The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-04-26
lUcmen and Society.
HOWARD wEEDEN,
BY MRS. J. M. DE coTTEs.

HOWARD wEEDEN.
 Helen Pitkin of The New Orleans Times-Democrat has the following to say of Alabama's gifted writer and artist, the late beloved Howard Weeden:
 About six years ago the name How ard Weeden began to be heard every where at once, and all because of a book bearing the title shadows on the Wall" The book was a collection of short poems and illustrative heads of negro types. Everyone supposed the author-artist to be man, and MT" Howard Weeden became the sub ject in all literary coteries. Howard Weeden was not a man, however; but small. delicate, refined, meditative character, a descendant of an old Southern family. living with sister in the old Huntsville, Ala, home which had sheltered generations of Weedens. She had ever lived secluded life. and when rumors of her own fame came to her, closed the door the tighter. She loved her work but she did not care for the publicity it would have brought. A second volume, "Bandanna Ballads followed the first within year. and later, "Old Voices" which was stamped with the same fresh genius as her former works. As no one else has done, Miss Weeden caught the senti- ments of the lovable, ante-bellum plan tation negro, and depicted them with both pen and brush. She had evident lv studied the character of the negro unconsciously for years before her acute interest in the type forced her to fix them upon paper. Her reverence for the unselfsh. gentle and humble characters she knew among them is apparent in many of her verses, and their whims and humor she presents without the high lights generally com sidered necessary in representing them. The tenderness of her touch was ap- parent in the very tones of the pig ments she used in depicting her old marnmies and old men and little chill dren, and the tenderest of all in her tribute to her own beloved nanny. whose face, beautiful in It's sable humility really adorns the first page of Shadows on the Wall
 Mother and Nanny.
 Among the ranks of shining saints
 Disguised in heavenly splendor' Two Mother-faces wait for me,
 Familiar still, and tender. One face shines whiter than the dawn,
 And steadfast as a star;
 None but my Mothers face could shine
 So bright-and be so far!
 The other dark one leans from heaven,
 BTOO0lnE
 Black as If ebon Rest had found
 Its image in my Nanny!
 Miss Weeden died of consumption to which she became a victim a few months ago. Huntsville which was her home, mourns her most gifted daughter and looks sorrowfully upon the great weeden mansion, full of art treasures and the thousand personal touches and belongings that made It 30 sacredly her own. The South mourns with Alabama in this great loss-we could i'll spare the gepius and the wo- man.
 MISS .yOHNsTON'S CARD PARTY.
 The members of the Tuesday Card Club were with number of other friends charmingly entertained at cards yesterday morning by Miss Mary John gton at her home at Highland Park, when the apartments were beautlned with a wealth of roses gathered rom the grounds about the home. The heautiful bushes that in great num- bers stand pyramids of pink, red and white blossoms seemed none the poorer for the plucking that adorned the Interior.
 Miss Johnston was assisted in keep Ing the score by Miss Mary Lou Holt of Washington, Mrs J. D. Roquemore of Boston and Mrs. A. s. Knowles, and the rose score cards were passed to the guests by little Miss Emily Pitts. who was an exquisitely dainty little maid in her toilette of white null and lace.
 The club prize. lovely vase filled with roses was won by Mrs. J. K. Jackson, and the guests prize also vase of roses was won by Miss Halls. A delicious luncheon followed the games