Birmingham state herald., 1896-07-26

4 Charm1me, ChatLy

LetteT-n1,unzzz

prosperous city, I am comfortably housed next door to a portion of the Gu ban army. Now, don't be alarmed for the battalion is not especially belligerent as far as appearances go, and as they converse in Spanish of course 1 cannot charge them with incendiary speech. But 1 cannot understand how the fight has been carried on at all in the fated little island since the forces were depict ed by the removal of this family of pa triots. All of them-their unpronounca- ble, unspellable Spanish names l do not know, so l cannot be more definite if Would-are not, strictly speaking, of the regular army age, but there are crowds of all ages occupying that hand some home on Peachtree street. Beginning with the grandparents, there are all ages, sizes and conditions, from the gray-haired Spanish father and the handsome Cuban mother, with manly, stalwart sons and dark-eyed, graceful daughters-who look as if they had sung love songs from the easement windows of old Madrid-down to the wee little toddler who is an adept in learning the games of American chil- dren. This family has refugeed from Cuba and, having large wealth at their command, can afford to learn of the rev. olution, or insurrection-as you prefer to call it-through the press dispatches. Of course there is a handsome blonde
 
 to the pretty Cuban maiden, but, al- though our porches nearly touch, 1 am never wiser, for he speaks Spanish, and l can only listen in English. But l could easily guess what he says and what are her replies, for is not the language of the heart the same throughout the universe? simply look over at these young lovers, who enjoy the moonlight like all other lovers and l wager l could drop into their tragmentary conversation just at ri,k I, -trr1,4 even if do mot speak Spanish. 1 expect 1t is a great comfort to them to remem- Der that their neighborS are foreigners as they tell over and over again the same old story, that will be ever new as long as time endures l am glad that this Cuban family have taken refuge in this Georgia town and that the blonde lover can win his pretty sweetheart with the olive complexion and raven tresses, in stead of falling a victim to the barbara ties of the Spanish soldiers. l feel an ina creased interest in the Cuban question since seeing this Cuban family, which no man has yet numbered, so many they are. My ideas regarding the population of the little island certainly have been enlarged since observing the size of this family of refugees.
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 Atlanta is dull in a. social way, as I suppose it is too warm to be active about anything just now, and a great many people of fashion are enjoying themselves at the popular resorts or the country as well as across the pond" But still dull or gay, there are a sufficient number left to fill the handsome vehicles these bright July afternoons with well groomed, gor- geously at1ired Immunity. AS l watch the gay pageant I fancy 1 can locate the dresses which have been so accurately described in the social departments of the Atlanta papers, and feel not entirely a stranger to the trousseaux of the fash ionable women of the city. I find myself on the qui vive to discover if the "crea- tion in pink organdy, that dream of French artist, with pillows of lace and great clusters of satin ribbons" has been correctly given to the eager, hungrying public. AS drive look for the ''violet- colored hats accentuated with holding ostrich plumes," of which you and have read for many months. Perhaps they are all here. have no reason to doubt 1t, for there seems to be no end Of pret- tily attired women in fetching gowns and picturesque, flower hats. But every time I visit Atlanta l am more and more convinced of the large num- Der of charming people who reside here. whose gowns and hats are not described by the social reporters. and yet who are just as well dressed as those who figure so constantly in the society columns. Variety is certainly the spice of life, and there are very many stylish, beautiful Atlanta women whose lovely gowns are artistic creations" even if only round dozen are fortunate @ enough to have the number of their plumes, yards of their lace, quality of their silks and names of their dressmakers given to an intellt- gent, long suffering public week after week by credulous reporters. Atlanta may be dull, but is certainly full of in- terest to me at all times and all seasons.
 MRS. GEO. c. BALL.