Birmingham state herald., 1896-01-08

noted Tn these columns 1T sent lO MIS. George C. Ball, Nineteenth street, between Tenth and Eleventh avenues, South High lands. Telephone 9SS)
 The book just published by Miss Mary La F. Robbins of Selma, Alabama Women in Literature" is a work of value and interest to all who feel any concern in the literary progress of the women of our state. It is handsomely bound in cloth, remarkably well printed, and upon dts title page bears a reproduction of the seal of Alabama and this significant quotation from Carlyle If book comes from the heart it will contrive to reach other hearts, all art and authorcraft are of small amount to that" And 1t is dedi- cated to the women of our state by it's gifted author in the following beautiful lines: "To the women of Alabama who are endeaVoring to learn and disseminate the best that is known and thought in the world, and to their co-workers who, in prose and verse, are diflusing the sweetness and light of higher culture" This valuable book contains histories and details of nearly all the womens clubs of Alabama written. by prominent mem- bers of the various organizations. That of the Cadmean circle of Birmingham was written by Mrs. Joseph McLester; the Cliomian circle, by Mrs. George r. Cruik- shank; St. Pauls Biblical and Literary society, by Miss Mary A. Cahalan; the Nineteenth Century club by Mrs. John London; the Picrian Literary society, by Miss Mary Belle SloSS, and the Highland Book club, by a member. There is also an account of the State Federation of Clubs, and the constitution and bylaws of the same Besides all this data, which must be of vital interest to every club woman of Alabama, large portion of the book is devoted to selections from the meetings of women of our state. Many of the names of the writers are very familiar to the readers of Alabama, and the selections are made from contribu- tions to the newspapers and periodicals of the times, as well as from novels of great note. There will no doubt be a ready sale for this excellent book. There certainly should be. In the introduction Miss Robbins says. among other strong, well-put, eloquent things: "The making of this book has been a labor of love. The purpose of the volume is to make known the efforts Alabama women are putting forth in behalf of intellectual de- velopment to show what they have wrought in literature, and incidentally to disprove the premises which lie at the root of all misgivings concerning the fu- ture of womanhood. In regard to the woman question, the prophecies of yes terday have become the realities of to- day. The intellect of woman has been awakened and' her energies have been quickencd to an extent but dimly fore shadowed when the first institutions for her higher education were founded The vision of a seer or the acumen of a sa- want are no longer required to discern the changed conditions which confront hcI in the closing years of the nine teerfth century. It is the opinion of the writer that the recipients of it's advan- tages may find opportunities for useful ness in diStinctvely womanly directions. The facts herein recorded are presented as arguments in favor of this position"
 Miss Mary La F. Robbins, the author of Alabama Women in Literature" is ono of the most talented women of our state, a woman of thorough cultivation, and possesses all the advantages necessary to cope successfully with her important subject. She resides in Selma and is the sister of Hon. Gaston A. Robbins. She has a large circle of friends in Birming- ham, who extend congratulations to her upon the splendid realization of her worthy ambition
 Mrs. Frank Hodges has just returned from delightful visit to relatives in Mo- bile.
 Mrs. Robert McLester gave a most en- joyable tea Monday evening in honor of Miss Leland of Tuskaloosa and Miss Cochran of Selma, who are visiting Mrs. J. T. Nixon.
 
 
 eral weeks in New Orleans. returned home few days ago.
 MT. and Mrs. F. w. Mccarthy enter tained number of their young friends Monday evening in compliment to Miss Nettie Stith of Richmond, Va, who is the guest of Miss Stern. The following young people were present. Misses Hattie Stern, Nettie Stith, Annie Jones' Ada Riely, Hattie Price, Rosa Snitzer. Willie Price, Alice Lewis. Maggie Silk, Rebecca Lewis. Lena Coghill, Mary Coghill, Gus sic Hickman. Mrs. Zoe Blair and Messrs. M. Riley. w. Riley, J. H. Edwards. Ollie Miles, D. B. Luster, Warner Roden, Will Silk. Peter Boggan, T. J. Perry. J. R. Blair and George Hays.
 Mrs. Ben Wei and Mrs. Marcus Well gave a large and charming reception last evening at their handsome home on Fifth avenue in compliment to Miss Irene NI.eyens and Misses Hattie Mayer and Maude Rice of Vicksburg, Miss The rooms were filled with their friends, dancing began early and continued late, the decorations were elaborate and at- tractive and a bountiful collation. com pleted an evening of great pleasure
 Mrs. J. r. Graham entertains this af- ternoon at 2 o'clock the Tuesday After noon Whist club.
 It would have required drearier downpour of ceaseless rain, a heavier banking of dull gray clouds and more ad- hesive red mud than even the Highlands of Birmingham can furnish to have de- tered the hundreds of friends of Mrs. Benjamin Franklin Moore from attend ing her beautiful reception yesterday af- ternoon and evening. The flood came. but so did the charming women of I5ir- mingham, and filled the handsome home with the brightness of their personality. And once in the attractive home they felt repaid for having braved the de- pressing elements. The two parlors were decorated with palms and cut flowers and in the front parlor stood Mrs. Moore, surrounded with a group of lovely girls Miss Margaret Cmith, in whose honor Mrs. Moore gave her elegant reception. Miss O'Connor and Miss Luttrell of Knoxville, Miss Cottingham of Marietta, Ga, Miss Susan Ball of Kentucky and Miss Mamie Pearson, such a line of pret- ty, charming girls as one does not see every day. Across the hall in the library a irf,ila fn