The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-12-16
PEOPLE AND THINGS.
EDITH SESSIONS UPPER ON THE
FADs AND FANcIEs OF GOTHAM.
The Junel AEansion-A Brace of swe1Is.
Women and the BlackbalI-5iIrs JEFF
fers0n Davis-A Case of Degeneracy and
"a substratum of Common sense.

" omen and the BlackbalA--laArs Oe4-
ferson Bavis-A Case Of Degeneraey and
"a substratum of Common sense
Especial Correspondence
NEW YORK, Nov. 30.-Five years
ago I went through the old Jumel man
sion, on Washington heights. This was
the home of Aaron Burr and his second
wife, Nine Betty Jumel. The magnif-
cent old manor house, built by Roger
Morris before the Revolution, was tum
bling into decay and ruin. Various pa
triotic women ooncocted all sorts Of
vain plans for saving and preserving
this historic mansion. The Daughters
of the Revolution and the Colonial
Danes talked Of buying the place for a
clubhouse, but scheme after scheme
failed. and it seemed as if this brave
old house must of necessity fall into
the hands of vandals who would sweep
it away to make place for six rooms
and a bath. =
But at last a wealthy and patriotic
woman came forward. Mrs. Ferdinand
P. Earle, wife of General Earle of Gov
ernor Hills staff, bought the place and
set to work to restore it. Last week I
had the pleasure Of being shown again
through the Jumel mansion. which is
now one of the most beautiful houses
on the island of Manhattan. The exquis-
tie taste and the lavish expenditure of
money have made this superb old house
a dream of luxury and color harmony.
At a sale of pictures on Fifth avenue
this week the entire room listened to
this conversation between a brace. of
swells. husband and wife:
tEr-ah, you viii be going to the
opera tonight" inquired he.
YES she drawIed. ''Shall you be
there?''
.No. think not, . he replied, "and,
since you are going out, won't dine
at home if you don't mind. -
'tWhere, may one ask will you dine?''
questioned she.
ssEr-ah, will dine at mother s. .
said he.
ooh, very we'll. And you think you
won't drop in at the opera?'
No; 1 have another appointment. -
What would our Darby and Joan
grandfathers and grandmoth have
said to such domestic arrangements as
these?
Never has the sweetening. refreshing
and perfuming fad been carried to the
extent it now is. On the dressing table
of a dainty woman counted the other
day IS different bottles of toilet waters,
perfumes, creams and pastes. Lily Of
the Nile, peau d 'Espagne, japonica and
sandalwood water are greatly favored,
although violet always holds it's own
with fastidious danes. These waters
perfume the bath and the shampoo,
while saehets scent bed, pillows, gowns,
gloves. fans and shoes.
Josephine Gro, the musical composer,
is gIoating over an autograph letter
from Mckinley. She composed a Nc
Kinley march. sent a copy to the Repub-
lican candidate and got very hand
some acknowledgment in return.
The reckless blackballing done in
woman's clubs is simply appalling. In
a mans club, il there is an objection TO
q proposed name, an intimation is given
to that effect. and the name is quietly
Withdrawn. But woman. tender, gen
tie woman, does not propose to let an
opportunity ike that escape So she
plunges her hand into the box and with
fendish glee selects that little damning
black ball, her sole regret being that
she cannot put in a dozen blackballs
instead of one. BlackbalIing is sup
posed to be enveloped in profound Sc
orecy. But little red tongues love to
whisper the news, and from rosy lips
the unpleasant story leaps until it is
blown to the oouriers of the air. With
in "a hours of recent blackballing in
a woman S club the fact was known in
every newspaper Office in New York
Mrs. Jefferson Davis is a woman who
is always pointed out at functions
where she chances to be. I saw her
quite recently and admired her bright,
good, whole souled face, with the snowy
hair drawn smoothly back from her
forehead. She dresses in deepest mourn /
ing. She knows every body and every F
thing, is genial, humorous, and her
bonmots are famous. It was she who
said IN speaking of the exorbitant prices i
charged by plumbers and gasdtters. I
'sWhy, if a plumber should have the I
nerve to knock at heavens gate for adj
mittance, st. Peter would be para
lyzed. There have always been great +
doubts in my mind as to the possible +
salvation Of dentists. This is the first
I have heard of a celestial boycott
against plumbers. Still, it seems rea- +
gonable.
Perhaps the greatest indication of the +
ueS6u6Iacy q tne Times ana OAe Wu1cn {
would surely cause Max Nordau to yell. T
II told you sol'' was remarked on Fifth
avenue the other afternoon. By the
side of a richly gowned woman trotted
a cur-a Inundated and miserable look
ing brute, whose expression of long
suffering was really laughable. He was
attired IN accordance with one Of fash
ion 8 freaks in a costume which doubt
less had been imported from Paris. His
plethoric little body was wrapped in
dark blue yachting toys. He wore a
white sailor collar, on which blue an