Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-01-26
AMONG THE ALBUMS.
A COMPARISON OF THE OLD AND
TIE NEW.
The Sentimental and the Practical
The Verses I'm the One, and the
Advice Given In the Other
Personal.

Personal.

ALTON, VA, January 2i-Autograph
albums, new scrap books and good reso-
lutons constitute an annual trinity for
the altar OF ones patience. 1t is only
in Utopia that lie is not marred by the
autograph nend. II is only in Paradise
that they have no scrap-books for the
mutllation Of ones choicest selections
and only beyond the bourne" is II that
people cease TO make good resolutions.
because it is then too late TO break them.
The autograph albums of young folks
donated by misguided friends as New
Year gifts Tor lS96-diner from the old
time albums packed away with musty
books or slowed back upon the top shelf
OF some ancient bookcase. where dear
Aunt Lefty treasures NO her youthful
possessions. These relies of a sentimental
pas; are square in form and are molly
dark rcd IN color. with wreath OF leaves
and berries tied with a gilt love-
knot on the cover and the inscriptions
are in verses more or less varied as to
length and feryor. but somehow. some
way. there fingers about the old album
a sweet mist of love and sincerity want
ing IN the smart modern autograph-book
with its Russian leather and embossed
lids.
A TENDER FLOW.
IN the obi book tender flow Of SYM
pathy grects you from the writers;
clearly and distinctly they seem TO stand
ont before you IS YOU turn the pages
Of the book, the leaves Of which bear the
impress Of their thoughts.
,gu wander t+4p.u.4fV whore tfoV all
are-these people. some Of whom you have
heard mother or Aunt Lefty speak Of;
the most OF whom are strangers only as
YOU know them here Destiny has
carried them hither and thither hut you
feet that you would like 10 know where
as you read their names. Most OF them
nave written:
Remember me when this you see,
Though many miles apart We be-"
And one Of them i'm the zeal Of her
early love repeats:
Forget thee, forget thee,
o, not II / know IT,
While memory Is left me,
Thus sayeth the poet
But forgetfulness came: no trace has
been left to tell who Betty" was or IL
she vet liyes-across the vista OF thirty
wears to remember her girlhood's friend.
Here is a page that you look upon WIN
molstened eyes This writer you knew
we'll as one closely woven in all the aiiec-
tions OF your young life. The hand that
penned these lines upon 1t writes no
more.
Not many things in this busy, fretted'
work-a-day life are more patheuc than
this little worn old album.
THE NEW BOOK.
The new autograph-book viii not N
DAYS TO come SO wildly recall the ten
derness of human nature. Except Tor
terse line here and there its horizontal
naeeS might be huge visiting cards,
coldly stamped with the fOrmality or
a name. You make good wishes in prose
and YOU prosely write narrow little max
inns in il that no one heeds.
Advice is a good thing to give in an
autograph album. and II is about inc
only place where advice is thankfully re-
celyed. | am prone largely 70 indulge
i'm good counsel when my young triehds-
the Jennles and Johnnies, ana Lizzies OF
the Observation-Disclosures in their new au-
tograph editions.
TO a gay. young beautys request l
write.
.pon't have too many strings TO your
bo,v " And the next time 1 hear from
NV lady she has three callers or an
evening and is trying 10 catch the ne"
clerk at the CROSSROADS store
ar an esteemed young gentleman irlenu
sei's for a word Of advice as TO ms
future. and my nimble pen ihseriDes'
"sneal, the truth, be honest. be tempe
rate. and keep out OF debt" lie straight
wav dips into politics on the wrong siue'
or runs off to paint the nearest Town
red. while the "old man sells TWO co"S
and "A mule to foot the bills. I'D.
ITO be happy in the parlor prac.ice
economy in the Kitchen Is one OIL ny
f,,orite maxims. Help mother" also
gets i'm the autOgraph-alDurhs Pui'e
6uentIv These are usually received IN
guence ny the fair recipients. ana some
times cut out from the albums. Mother
cooks and mllks and preserves ana
,icl,Ies. and Mamie keeps the parlor
ilvalv and the piano from rusting. Better
philosophy would have said:
HAVE A GOOD TIME.
"Haye A. good time; keep your hands
white. and marry the first foolish young
man YOU can find!'
/ unwisely wrote for an ancient spin
ster-given to the frivolties OF youth:
MAY and December
Cannot mate-remember.'
She married her young overseer, etat
% and said 1 was crank.
The weather is ideal for handling to-
bacco. and when the rain is not railing
very good for hunting. Wild turkeys are
said to be abundant on the mountain.
Pork has advanced in price, while eggs,
usually high at this season, are cheaper
and more plentiful than for several win
ters past There are summer and VIM
ter prices for eggs. usually varied by the
thermometer. In extremely cold wealth.
err that great American bird. the hen,
is shy and reserved, as though 10th
to supply mankind with one Of the
STAPLE ingredients OF Tom and jerry"
The market IS regulated by this re-
serve The warmer spells, which have
come I'm this season. have been too much
for bddy. The hens have settled down
TO business, and the supply of eggs forces
prices TO hot-weather basis.
But these spells are intermittent only
IN the valleys. Up on the Blue Ridge
the tops are capped with snow, and
soupcon OF sleet and hail flying In the
air.
Mr.. T. w Goodloe is still confined to
his room.
Rev. IT, X Hawthorn and Mr. T. z.
NAYS are in Charlottesville.
Mr.. j. w. McMullen. OF Baltimore,
is at the Alton.
Miss Ada kerbey is visiting her bro
Their. at Hinton. w. Va.
Mr.. Warren Cloud. OF Charlottesville.
was the guest Of Mr.. Goodloe, Sunday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Austin SPOTS and Mrs.
=. A. Saunders. Of Richmond. are at
Mrs. Spotts's, OF the "Rolay Orchard"
Miss GiIIie Cary's Book.
4 lady of fine literary taste and judg-
1900 .-.ft... chic ~ sfTTuaia Tarrtfa DI.t-