The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1909-07-15


Boulle cabinets, and was so glad I
knew that Bouile was cabinetmaker
to Louis XIV. and when Elizabeth in
that very English way of hers kept
saying Wonderful how wonderful It
all isy' It was delicious to be able to
tuck In word or two about the Mar
quise dc Rambouillet who made real
home after our modern ideas Of her
hotel In Paris In the sixteenth century
from what had bean . gloomy. prison
like palace. u was from this mar
quise that Psrisians learned to put tho
staircase on one side 30 as TO have a
fine suit Of rooms, to raise the floors
and TO make the doors and windows
high and large and to place them op-
posite each other. Shs-the marquise-
was also the nrst person who thought
Of painting q room some other color
than red or brown. Indeed, polite
Paris copied the form Of the Marquise
de Rambouillets dwelling long before
the contemporary noble was capable
Of Initiating the urbanity and the lit.
erary cultivation Of the marquise's
salon. Doesn't this sound tremendous
ly learnedi Among the Colony collec-
tion was an armchair belonging to
Louis XIV. that everybody was raving
over The tapestry covering was ex-
quisite. to be sure. but really think
the silver foot warmer that stood be-
fore the chair made the biggest hit.
A pretty girl standing near me dip
PANTY likened the funny heating ap-
paratus to 4 patent carpet sweeper
minus the handle. The Savoneris car
pet on which the char stood was. to
my mind. one Of the handsomest
things In the collection. This textile,
which once graced the Louvre and Is
now the property Of Mr.. ]. p. Morgan,
II In faded blue and wood tones. The
central design y formed OF the tripod.
the rising sun and the crown.
Mrs. Clarence Mackay. beautifully
gowned In her favorite shade Of
mauve. made quite picture herself
In medieval gown while standing In
front Of some gobelin tapestry lent
by Mrs. Harry Payne Whitney. And
overheard Mrs. Mackay say to a
friend with her a. passed. MY dear.
she has an entire room hung with this
priceless tapestry" Having disposed
Of the gobslins. these ladies' immedi-
ateiy began to discuss some woman
who was q rabid anti. much to the
disgust Of the president Of the Equal
Franchise league. Indeed. one caught
stray fragments Of talk every now and
then on the suffragette subject. But
every one knows that TO the majority
OF women the ballot question Is mere
ly fashionable fad Of the moment.
But we are 30 uncomfortably intel
lectuL these days. and Il d no longer
possible to Jog along and enjoy In
ones own way ones favorite authors-
No; such luxury u not oursi We must
be '-up" on modish literature no mat
ter whether We like the variety or not
Last week I went to conferences"
&C Mrs. Van Wa The talk was about
the great women Of the past. and Mime.
Recamier bad the center Of the stage.
90 TO speak. Strange ~ II may seem.
women known for their beauty have
the preference over their palmer sis
ters at these seances. Interesting as
are Nine. de Staei and George Sand.
they viii have 10 wait until the beau.
~ talk has run It's course before their
cleverness Will be served up as a 1T.
erary soufne.
At this .'litersry morning the Iectur.
or did tell an amusing anecdote about
George Sand which possibly you have
NOT heard. You know. as rule George
Sand was particularly polite. but she
could. II she liked, be particularly un.
| pleasant and rude. as Nine. de @. dis
covered to her cost Nine. de q. had
kept. Il seems. George Sand TO dinner
one evening. assuring her she would
meet only two or three intimate
friends. instead OF this number, thir-
~ persons sat down to the banquet
and George Sand felt she was being
exhibited as q celebrity. Everybody
looked ut her and waited for the words
to drop from the famous novelist's lips.
bot the lady remained mute ~ . nsh-
Half an hour elapsed. and the guests
looked at each other dumfounded.
After 4 huge salad bowl was placed
In front Of Bouckard. one Of the guests
celebrated for his skill In dressing
salad. he started operations. Perhaps
Il was the pepper that tickled him; but.
whstsvsr the cause, be suddenly sneez-
ed right Into the bowl There was .
moments silence. Bouchard turned
very red. Suddenly George Sand look.
ID at him and said. -Pis!" II was the
only word she spoke that night And
am sure you ars hoping that my last
word has been spoken this night So
BE- IL Ever most sincerely yours.
New York. MABEL