The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-06
A GLIMPSE OF MRS. WATSON
THE TIFE OF IAN MhOLhREN AND
THE IMPRESSION SHE MAKES.
Dr. Wntson's Demeanor Toward His
vtsitors-The Conundrum Left by y. ".
Barrie Mt Smith CoiieEe-How Richard
lie Gautenno Stumpod Grnnt Allen.

Dr. WRteon'e Demennor Toward His
visito rs-The Conundruu Left by q. ".
Barrie Mt Smith ColieEe-How Rich nrd
Le Gsiienno Stumped Grant Allen.
At a reception given the other day in honor of
Ian Maclaren and his wife a good many people
had their first glimpse of Mrs. Watson. She Is
n tall and diRnifed woman. q woman who would
probably always be serene and, therefore. rest
full. She has dark hair, som ewhat mixed with
gray, which she brushes back in a sort of POM
padour fashion. Above this couture. the other
day, lowered an impossible English bonnet. II
was one of those bonnets which are built on
the same lines as n Doric pillar, beginning
without any base to speak OF and ending with n
similar contempt Of capitals. This Anglo
Doric affair was OF red velvet, not a fashiona-
BILE shade of rcd, but, as one of the women said.
Just red red"
Tho bonnet, possibly, did not appeal to-the
American eye, but the face underneath II did.
Not that IL was n beautiful face. but II was so
liknble. 1t was reposeful and. again, when she
smiled the dark eyes frightened wonderfully
and the whole aspect of the face was changed.
1t seems almost impossible to describe a
woman without describing her dress. conse-
quently everybody will DO interested TO know
that Mrs. Watson wore n black satin gown.
This was nothing extraordinary. for 1t seemed
to the .uninitiatcd mind as IL throc-f ourths OF
III u women pTtbtuI "OTo DlbCk satin
gowns. But the difference seemed to be
In this, that Mrs. Watson was one Of
those women whom you always figure to
yourself as dressed in that material or. perhaps,
In black silk. At any rate, she gave the impress
sion OF being OH good terms with her raiment.
and this isn't invariably truo of women.
In her hand Mrs. Watson bore a bouquet.
That is. 1t wasn't exactly u bouquet, either. 1t
was a branch ofheather, although very few peo-
pie present knew it. Almost everybody thought
1t must DO something with a sentiment attached,
for It was too ugly to be carried for itself alone.
Consequently the majority promptly guessed
that 1t was heather, although 1t was about as
much like heather as u cabbage is like an
American Beauty rose. The sentiment which
prompted the presentation to Mrs. Watson of
this extraordinary floral offering was. OF course,
very pretty, but 1t was tho only pretty thing
about it. II is quite possible that tho poor lady,
after she had handled the thing for four or five
hours. may have almost wished that she was
from England, so that she might have taken
her sentiment In the form OF roses.
1t was interesting to watch Or. Watson as he
greeted the long procession OF guests. He had
time for only a handshake with most of them.
but HIS expression of interest was delightful.
Observing him from across the room. one would
have said ut once that 1t was the face OF a cler-
Ryman greeting his own parishioners. He had
that kindly, benevolent smile OF the true pastor
of his flock. One fancied him saying:
All. good morning. And how are tho babies
Not through with the whooping cough yet?
Dear. dear. I'll have to ask Mrs. Watson to
NJ up some OF the mixture that we gave our lit
Occasionally when some one cam whom DR..
Watson knew either personally or by reputa-
tion there was q halt in the procession. and then
the smile crystalliZed and there was n humorous
twinkle of tho eye. but ordinarily people had to
be content with the smile of tho benevolent
clergyman and a hearty handshake.
Ever since J. VI. Barrie visited Smith College
during his recent American tour that ~institu-
ton has been alive with Barrie-isms. Not the
least persistent OF these has been-and is still
the Barrie conundrum." This is the history
OF said conundrum:
During Mr.. Barrie's visit he was asked by one
OF the girls to write in her autograph album,
ana. like the sweet thing" which he was unan-
imously voted to be. he consented. His contri-
button was brief, but full OF possibilities of
meaning. 1t ran:
"Bewar OF a pale woman with q large appe-
title"
Either Mr.. Barrie returned tho book so late
the girl felt that she ought not to show her lack
OF divina,ion by asking what In the world 1t all
meant; a. any rata Mh, Barrie got away with
culateh through the school:
what did he mean by a pale woman with q
Scholars and professors alike have racked
their brains over the problem. and ever guest
tuhb Collt WIN Wv iic RAlos ls put 10 II
test. but the question still goes unanswered and
bids fair to become the permanent college
conundrum.
Apropos .of colleges and of English mon of
letters. the dean of a certain college not far
from New York tells the following story of
Richard lie Gallienne, who in turn told it about
himself. For It was when he wns in this coun-
try that somc one said to him:
Mr.. lie Caffeine, do you know Grant Al
len 2"
"0h yes" said the prose f%ancier; II know
Grahnt.''
Then he paused and meditated smilIngly.
IL was talking with Grahnt one day" he re-
sumed. "and | said TO him: 'Grahnt,' | said,
what is life:' We'll, Grahnt said that 1t was
some fortuitous combination OF atoms, or some
thing like that. and | said:
"'Oh. no. no. | don't mean thatl l mean,
what Is / life? Life. Grahnt! What Ia II ?
He maze some other practical, material sort
of q reply. and | Snld again:
mo. Grahnt. don't mean that" and Mr..
lie Gallienne rolled his eyes. ~ don't mean
that! | mean e-l life rs we see It all around
us. What is that. Grahnt? What is this visit
full. weawy wondah OF the wuhld that we call
1ifa 1,n