New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-30
A BUDGET OF PERsONALIA


NJ TARlE.C1orBs 49, Rsminisosnoes ~
NJ Ai', e., t', %e's o,., . S - saw
re- &C. WIl fn3 ilstraiicns. incinaina
.1 ru I'D. rc CeHv H o.-aa 'on
Tho author is happy 10 the tte o.
hcl book The obvious and fache
temptation was. o. course. 90 te.ce'
Famous People Who Have Dinec with
Ne" or something equally oanei'
though perhaps cutie accurate SD de-
rotcmcnt But "Ny Table-Cloths" is
IS perfectly accurate as any OF these
could have been. and has besides Che
attractive qualities OF novelty and suS-
gcstior.
lt rs literally true title, because
tho Whole delightful volume rs based
upon lot Of linen table cioths.
actually used or Mrs Alcc-Iweedie's
table at numerous dinners 90 which
we're more interesting and worm
while" people shan 10 has fallen 90 the
lot o. many hostcsseS TO entcsta ID.
The cloths arc more properly slips. OF
long strip, Of linen, running along the
sides and ends OF the table, and lea'-
ING the polished oak Of the centre eN-
posed. just wide enough 20 hold easily
she plates. glasses, etc.. OF the guests
pom these the guests wrote their a4-
iocraphs. drew sketches, etc, nap
hazard with lead pencils. Then IN
order that the records might not be
destroyed iu the laundry, Mrs. Acc
Tvccdie laboriously went over every
line and letter and dash and dot with
needle and crimson thread, making the
records as enduring as the fabric OF
the cloths.
The conceit was a quaint ore, but
once begun DO was taken up by her
guests With ayidity, with the result
that the precious strips Of linen now
hear hundreds Of names, including
those OF many OF the most notable men
and women IN the world. and not Few
sketches by famous artists The roh
o. signatory dinner guests comprises
people Of consequence in many walks
OF life There are such artists as
Alma Tadema. Marcus Stone, Joha
Tenniel. Linlcy Samboume, Hubert
Herkomer and George Boughton. 70.
hticsl life is represented by tfe'S
multitude headed by John Hay. LoIu
Bryce. A. J Balfour, Lord and Lazy
Aberdeen, Porfrio Diaz, Baron IsksaM
Kato. Marquis Inouye Count Lutzo"
and lord Strathcona. The law boasts
the names Of Sir Edward Carson, ST
L0hHFQ AAAlhFf AfNA "a N.AtttA'NNt-N-
master and Justice Grantham. Lit
erature and journalism contribute an
amazing list Of celebrities, American
AZ well as British; among the former
being Louise Chandler Mouiton, Ger
trude Anterior. Margaret Be.asd. Hor-
ace Howard Furncss and Hamln Car
land; while the latter comprise Waiter
Bcsant. Edwin Arnold. John Walter
TiaU Game. Israel Zangwill. II. 9.
Wells. Flora Annie Steel. samuel
Smiles. T. 2. O'Connor. Anthony Hope,
frederick Harrison. John Lane and
MANY more Under the head Of Re
lrion" are marshalled John stuart
Blackie. Moncure d. Conway. canon
Shuttleworth and the Bishop oil BIZ
mingham Science and medicine nave
many representatives, as might De eH-
pected. AZ the table Of Dr. Harley,s
daughter: Sir David Bruce. SIT WI! ~
lam Crookes. Sir Victor Horsley, VIII
lam Marconi. Sir Hiram Maxim, SIR
William Ramsay, DR.. S Weir Mitchell,
Sir Ronald Ross and Sir Joseph Swan.
In the services are various generals
and odmirals: the stage and music
present such names as Irving, pan
croft. Alexander Bispham. Gilbert,
kendall. Forbes Robertson, Terry ana
Ward: among the authors fellow tra'-
srlers are Du Chaillu. Conway, Nav
son. hansen. Scott and Sha, kleton;
While the unclassifed list contains the
names Of Andrew Carnegie, J. Plerpoh'
Morgan, the Gaekwar Of Baroda, d.
Won Rottenburg, and Charles de Les
teps. ,... bavo
Vow IL would be fine thing TO nave
lust book about these people at taDie,
but Mrs. -Tweedie gives US Tar
more lhan that. She gives us a viva
eious budget Of Renaissance and lhcl-
dent about these people. not alone al
her table. but In many different places
and circumstances and about many
others whose names have not been IN
,cribed upon her table cloths. Natu
,,llv nc herself figures conspicuoue4t
AZ whole book Is IN the first pefso"
sinqular. But for this we can not onil
soySive her but can actually be gra1e'
g,Is since interesting people should DC
v.ritter about by an interesting Pc
SON and her personality is one Of tns
most interesting in the whole com,
r,ry The personal note thereioLe Or
49, much 20 tho spice and zesl OF NV
book We can hear Mrs. Alec "eeale
S,,cnssine Shakespeare with Or. Ir
- and see her introducing Tor the
60 time Arthur James Baliour TO Sli
William Ramsay. We can see ~
tcsr her refusing 70 drink kloyo
Ceorce's health as Chancellor OF '"s