The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-10
IAN MACLAREN'S WIFE.
Mrs. Watson and the Impression
She Makes.
DIR. Watson's Demcanor Toward His
Visitors.

At q reception given the other day in
honor of Ian Maclaren and his wife good
many people had their first glimpse OK
Mrs Watson. She Is a tyl and dt6nined
woman, a woman who would probably al
ways be serene aud therefore restful. she
has dark hair, somewhat mixed with gray,
which she brushes back in sort OF tSm-
padour fashion. Above this coiffure the
other day lowered an impossible Engiish
bonnet. 1t was one of those bonnots which
are built on the same lines as Dorio pil-
lar, beginning without any base TO spenK
OF and ending with similar contempt OF
capitals. This Angio-Dorio affair was OF
rcd yelvet--not fashionable shade OF red,
but. rs one of the women said, gust req
red. -
The bonnet possibly did not appeal to
the American oye but the face underneath
IL did. Not that IL was q beautiful face,
but 1t was so lkable IL was reposefui,
and, again, when she smiled the dark eyes
brightened wonderfully and the whole as
pecr OF the face was changed.
Ii seems almost impossible to describe
woman without describing her dress, con-
seauently everybody will be Interested To
know that Mrs. Watson wore black satin
gown. This was nothing extraordinary,
for IL eeemcd TO the uninitiated mind as II
three-fourths Of all the women present
wore black satin gowns. But the diner
ence seemed to be in this, that Mrs. watson
was one of those women whom you always
figure to yourself as dressed in that mate
rial or perhaps in black silk. At any rate,
she gave tho impression of being on good
terms with her raiment, and this isn't In
variably true of women.
In her hand Mrs. Watson bore bouquet
that is, il wasn't exactly bouquet ell
ther. IL was q branch Of heather, although
very few people present knew 1t. Almost
everybody thought it must be something
with a sentiment attached, for 1t was too
ugly 20 DO carried for itself alone. Conse-
quently the majority promptly guessed
that it was heather, although II was about
as much like heather as a cabbage Is like
an American Beauty rose. The sentiment
which prompted the presentation to Mrs.
Watson OF this extraordinary floral offer
ing was, of course, very pretty, but 1t was
tho only pretty thing about It, lt Is quite
possiblc that the poor lady, after she had
handled the thing for four or five hours,
NAV have almost wished that she was
| from England, so that she might hcvs
| taken her sentiment in tho form OF roses.
| 1t was interesting to watch DIR. Watson
| as he greeted the long procession of guests
| He had time for only n handshake witt
| most of them, but his expression OF inter
est was delightful. Observing him from
across the room, one would have said al
! once that 1t was the face of clergyman
greeting his own parishioners. He hae
! that, kindly, benevolent smile OF the true
pastor of his flock. One fancied him say
ing:
"Ab, good morning! And how are th'
babies? Not through with the whoopins
cough yet? Dear, dear! I'll have to ash
Mrs. Watson 70 fix up some of tho nixtur
that we gavo our little Johnnie. "
Occasionally, when some one came whom
DR.. Watson knew either personally or b.
reputation, there was halt in the proces
sion, and then the smile crystallized AM
thero was humorous twinkle OF the eye
but ordinarily people had to be conten
with tho smile Of tho benevolent clergy
man and hearty handshake. New Yor
| sun.