The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-21
NEWS OF THE WEEK IN SOCIETY WORLD. Shakespearean Afternoon h. CIudeS Lecture on Hamlet INTERPRET TATlVE READINGS Charming Drawneroom Entertainment at Which Many Guests Enjoy
 shakespearean Programme,
 Followed By Music.
 
INTERPRETATlVE READINGS
BY ANNIE kENpRIck WALKER.

Mrs. J. E. Frazier and Mrs. c. J. Sharp entertained 50 guests with a Shakespearean afternoon yesterday at the residence of Mrs. Frazier in Eleventh avenue. A brilliant and cultured audi ence had the privilege of hearing a scholarly lecture on Hamlet by the Rev. Dr. w. b. Evans, rector of the Church of the Advent.
 Miss Mabel ToWnley, formerly of Rir mingham, but now of Ann Arbor, Mich.. gave two readings from the Merchant of Venice, Portals defense in the court of justice, and Shylock's address to Antonio. Miss Townley has developed notable talent and she received warm praise yesterday for her fine interpretative work. She has just completed a years course of Shakespearean study at the University of Chicago.
 Besides the Shakespearean part of the programme there were several musical numbers.
 Miss Mcconnell, the guest of Mrs. Mol ton Smith, and whose voice has charmed many drawing room assemblies this sea- son, sang Bohns "Entreaty," and Marie" by Franz.
 
 of Mrs, Frazier, gave piano selection, Chopins '.Impromptu Fantasie." Both of these young women achieved artistic triumphs and the applause would have been 1attering to even professionals. The programmes were artistically ar ranged, and contained, besires the num- bers, a "A Winters Tale" which was not either the original or a plagiarism, as might be supposed, but an exceedingly clever achievement on the part of one of the hostesses, Mrs. Sharp, who evolved an entertaining story by interweaving the names of Shakespeare's plays, his heroines and heroes, and which she called "A Winters Tale"
 It began in ''The Twelfth Night" after their arrival. ''Two Gentlemen of vero- ma" wandering near the Forest of Ard den;" and continuing with her narrative, she managed to introduce the names of plays and places associated with the inn mortal bard. The closing lines of the narrative were, This may seem to you Much Ado About Nothing but take it "As You Like It." for "All's We'll That Ends We'll"
 Appropriate to Shakespearean after noon the house was decorated with the red and black colors of Denmark, dur ing the Hamlet period. Deep red roses and black and red ribbons were used in the decorations of the tea table. A de- lcious hot luncheon was served and the ices were moulded as busts of Shakes peare.
 Mrs. Frazier received in a gown of net cf1n1 o1 1ad wifi cilt wore gown of black, also heavily spangled.
 Mrs. F. B. Heiser has returned from a visit with relatives in Montevallo Miss Marie Smith returned from Athens Thursday.
 Mrs. Hattie Jones of Huntsville is the guest of Mrs. Morrow.
 The Quest club will meet with Mrs. Guice this afternoon.
 The Rev. John w. Stagg is in Mont gonery, where he will deliver an address in the First Presbyterian church tonight,
 
 been spending some time with Mr. and Mrs. Charles Thixton in Louisville, are now visiting Mrs. Thixton's parents, Judge and Mrs. Walker, in Henderson. The Culture club will meet with Mrs. w. IT. Hulsey this afternoon at 2:sO o'clock.
 Mrs. F. 1T. Vernon will entertain the Twentieth Century club at her home, 1209 North Twenty fifth street, this afternoon Mrs. w. M. Byrd, Jr., will entertain at bridge this afternoon in honor of Miss Rose Dickerson. Mrs. Byrd will also give dinner Saturday evening at the Coun- try club.
 The members of General Sumter Chap- ter, Daughters of the American Revo- lution, are requested to meet at the home of Mrs. John w. Tomlinson, Saturday, promptly at 2:30 o'clock to attend the cell ebration of George Washington's birth day. A varied programme will be given with special features in keeping with the day. owing to other social arrangements