The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-01
YESTERDAY EVENTS
 IN SOCIETY WORLD Mrs. Schraeder's Play The Bandbox" Given In New York NOTES HERE AND THERE
one-Act Play Written By Mrs. Marie Schraeder, Who Has a Number of Friends in Birmingham, Where
 She Visited Seasons Ago.

A number of Birmingham people will recall Mrs. Marie B. Schraeder, formerly of Alabama, but now of Washington and New York, and who visited this city a few years ago. Mrs. Schraeder has been for several years associated with the Washington Post as special writer of the atrical affairs, her interviews with many of the leading stars being a feature of that paper, of which her husband is the we'll known dramatic critic. When Mrs. sschaeder visited Birmingham she was given little dinner at the club which was much enlivened by her interesting "reminiscences of stage folk
 From a charming writer on theatrical topics, her articles appearing in maga- zines, and from close study of the stage, Mrs. Schraeder has now evolved into playwright. Her new play, The Band box" a one-act play, will shortly be presented on Broadway by an exception- ally strong cast. Her friends here will read with interest what the New York Times, in referring to the arrangement for the play, has to say:
 Mrs. Francis L. Pruyn, who played the French maid in Mrs. Van Vechten's Divorce Dance," at the Plaza last win ter, in which Mrs George Gould ap- peared, signed a contract yesterday to appear soon on Broadway in a new onc- act play, ''The Bandbox," by Mrs. Marie B. Schraeder. the magazine writer. In this Mrs. Pruyn is again to play the part of French maid.
 Mrs. Pruyn's engagement resulted from her recital of French and Spanish folk songs at the Garden theatre on Tuesday afternoon. John J. Donnely. who is to manage Mrs. Schraeders play, has been at a loss for an actress suitable for the principal woman's part. After seeing Mrs Pruyn in the Garden theatre, he arranged an appointment for yesterday afternoon with the result that Mrs. Pruyn agreed to appear under his management.
 Besides Mrs. Pruyn, who before her marriage was Miss Marianna B. Thurber, the cast for Mrs. Schraeder's play will in- clude Richard Sterling, who appeared with Mansfield and Robert Edeson, and more recently with William Collier in Caught in the Rain,' and Miss Estha Evans. Rehearsals will begin today, and it is expected that the play will have it's initial performance in about two weeks
 The death of Mrs. Asenath Smith at her. home in Prattville early yesterday morning was received with sorrow by her many friends in this city. Mrs. Smith was the mother of MT. Algernon L. Smith and MT. Daniel Holt Smith of Birming- ham, both of whom were at her bedside. MT. Howard Smith of Houston, Tex, was also in Prattville when the end came.
 The funeral will take place there this morning.
 Mrs. Algernon Smith had been in Pratt vile for some weeks. The death of Mrs. Smith was not unexpected, as she had been great sufferer for many weeks. She was widely beloved, one of the women of the old school, combining many beauti- ful qualities of mind and heart, and her death will be greatly deplored.
 MT. and Mrs. Algernon L.. Smith will return from Prattville tonight.
 MT. and Mrs. Howard Smith of Houston, Tex, will be the guests of MT. and Mrs. Algernon Smith for a few days at their residence on Sycamore street Mrs. Thom- as Chiffon Brown of Marion has been staying there for two or three weeks.
 Maj and Mrs. Frank Y. Anderson are passing the week at Valley Head.
 The tea given by Mrs. Alexander Cecil was beautiful occasion. About 25O guests called during the receiving hours, from to G. making the tea one of the largest of the season. Mrs. Cecil had her pretty house decorated with spring blossoms. They were most lavishly arranged, and while white roses predominated in the drawing room those of deeper tint were used throughout the house, and in addi- tion to quantities of roses there were the peonies in the American tint, and gera- nium blossoms that gave much color to the decorations.
 Punch and a buffet luncheon were served
 Mrs. Cecil looked charming in an after noon gown of black and white striped silk, smartly braided in black
 Among those receiving with her were: Mrs. Harry Jones, wearing a white lin- gerie; Mrs. J. D. Moore, in white lace; Mrs. William Gray Estes, in white; Mrs Goodall, wearing lavendar; Mrs. Henry l.. Badham, very charming in white; Mrs. Solon Jacobs, in tinted lisse; Mrs. Walter c. Phillips, in a costume of white; Mrs. Ernest Redd, wearing pink; Mrs. Harry Coffin, also in pink; Miss Vernon Marks, wearing yellow; Miss Cook, costume of pink, and Mrs. M. J. Smollen, wearing white.
 One of the largest and most beautiful parties of the season was the bridge 1 given by Mrs. Solon Jacobs at the Coun- try club, assembling most all of the bridge set, some 75 guests playing their favorite game, which has no prospect of | waning in popularity in the fashionable | world.
 The hostess, noted for the artistic beauty and individuality of her entertain | ments, intended to entertain her guests l al fresco, at tables placed on the club l veranda, which was to have been dec | orated with parasols. Owing to the sud- | den change in the weather this artistic l setting for the bridge players had to be | abandoned, and the games were played in | the large entrance hall which forms the | living room of the club hOuse and into