Birmingham age-herald., 1895-01-24
Social and Otherwise.
lAn items of social interest will be gladly noted in this column if sent to Mrs. George c. Ball, 21s1 Highland avenue.

convenience, for treat is ahead of you provided you love the telling of everyday stories.
 "Pembroke" is rated by eminent critics among the few remarkably clever books of the just-gone year, and you are apt to agree with these critics when you close the book and leave Barnabas and Charlotte at last happy in a love which endured through years of misery and misunderstanding.
 Perhaps in the first few chapters-per- haps until you reach the middle of the story-you will be conscious of disap- pointment, and will feel that too much has been said of this simple narrative of simple
 lives. Perhaps you will be out of sympa- thy with these plain New England folk,
 who have scarcely trait in common with us, whose hearts and impulses have been broadened and quckened meath tropica! suus. Per haps you will grow somewhat weary at times with the limitations of ice and snow, and will feel that the souls of some of these village people have been nipped and black ened by a spiritual freeze.
 But for all that you will be fascinated with Pembroke. For while you can often hear the crunch of the snow, feel the flakes as they blow in your face, see the wild scurrying clouds of New England win- ter's sky-so realistic the story is-yet there are touches of spring and summer ia that remarkable book, when you can smell the sweetness of apple bloss oms, hear the songs of birds and catch glimpses of human nature strangely familiar to us all. Miss Wilkins has dramatic power, positive and distinct, and reaches the climaxes with an art born of genius. The ability to make story of absorbing interest from the lim- ited history of an isolated village evil dences her literary and dramatic talent. The women of Miss Wilkins "Pembroke' are natural, blood and muscle women, with souls and hearts like others of similar surroundings. They have their faults, their virtues, aye, and their sins, like unto other women, since the days of Eve. Some of them are noble and true, some weak and sinful, some with nothing good or bad about them the kind of women who only exist and die, and leave the world neither richer nor poorer because of their living. But Miss Wilkins men are in ferior, that is, in "Pembroke. They are either weakly, amiable, dominated by stronger feminine minds, or they are men of character and intelligence, but stubborn and obdurate. Richard Alger and Barna- bus Ihayer held out for many years against a love that was consuming them, because of matters trivial that Miss Wilkins makes, in their condition, the only mis- take in her book. But she is enabled be- cause of these characteristics in otherwise elevated natures, to bring about climaxes
  look the incongruities. So l say to you, read "Pembroke, and when you are chilled with the snows of New England village and overwhelmed with the stern reentessness of Deborah and Barney Thayer just read on, for ever and anon the cherry and apple trees bloom, the refreshing fragrance Of swaying pines comes to you, and Char lotte Harvard 8 lofty soul and noble life give warmth and sweetness, which, like the gulf stream, makes it's influence felt In the bleakest parts. Miss Wilkins has written another famous book, clear cut and of much power.
 The Tuesday Afternoon Whist club was entertained by Mrs. Peste B. Clark. The prize, an exquisite water color frame ih white and gold, was won by Mrs. II. K. White. This painting was the work of Mrs J. A. Montgomery, who has culti- vated highly a decided artistic talent After delightful refreshments the club ad journed to meet next week with Mrs. Robert Jemison.
 Kate Smith yesterday afternoon at her home on Eleventh avenue, nortb. The holidays and indictment weather have in lerfered with the meetings of this delight- ful club, and yesterday afternoon was the fl rst time in several weeks that they have convened.
 Mir. and Mrs. Henry L. Badham enter- tain number of young people this even- ing at their South Highland home with Miss Maggie Guenther.
 The Monday Evening Whist club was charmingly entertained by Miss Lucille Smith at her home on Highland avenue. It was one of the most enjoyable meetings of the series, and was largely attended. Miss Delma Wlsonswon the first ladies' prize, Miss Mary Claire Mlner the second, and MT. Henry Going carried off the first gentlemen's prize and Mir. Ed Finch the second. The prizes were unusually hand some. The first ladies' prize was a pretty candlestick, the second a silver hat pin. 'rhe first gentlemen's prize was Russian leather card case, the second a boutouniere holder. Miss Porter will entertain the club next Monday evening.
 MT. and Mrs. Lebert Clark, who were recently married in Detroit, Mich. passed through Birmingham few days ago en with Col. and Mrs. Louis V. Clark, at their home oD the South Highlands. MT. and Mrs. Lebert Clark will reside in Mo- bile, where MT. Clark has established an extensive law practice, together with his brother, Hon. Frank Clark.
 Miss Bessie 0 Brien went down to Mont- gomery yesterday afternoon and will re. main several weeks in the Capital City with her aunt, Mrs. Maggie Faunce. She will attend the Greys' ball on Friday even ing and will represent Birmingham in the most gratifying way among the beautiful women who will gather at Montgomery on that occasion. At mardi gras she will visit Mobile and enjoy all the quaint festivities of that fete iu the Gulf City.
 Mrs. VanHook has gone to Montgomery to use her influence and eloquence to se- cure the passage of the bill to establish re- formatory for youthful criminals at Mount Vernon, Ala. She is engaged in a noble endeavor and the best wishes of the women of Birmingham go with her. This work should be no longer delayed; state aid should be promptly granted and every pos- sible effort made to save the erring girls and boys of Alabama. The present system of punish bment is only educating a race oi criminals, and the state owes much to it's youth. There would be fewer convicts for the mines, fewer in the chain gangs, If We had reformatory where boys and girls could be reclaimed instead of their falling from a misdemeanor into the lowest depths of iniquity. Other states have made the experiment of reformatory, and always with the most satisfactory results.