The sunny South. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1875-1907, April 13, 1878, Image 5

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Newspaper Page TextEditorial Correspondence, Nashville-— Vanderbilt—Ward’s Seminary—Tullahonia-- Shel- byville, Etc. NASHVILLE. To rightly appreciate this city one must see it. The population is now about forty thousand. Showing a very rapid increase in the last few years. Like Atlanta, it is the terminus of five im portant lines of railroad which shoot out like the spokes of a wheel. These, in connection with the Cumberland river, make it a great distributing point. I was not aware of the extensive river traffic until to-day. While out viewing the mag nificent suspension bridge which spans the river, connecting the two cities—Nashville and Edge- field, I counted six good size steamers at the wharf at one time. TIIE CAPITOL is built of Tennessee marble, and stands upon a high mound or knoll, note near the center of the city. It is of collossal proportions, of finished architecture, and is a marvel of beauty. It cost near a million of dollars, a large portion of which is, as I learn, tfifipaid and forms no insignificant item in the State's debt. The view from the dome is simply sublime. For many miles the eye rests upon beautiful landscapes, pallatial residences and meandering streams, a happy blending of nature and art. I was shown a tree which was said to j be twenty-one miles off, and used, during the late \ war, as a signal station. Since I was last here a very pretty an t substantial rock wall has enclosed the grounds which are laid out and handsomely decorated with grass and all manner ef shrubbery, ever-greens, etc. Now, I doubt of there are more attractive surroundings to any public building in the Union. SCHOOLS. A TERRIBLE RIDE ON A HAND-CAR* A CHESTER COUNTY TRAGEDY. A terrible tragedy took place recently in the pleasant valley of Chester county, Pennsylvania. It was near Chaud’s Ford, a beautiful and romant ic spot. The P. W. and B. railroad crosses here a deep and turbulent stream which runs between high banks. The stream is called Fox Run and for the convenience of schooners that occasionally come up to get terra-cotta pipe from a manufac tory above, there is a drawbridge, which is at tended to by Hugh 0. Donnell, a sullen, red whis kered man. The draw is seldom used, as the schooners make only occasional trips, and the dark browed keeper had all the more time to brood over his unsuccessful love, and his consum ing jealousy. He was deeply in love with a very pretty, rose-cheeked girl—Mollie Dolbell, one of those light-footed, bright-eyed, merry, dairy maid beauties for which Chester county is fa mous. She did not look with favor on her sulky suitor, She had another lover—a fine stalwart young farmer—George Rickets. He knew his ri val regarded him with no favor, but he had no idea of the depths of hate and revengeful feeling j that smouldered in the breast of the drawbridge keeper. Mollie guessed it, and it troubled her solely, hut she dismissed all care from her mind that pleasant Sunday before Lent when she trip Familiar Talks About New Books. BY PAUL H. HAYNE, NUMBER XIII. ‘Harpers' Half Hour Series' seems to be rapid ly growing into the proportions of a small Lib rary ! It has recently been enriched in the essayical line, by the republication of Macau- ley’s celebrated essays upon ‘Machiavilli,’ and ‘Sir William Temple,’ and in the way ot fiction, by ‘The Bride of Landeck,’ ‘Irene Macgillicud- dy,’ ‘Back to Back,’ and the ‘Shadow on the Threshold,” etc. Of Macauley’s essays it is hardly needful that I should speak ! Everybody knows how admi rable they are; only, I may be permitted to ob serve in regard to the special treatise on Michi- velli, that brilliant as the style and argumenta tion are, the author’s conclusions cannot on many important points he sustained in the light of sober, unquestionable facts. It is in deed, a splendid but exparte defence of an inde fensible character ! Let us make every deduction we please, in favor ot the Italian Statesman, drawn from his peculiar position and temptations .fie joolitical circumstances by which he was environed; and the loose morals of his age, tainting as they did nevertheless, are for the present, at best, better known than his own. Time, I think, however, in this, as in other matters, is sure to bring about his revenge. Paul H. Hayne. ART NOTES. every department of Governmental and social ped out at George’s side in her pretty holiday ! existence; and despite everything thus charita- dress to take a ride with him—not a ride in a bly addressed, it appears impossible to consider buggy nor a sale in a boat, but a rattling rule on . Machiavelli as otherwise than a cold, astute, cal- a hand-car, a practice