Woman's chronicle., March 03, 1888, Page 2, Image 2

About Woman's chronicle. (Little Rock, Ark.) 1888-1???

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Correspondence.
TO THE DEBUTANTE.
Dear Woman’s Chronicle,—l know you are as
yet a debutante, but hope you will excuse my
seeming presumption, in addressing this letter to
you, on the ground that you are “to come out”
very soon.
You have chosen a delightful season for your
debut. And where, in all this fair land, can be
found a more charming spot than the City of
Roses? You ask how one so far away knows so
much about your surroundings. 1 am quite a
stranger to you, it is true, but to two of your
guardians lam well known. Just here allow me
to remark; two nobler, better persons never ex
isted. I consider you blessed to have fallen into
such tender hands. lam quite sure your entrance
into society will be attended with much solicitude
on their part. They will watch with intense in
terest every advance you make in your new and
untried career; rejoice at your conquests and
mourn over your misfortunes (which, I hope, may
not overtake you).
It was my good fortune to be a resident of your
city for some time, when I learned to know and
love these of whom I speak so freely; and not
only these but many others, whose pictures are
hung on memory’s walls, around whom many fond
and tender recollections cluster. Nor can I wish
you a better fate than that they may receive you
as they did me—taking you into their full confi
dence and giving you a hearty welcome to their
homes.
At first you may find it difficult to make the stir
in this big world you had hoped to. But be pa
tient, my friend; show yourself worthy -of respect
and admiration and it will come. '
You doubtless wonder why I take such a lively
interest in you. It is just this: some day I hope
have the pleasure of Seeing you. I have pic
tured to myself what you will be in the years to
come, and I do not wish to be disappointed. I
want you to grow in beauty, grace and usefulness.
May you become so charming that both men and
women will rejoice to behold you ; may there be
such elegance and ease about you that each may
feel elevated from having come in contact with
you; and may your usefulness so increase that
not one home in your city will be willing to be
without you.
I intend to have you visit me just as soon as
possible after your appearance in public. Living,
as I do, here among scores of strangers, it will be
ipiite pleasant to have a southern friend visit me;
and none more welcome than yourself, that is if
yon prove as companionable as I think you will.
True, we have never met, but I feel quite sure I
shall like you and be loth to part with you.
In such a place as the metropolis there are
many things of moment transpiring daily, and if
you think you would be interested in the “doipgs”
of this great city, I would be pleased to keep you
posted. Perhaps it is asking too much of one so
young to allow a stranger to correspond with her;
but I admit some selfishness in this request. I
am very anxious to have all the news from your
city regularly, and I know, if you consent to favor
me, tidings will come at a stipulated time.
Now, I do not wish to make you envious, but
would like to tell you something at this juncture
that may cause just a little flutter in that direc
tion. Not long since, Mrs. John Jacob Astor
died, leaving her laces, valued at $50,000, to the
art museum. Now, don’t you think, with just
half that amount you could make quite a commo
tion in Little Rock society and your future success
be assured? However, I doubt not you will be
WOMAN’S CHRONICLE.
enterprising as well as fascinating and will yet be
worth your thousands.
Mr. Crowley, the wonderful man monkey, has
been quite ill with pneumonia. Your friends who
have visited New York will recognize him more
readily by his park name, the “Chimpanzee.
Whiskey and milk relieved him. The temperance
people do not approve of such treatment and pro
tested with his keeper against the use of the bev
erage, but he insists that it saved his monkey
ship’s life. If Darwin could see how “one of
our ancestors” is treated by the fair sex, he
would be proud of his theories and be more in
favor of evolution than ever. The physician for
bade company while Mr. Crowley was so ill, but
one of his lady admirers sent him a lovely bouquet
of natural flowers, while another, who was denied
a glimpse of “the dear creature,” sent up some
delicious jelly, with her compliments and regrets
that she could not present it in person.
If at any time there is any special topic you
would like to hear from me on, just inform me.
Nearly all young ladies like to hear about the
fashions, but, not knowing whether your tastes
run in that direction, I will not enlarge on that
subject at present. Just find out what Mrs.
Cleveland wears; get you something like it, and
you will be in style.
And now, lest I weary you, I will desist. I
suppose you have heard of the famous “Baby
Bunting” case, and know what “h’s and k’s”
are. I will not attempt sending you these just
yet, but hope you will consider me
Your true friend and prospective admirer.
y. e. l.
New York, February 28,1888.
THE TEMPERANCE CRUSADE.
