The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-12-16

Standing on the threshold OF a new CEN
fury. It is significant when one looks down
the long list of social favorites, TO OBJ
serve that there is no one name to claim
the eminence OF belleship. whose standard
was fixed far back in colonial days.
Is the reign OF the belle i vision Of the
past?
Is it merely lack Of opportunity that the
fair women of to-day no longer rise 10
the Tre-eminence that places their names
on a page in their country $ history Oh
do they not possess the wit, the mag
.letisrn. the force of personality that lltts
them to the dazzling heights? This Is
question often asked and never answered.
Every Richmond girl with social as
1,iratls1 and chose even Who nave pui4l
no castles IN the air, have been brought
1p o.. traditions Of Matte Ould, Lizzie
C,abeil and Mary T'riplett. Their beauty,
75iquancy, 4laivete and witcherv were Of
SO potent q character that their names
have been among those that the world
viii not willingly let die. The stories OF
their triumphant careers. their witty sal
lies, their many conqueSts. are IN many
homes yet household words.
THREE FAMOUS WOMEN.
The names Of three women who gave
life and color to the years of another
generation were Fanny Taylor. sally
Cheval!er ard Sally Watson These may
Tot appeal to every ones recollection. but
their names certainly carry the mark OF
State Il not Of National distinction
To the American belle. unlike the Ia
vorite OF any other country, marriage
did not inauguratc nor interrupt her
rriu,nrhant career This is amply IL
lustrated IN the new publication, Famous
American Bellies OF the Nineteenth Cen
Jury by Virginia Tat7lal Peacock
The author has made a happy selection,
and has been fortunate TO be able TO pre-
,l1c Of famous bellies.
The book has q froiltisplece IN color
and twenty full-pase portraits
The list begins with Marcia Burns. the
Scotch lassie, whose father owned the site
of Washington city. and includes either
sketches or photographs OF Emily Mar
shall Theodosia Burr, Elizabeth Ia1ter-
son. the Canton sisters. Margaret q Nelii.
Cora Livingston, octavia Walton, Fanny
Taylor. Jessie Benton. Sallie Ward. Adele
cults, Sally Chevalier, Emile Sci1aunl-
burg, kate Chase, Matte Ould. Jennie
Jerome, Nellie Hazeltine, Mary Victoria
Letter, Lizzie Cabcll, Mary Triplett. Har-
riet Lane, Catherine Duer, Matte Mitch
ell Jennie Chamberlain and May Handy.
RICHMOND BEAUTIES.
It e. of peculier interest that eight Of
these famous women We're from Richmond
and the larger number OF TINS dazZNns
company came from below the Aason and
Dixon line.
and Brooklyn and Boston only one
ont OF the number that makes up Miss
Peacock's charming book. just one IS pre-
scented from humble life. and she IS
among the most interesting.
Peggy O'Neill was the daughter OF
tavern keeper, but she lived IL Washing
ION ana owed her fame quite as much 10
tie aoj,nosjty as 10 the admiration She
evoked. Her life as Mrs. Eaton IS al
most story of Jackson's administration
The other famous bellies had the in
Auence Of official life or the prestige lent
by wealth; and more than hall had the
advantage of life IN Washington.
The Richmond beauties We're dlsfinsuish-
cd through the potent charms OF their
own personality.
THE loveliaess OF Virginia women has
been a theme of song and verse. says
the author. Among the Richmond oe!ics
OF sixty years ago none were more justly
celebrated than the Richmond traces,
Sally Chevalier. Fanny Taylor and sally
Watson Close companions from early
childhood. their unusual beauty IS they
grew TO womanhood brought them fame
individually and collectively. Sally CheVa-
.ter became the wife of AbraIn Warwick,
Sally Watson OF Alexander Eives. and
Fany Taylor was twice married
A PICTURESQUE CHARACTER.
Within a year after her reign in Rich
mond society. Fanny Taylor became the
wife Of Archibald Morgan Harrison. of
H7luvanna coanty They lived at -Carys-
brook Mr. Harrisoa's estate on the Ri
wanna river She was q great-grand-
daughter OF Benjamin Harrison. a signer
os the Declaration OF Independence and
her husband was great-srandson OF Ben
pamin Harrison. father Of Benjamin. the
stgner Their life Of pastoral beauty
CLOSED with Mr.. Harrison's death. HIS
widow was at the height Of her ioveliness,
and when she went once more into the
world ahe evoked the most nnstinred adj
miration.
~Afu six years OF wtdowhood, Mrs