Arizona republican., 1896-11-15
THE PAST WEEK IN SOCIETY
Intere sting to People With So-
 Cial LeaningS.
A Critical View of the Ladies' Guild Concert-Coming Entertainments at Mrs. TaIboJ's-A Joke on a Phoenix Benedict.

My Dear Nell: How fast the week rolls by. Here it is Sunday again and I've literally done nothing the whole week but hurry to keep up with things; and yet looking back at it there hasn't been very much to do.
 q heard the other day that Lizbeth Allen was going to give some very swell recitals this winter at Mrs. Talbot's. Won't that be fine? Mrs. Talbot is such a charming hostess and we are sure to enjoy them. Hope we both get invited to part of them, any way, for, of course, we can't all go to every one of them as Miss Allen and Mrs. Tal- bot have too many friends to get them all in the house at once.
 'I understand the first is to be given some afternoon in order that the ladies who have unmusical husbands (and, alas! there are so many of them that have) can get there easily. There is much good musical talent in Phoe- nix now and such a series of recitals should be very attractive.
 T suppose, of course, you went to the concert given at the opera house by the ladies of Trinity Guild. They had a good house, didn't they? I under stand they cleared quite a neat little sum for the good cause.
 'I wish I could remember all the so- ciety people I saw around me, but can only remember Miss Yaeger and Miss Davis in one of the boxes, Mrs. B. J. Bennitt, Miss Bennett, Mrs Major Evans, Mrs. Millay, Mrs. Dalton, Mrs. Dr. Martin (how funny it does seem to call Miriam "Mrs.") Mrs. Talbot, Mrs. J. B. Walker, Mrs. Dr. Goodrich, Mrs. Budge and many more whose names have slipped my mind just now.
 Mrs. Rickenbaugh and Mrs. Alex ander are well and favorably known to Phoenix people. Mrs. Rickenbaugh's s solo was not of the style to take with the average audience here. She would have pleased far better in something like ''Asthore" or some of Streletzki' s or Kate Vannah's charming little bal lads, and which are so well suited to her deep, rich voice.
 "Mr. Andrews always pleases, but he should keep on at his lessons and smooth up his really fine voice in sev- eral places. The duet between Mrs. Rankin and Mrs. Miller was gem. Mrs. Miller showed slight traces of ner- vousness at first, but her rich voice blended beautifully with Mrs. Rankin $ pure soprano. The latter lady has a lovely voice and pleased every one, for to her voice she adds most charming stage presence.
 The guitar and mandolin playing by the four little maidens led by Bessie F1ckas was really good and brought them a deserved encore.
 The male quartette by Messrs Barnes, White, Dunn and Andrews was good and the audience clamored for an encore, but the gentlemen wouldn't sing again. I fancy MT. Barnes was saving his voice for his solo, which fol. lowed soon after, as he sang very softly and not altogether true His voice was not so clear and full as it usually i. and he was evidently suffering from { bad cold. He sang .DeKoven's "Only Tn Dreams" and a lovely little ballad by Willard, Faith and Hope," whicl had never heard him sing before.
 Miss Talbot, Mrs. Walter Bonnet and Professor White were the accompa n1sts. Did you ever think, Nell, how much an accompanist adds to or de tracts from the success of a singer It IS gift more than anything else Miss Talbot plays an unusual sympa thetic and tasteful accompaniment never leading, but always following not drowning out, yet delicately sus tanning the voice she is accompanyine As for Mrs. Bennett, she is one of tn best in the city
 Miss Sargent showed herself a mos accomplished artist. She is one of tn best yocalists we have ever had, sing