The record-union., 1896-05-31

he skipped lightly away, doc told me
himself, and l don't think you know
that Doc ever takes anything stronger
than-beer eh?"
BY the way did I forget to tell you
that Doc is a dentist?
Cotillion clubs are said to be the next
thing on tapis in good society. They
are to consist Of married people, but
suppose the young folks will not be de-
MED admission occasionally a. the re-
unions. 1 hope not. 1t is a unique and
welcome innovation, inasmuch as here
tofore married people have seemed to
confne themselves almost entirely to
clubs of whist, euchre, etc.
| =
There has been of late very inter-
| esting discussion going on through the
columns of the Musical Age of New
| York; concerning a much vexed ques-
tion-that of opera in English. Wise
acres are wont to say with an air OF
superior knowledge, which, indeed, some
of the rest of US are also very ready to
| follow, that opera in English is a musi-
cal impossibility English is so un-
melodic" The truth of the matter is
that when properly sung. English is not
| so difficult by half as many other
tongues. The Italian, with its beautiful
open vowels. is conceded to be the Ian
! guage of song, undisputedly. This is
| granted by the musical world at large,
but if French, German, and even Hun
garian, are sung, and sung well, at
Paris, Berlin and Buda-Pesth there is no
reason why Anglo Saxon song culture
should not find an abiding place in the
homes Of the Anglo Saxon race. Time
was when sense and articulation were
sacrificed to the production of a tone,
| to the utter disgust of a dear old gen.
/ tleman l used TO know who protested he
did not care for music, and only took
pleasure in listening to the words Of a
/ song. In modern voice-culture articu-
lation Of words and proper production of
tone go hand in hand. One is necessary
to the well being of the other to produce
| perfect effect. Some Of our own sing
ers prove the truth of this theory, and
one surely has only to listen to Mrs.
Moeller's distinct enunciation to un-
derstand how rapidly this brow-beaten
/ theory is falling into disfavor.
The prevailing fancy for tiny watches,
/ according to a writer learned on the
subject, is only a revival of an ancient
fashion. 1t Is chronicled that Queen
Mary was the possessor of an octagonal
silver watch, whose dial plate measured
only nine-tenths Of an inch in diam
/ eter. Her unfortunate namesake,
Mary, Queen of Scots, took pride in a
small silver death s-head that concealed
dial in its throat The works took the
place of brains, and were wound up with
catgut. The lower jaw opened on
hinges to reveal the dial, and a small
ring in the top of the skull served to
attach the uncanny ornament to a
chatelaine.
7 have been thinking 1t over for some
time" said a young lady friend to me
the other day, "and at last have decided
that l ought TO do something serious to
fill part of my time at least. I take a
spin on my wheel for an hour or two
in the morning after breakfast, and
then have an hour before dinner that
/ shall devote to literature"
Indeed" I remarked, becoming in
terested, do you find that you have a
special gift in that line?"
''Oh, well, you know" she replied con-
fidently, there is everything in getting
started right; don't you think so? I've
bought one of those lovely little desks
and some of the most exquisite station
cry l could find; you never saw any
thing so sweet Mamma has encour-
aged me by giving me a darling Of q
gold pen in the dearest mother Of pearl
penholder and-let me see-oh, yes
I've a perfect dear of a silver inkstand
all filagree, and paper weight tc
match"
You certainly have O generous out
fit," I said. You ought to turn out
something splendid under such circum-
stances"
Yes" she replied, serenely. "AIl I've
need to do now is to sit down to my
cute little desk and think up piece
III let you know about it when / ge
it written, and ask you what you think
of it."
I have not seen the manuscript as
yet, but have no doubt 1t viii be some
thing surprising when it comes.
have read that many of New York:
most elegant and luxuriously cared-fol
! women could earn their own living i
/; It were necessary, which is a good thinl
, for some Of our lady friends to know
they, for instance, who consider 1t tht
very acme of gentility and refinemen
t. know how to do absolutely nothing
a that would be of service to themselve.
; or their friends. Mrs. Herman Gel
: richs. who was one of the Fair girls o
San Francisco. is said to be a splendiC
: cook. Mrs. John Jacob Astor is an ex
pert at needlework, and makes many o
the flags for her husbands yacht: Mrs
} Cruger writes novels and earns a hand
| some income with her pen; Miss Ger
r trude Vanderbilt is a splendid fencer
r one of the Rockefeller girls is capita
] typewriter; Helen Gould understand
2 the law; Miss Clews is a postgraduate
5 and Is thoroughly conversant will
2 Greek, and the Misses Hewitt are ac
complished musicians. This is a record
to be proud of, and goes to prove tha
= some Of our women still glory in beins
of some use to the world, and are no
| content with being mere ornaments
Y could name some Of our own girls wht
f have turned many an honest penny il
f making fancy cookery of all sorts 70
parties, weddings, etc. one young lad,
f in particular, who is we'll known as al
a accomplished musician, is also a mag
= nifcent cook. Remember girls. this il
5 the surest way to mans heart. and i
won't hurt you any In the estimation o
the man you most desire TO please. /