I do not know what you may think of the wo
man’s crusade, but let me say. as a woman who
stood inside it, that this nation
never laid such a tribute at the feet of its man
hood. If you want to find out what a boy is
worth, go and ask his mother. By the time she
goes into the jaws of death to give him birth, and
then puts into him her days of love and her nights
of care, and he stands before her strong and clean
and tall at twenty-one, she can tell you what he
is worth from the crown of his head to the soles of
his feet; and when the legalized dram-shop takes
hold of him, and tears him down fibre by fibre,
and puts oaths on the lips that she used to kiss,
and crushes out his mother’s hopes, it is no won
der she makes outcry. If you want to know what
a home is worth, go and ask a loving woman who
has kept herself pure as’God’s lilies for her mar
riage day, when, with a great shine in her eyes,
she puts herself over into the hands of one man,
for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer,
until life ends. And when the dram-shop with its
fearful curse crosses the threshold of the home
they built together, and takes down her strong
tower of hope, stone by stone, and degrades the
father of her children, it is no wonder woman
makes outcry.—[Mary T. Lathrap in Woman’s
Journal.
PECULIAR MISS RIVES.
One of the most widely discussed novelists of
the day is Miss Amelie Rives, author of “The
Story of Amon,” who was the fourth son of Noah,
published in November Harper’s. Miss Rives is
very handsome, tall and commanding in figure,
and blonde in complexion. She is a reigning fa
vorite in society, and wield’s the artist’s brush al
most as skillfully as she does the novelist’s pen.
In the early fall, when nature’s brush had just
begun to color the trees and grasses, a gentleman
called at Miss Rives’s home and presented a letter
of introduction. She was so much occupied at
the moment, but would be pleased to receive the
guest should he return at eleven o’clock the same
night. Somewhat mystified the gentleman ac
quiesced, and returning at the hour appointed was
ushered by a colored maid into a retreat in the
woods, which was fitted up in the style of a rural
bower. Here Nliss Rives received him, arrayed in
full’ball costume, entertained him most brilliantly
and delightfully for an hour, then rising and ex
tending to him the tips of her daintily gloved fin
gers, wished him a graceful “good night.”
Recently Miss Rives painted a portrait of herself
in scant, flowing drapery, and sent it to an artist
friend for criticism; not, she said, as to artistic,
merit, but for truth to nature, style, etc. The
artist returned the picture with the candid verdict
that the face was excellent but the figure, which
was plainly visible, was that of an old woman.
Miss Rives then laughingly confessed that her old
colored mammy had “sat” for the figure, but so
long as he had discovered the deception she would
change the picture and send it all of herself, which
she did.—[Leisure Hour.
HOME DECORATION.
Here are a few hints on home decoration, sug
gested by the Home Journal, which may be of in
terest to our readers.
To make a lovely white and gold chair with
plush trimmings, take an old-fashioned rocker
with rush or cane bottom and straight back.
Cover with a coat of white lead and a good clear
varnish, mixed. When thoroughly dry, take a
bowl and stir one half part plaster of paris and
one half whiting together with water until thin as
syrup. With a large clear bristle brush go thor
oughly and rapidly over the entire chair. When
dry this will have the appearance of white enamel.
The cane portion cluWr must now be treated
to an application of brilliant gold paint. The con
trast is very pretty. The chair may be farther
decorated by a cushion of blue or terracotta
plush.
To make a chair of antique appearance for hall
or library, secure an arm chair of substantial ap
pearance, with a straight back if possible. Cover
with coat of the following composition. One part
of lampblack and one of burnt senna, mixetj thor
oughly with equal parts of varnish and turpentine.
When thoroughly dry cover flat woodwork on the
back with lincrusta walton glued on. Should the
chair be straight back, take out the connecting
slats and insert a board of the proper size. After
it is thoroughly secured by nails or glue, apply a
panel of lincrusta walton, leaving a width of three
inches all around. Apply panel or square of same
design to seat. Now for the decoration. After
painting the lincrusta walton like the chair, take
bronze powder and liquidize it by mixing with
equal parts of balsam of fir and turpentine. With
the bronze go over the raised portion of the lin
crusta walton, let it dry, then varnish the whole
chair with furniture varnish. This will give an
antique appearance to the combination. If desir
able, the lincrusta walton can be further secured
to the chair with brass-headed tacks, which will
add to the ornamentation.
If thy soul longeth for honor, if thy ear hath
any longing for the voice of praise, lift up thy
self from the dust whereof thou art made, and ex
alt thy aim to something that is worthy of praise.
Endeavor to be first in thy calling. The noblest
employment of the mind is the study of the Crea
tor, and to whom the science of nature delightest,.
every object bringeth a proof of his God.
[March 8,1888.