The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-14
1rrr TOPICS Anorr roKN.

tho first woman 20 sing Valentine In this coun-
try. I'm all probability" MIR. Hale writes,
the first performance Of The Huguenots' was
in French at Now Orleans. for on Oct. IL,
1s45. tho opera was given at tho Chestnut
Street Theatre, Philadelphia, by the French
opera company from Now Orleans" In the
cast which he prints the name Of Mile. Calve
appears. This Mile. Calve," he says, first
sang in Philadelphia, Sept. IA. 1s43. She is de-
scrlbod as equally charming as vocalist and
actress q graceful and light soprano. and q
great favorite." The SUN told two years ago
Of q letter received by tho present popular
Milo. Cnlv6 from an old lady living in New
Orleans at that time. In It tho writer said
that she was moro than 30 years old, and had
heard in New Orleans Of her namesake'a great
success in New York. Many years before,
she continued, she was n popular singer in New
Orleans and other American cities, and she
had remained after hor retirement in New Or.
leans. Enclosed was q faded flower, which tho
writer said came from a bouquet given to her
Mile. Caive answered tho letter, but never
heard again from her namesako who so many
years before, had been declared equally charm
ing as vocalist and actress" an opinion which
has frequently been expressed OF the singer
who now bears the same name.
The decision of q social leader in Washing
ton, whose rugged English has caused as much
amusement in Chicago as 1t has in New York,
TO mark sharply the limits of her set will DO
Of interest to many New Workers. Washing
ton society has como to mean, 30 far as Now
Workers are concerned, merely tho diplomatic
circle. Outside Of that there is nothing which
Is recognized as constituting q social set Of the
first order. Visiting Now Workers have never
concerned themselves with any Of the local or
American features of Washington society.
at has become true said a man who re-
fnrnod rnconflv frnp, wouhfpvtop Nthaf tho
only society there which attracts persons
wealthy enough to move In 1t Is tho diplo-
matte sot-meaning, OF course. the foreign dip
lomatists who are stationed there. Local So
t tiiens Is of HleifS m Snd Be S,e eeselv 20 f By tGem rn' but mt,
no matter how elevated they BIO, there is not
che slightest interest felt in them by wealthy
others. That Is also the New York point Of
sanitation saGG; faa in an New Y" York Which, i III the
fact very striik r. S,, i IN m1 idea a habit habit OF enter enter
to attend its balls, but I don't believe that once
In its history an invitation was eyer sent to any
ington from the South or West or to members
Of their families. Only the foreigners were
man who has just organized q series of dances
in Washington and left out everybody but the
snnou noek tbst af few t1 II iTies NATIVES 50 need e Apply =
She made the first step several years ago: when
at a dance she fenced on her particular friends
in such n way that they could not be approached
by the other guests-only stared at respectfully
from a distance"
The lament Of the picture dealer who lost his
fortune in attempting to save the business out
of which he had made it was published in THE
SUN o few weeks ago. He was a victim Of the
department stores, although 1t Is not unreason-
able to suggest the improvement :in taste as
one element of the decline in the print business.
After attributing his troubles to the depart
mont stores, this man said that the business
could never become profitable again, and as.
serted his intention to go in only for rare and
valuable pictures, which was a branch of the
business that could never be injured "a his had
been. Now the Booksellers League hears one
of its members read a paper containing praoti.
cally tho same opinions, and declaring In fu-
sellers who deal in first editions and other rare
and valuable branches OF their trade. The do
PHrt inr ths stores r.esiI he So said: haye tn made son d i@p sSsIr
business with profit. Casual observers Of the
business would not he disposed to take so
sombrc n view of the matter, and many OF the
book stores to-day are selling books at rates
as low as the department stores. With this
equality there is combined another advantage
which ono in search Of books at a low, price
must have noticed. The standard works are
always to be had in the department stores, but
the new works seem to arrive with rather in
explicable hardness. The advantage in this
respect appears to remain with the booksellers.
uLu, wan wv. 'tAsco' HfH 1851
in their case the melancholy. fate of the picture
dealer for some time yet.
There never was any proposal to have the
young woman who has gained distinction by
her ability to take off her clothes at a greater
altituds than anybody else perform that deli
cate stunt before the members Of an amusement
club last Tuesday night. She was not ex-
pected to do that difficult feat until next Tues
day night. which is the date mentioned in the
contract with her. 1t is highly probable that
will be nothing:feft in her performance to cause
the slightest uneasiness. 1t will be 30 carefully
expurgated that nothing should bring a blush to
tho cheek Of the most distinguished person
present. At tho same time 1t Is true that she
will BIO seen on the trapeze in evening dress.
and later in her customary acrobatic costume.
What happens In tho interval will decide her
fitness to appear before tho exclusive audience
that may gather to see her. This young person,
who boasts n cuphonious French name, Is an
American of Irish extraction, and tho place OF
tain Western town. She certainly possesses
some of the smartness Of appearance associated
with French women.
The secession of a certain number of its
members from the Society Of American Artists
may.not injurc that body's work, but 1t will cor.
tainly deprive the association Of a great deal of
hair. If Robert Reid had alone retired, the loss
of his black and silky whiskers would have
lowered the average of hair considerably; but
| WHICH,
signed there CANT a staggering blow to the asso-
citation. Mr.. Metcalfe's whiskers arc almost as
long. almost as bushy and almost as silky as
Mr.. Reds. That honors arc easy between
these. two gentlemen may be understood from
the fact that several years ago when some
amateurs posed in tableaux from '.'Trilby'' an
invitation was sent up to the Studio building, in
which they both live, asking that either take
the place Of ySvcnggH. 1t was q little uncer.
tain for a while which would consent, but as
both had promised positively that one OF them
should appear, the committee never felt tho
satisfactory, figure for the part; Mr.. Met.
shorter that MIR. Reid's. is family touched with
the marks of Times ieeting hand. Mr.. Reid's
remains the deep blue.black OF the ravens wing.
There is a slight touch of gray in Mr.. Metcaife's
locks as we'll, and they lack the beauty. of Mr..
Reid's IN that they lie fiat and do not curl grace
fully about the back OF his collar and over his
temples. But these slight differences are notice
able only to persons accustomed TO SEQ together
these two stalwart. notwithstanding men who
have Just reduced so ruthlessly the high hair
average that prevailed in the Society OF Ameri-
can Artists 80 long AS they were members OF 1t.