. She has the courage and pluck which pertain to these endowments, and has shown herself of too much intellect to be enervated by the luxurious surround ings of great wealth. For years she has written in a way to attract the attention Of the reading publich and the eommendation of eminent critics. Among her works, which are familiar to most of us, are The Successful Man, "A Diplomats Diary,
 4 stories, all of which have brought her much reputation and large financial re- turns. She has pressed forward urged by noble ambition, and, while she mas reigned almost supreme in her social world, she has achieved for herself renown, because of remarkable literary talent. One who knows her well thus writes or her:
 ssMrs. Cruger is grand niece of Wash ington Irving, a lady of great wealth, of striking personal beauty, and comes per. haps as near as anyone setting the pace for the 400. She was born in France, though of American percentage, and IS be- yond question one of the most accom- plished and cultured as well as beautiful women in America. spent an evening at her home last summer, near Oyster bay, which is marvel of taste and luxury, and one of the finest country seats upon the eastern shore.
 In conversation she is said 10 be richer and more fertile than in her writings. Her last work, "PopI @a,' IS one of her best, perhaps her very best, for Mrs. Cruger's 8 genius grows. It is written in terse, clear cut and positive style, with charac- ters that stand ont with distinctness and power. There are no blurred features h this book, no dim and hazy outlines. With the touch of an artist Mrs. Cruger has made her men and women everyday peo- pie, with strong human impulses, and with hearts and souls governed by the same 1n- stincts which have ever made the Wnole race kin. She has made them love and hate as men and women have always done since the time when humanity was first created. Throughout the pages of Pop CRa' sparkle and gleam epigrams Which clothe great truths Tn exquisite language, and which evidences one of Mrs. Cruger's strongest claims to genius-her perfect comprehension of human nature.
 The literary qualities of the book are of the highest order, and when you close its pages you feel that you have shut up casket full of rich jewels, some dark and glowing with passion, others clear ana bright with the radiance and sc1ntillatlons of the diamond, and yet others with the pure and restful gleam of the aqua marine. The story is brlmming over with incident and interest. There are no superhuous actors in the drama. Each one has his part to play, and each one plays it we'll. The etwo whose life story this novel tells in such an earnest, throbbing way-Popp@a and Afford Grafton-are unusually strong and original. Both with unique person. ality, with many gifts, physical and men, tai, they merit the attention Mrs. Cruger has bestowed upon them and the interest one feels in their career. The story of their love, with it's tortures and It's sor- rows, excites our commiseratlon, while we condemn it's exhibition. From their consuming love for each other there only comes suffering and agony, as ever must come when men and women are deaf to the voices of warning angels and when they are dominated by hearts instead of souls, bodies instead oi spirits. But, like all such tales penned by the hand of a mother, the sequel is sermon, preached from text familiar to all humanity. The charac- ter of Montgomery Craven-the third in importance in the book-is noble and loyable one, which stands out in dra- matic contrast to the majority of the other characters. He goes in and out among the pages, like knight of old, trying to right the wrongs of the woman he adores, and ever ready to serve her with loyal devotion through every yicissitude of her life. He brings into the story life of elevated pur- pose which refreshes us with it's nobleness and self-sacrifice.
 The other men and women have their places in the drama and serve the purpose of the author in making up a book of con- tinued and unabating interest. There is q pathos about the life of Popp9a which appeals to us all, and her early death Is a fitting ending of an existence full of unsat- istied hopes and with a heart too strong for her soul. She was the result, in large measure, of her environment, and such must be the verdict of those, who with open eyes, read the story of Popp8a's life. And because of this we must judge her lenently, feeling that Mrs. Cruger has shown the skill of a consummate artist in the picture she has given us of a tender, loving woman, with her Vaccinations and her failings.
 The reception given by MT. and Mrs. William H. Kettig last Wednesday even- ing in honor of Miss Milner was beauti- ful entertainment in every particular. The handsome home of MT. and Mrs. Kettig, with all the lower rooms opening into each other with sliding doors, was decorated throughout with branches of holly and splendid palms. From pretty nook the punch was served, while the dining room was open the entire evening and delicious and daintiest refreshme nts were enjoyed by the guests at all hours. The table in the dining room was decorated with embroid- cries, capdeabra, flowers and candies, car rying out in the most artistic way the scheme of coior--yellow, white and green which prevailed in all the rooms. Dancing was enjoyed during the evening, and the music was especially fine. Mrs. Kettig re- ceived and entertained her friends with an unaffected cordiality very attractive, and Miss Milner assisted her in the most charming manner, and every guest felt in- de bted to them and to Mir. Kettig for an evening of unaIloyad pleasure. It was not intended that this reception should be very large one, yet the pretty home was filled with happy guests. Mrs. Kettig is one of the youngest of our matrons, yet the tact aud