which is frequent on these j.dilating egotist, as destitute ol real principle, as The Vanderbilt Seminary is near two miles from the business poriton of the city. A street railroad runs to it. The building stands in the center of a tract of sixty acres of land, presented by the city to Mr. Vanderbilt, the founder of the school. Seen at a distance it is very unattractive, the two di minutive towers shooting up like the two stacks of a steamboat. On entering it, however, the visitor is struck with the elegance and convenience everywhere displayed. The Faculty embrace some of the finest minds in the South, and the people are showing their appreciation by giving the University a liberal patronage in the midst of these terribly stringent times. There are between three and four hundred students now in atten dance. DR. W. E. WARD’S SCHOOL. This is the pride of the city. In point of num bers. it is the fourth in the United States. Only the Vassar, Mt. Holyoke and the California Semi nary surpassing it. One hundred and thirty of the young ladies in attendance are boarders, and sit down each meal at the Dr.’s fable. They are from thirteen different States, and some from the Territories. The buildings are admirably adapted ti school purposes, being centrally located, large and well ventilated. In spite of “hard times” the ever growing popularity and patronage of this school have forced the erection of a new building row being completed for dormitorios, callisthe nics, etc. Two things particularly pleased me on my visit to the school—1st, most of the pupils are grown women, many of theln having [aught, and are here for the purpose of completing or finishing their education; and, 2d, by a wise and liberal arrangement a regular series of lectures are de livered (one each week, to the pupils by the Pro fessors of Vanderbilt University). These are care fully gotteu up, amply illustrated by 'be best ap paratus, when needed, and must prove very profit able to the students. Four times each year the Dr. takes his school in a special train of cars (it takes a train to hold them) and carries them out to some pleasant spot for recreation. I met his train the other day, at the magnificent and world renowned farm of Gen. Ilardin. The school is a private enterprise, and was begun by Dr. Ward. He has paid out for houses alone, since he began, seventy thousand dollars. TULLAHOMA, TENN. This is the highest point between Chattanooga and Nrshville, and a thousand feet higher than either. On leaving Chattanooga, the cars run up hill a thousand feet until they reach this point, situated on the top of the Cumberland Mountains, and then run down hill a thousand feet to Nash ville. The town is small, and has no special im portance, save as a summer resort. Its pure air, cold water and splendid drives bring many visitors from Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana, as well as Tennessee and Georgia, during each summer. Already applications for rooms are pouring in upon Mr. Corzelius, the proprietor of the commo dious and elegant hotel, and the indications are that an unusually large number will be here dur ing the coming summer. In view of this, he is enlarging and re-arranging, so as to accommodate all who may come. We are promised cuts of some of the beautiful scenery near the town, soon. Manufacturing is receiving some attention here. ] A cotton mill and spoke and hub factory are run ning successful!}'. Some of their goods being shipped to Atlanta—200,000 pounds of bacon, 3-30 car-loads of live stock, five thousand barrels of eggs and 10 car-loads of poultry, besides large quantities of butter, bees-wax, ginsing, wool, hides, etc. One firm informed us they were shipping eggs at the rate of thirty-five hundred dozen per day. A huge cutting knife is kept going the en tire day by horse-power, to supply cut straw for lonely lines, whose rail vibrate but seldom under the crunching advance of the engine. It is unnecessary to describe the hand-car, that i fits the rails, is worked by a crank, and when started goes like the wind. The car had been loaned George by a band of laborers who were making repairs about a mile above. He had dusted it neatly, and when the pretty girl reached him by a short path through the woods, he had arranged the vehicle so cleverly, with a cushion for Mollie, that it did not seem unlike Cleopatra’s barge. She laughed lightly in the sunshine as George swung her into her seat and then leaped to the handles. There were no Sunday trains; there was no danger. Mollie crossed her tiny feet, felt the exhilara tion of the movement, as George’s swelling arms produced the terrible momentum, and saw her neat skirts blown about by the rushing wind be neath the platform. On, on they went, the glis- s | tening rails ringing, the bonny brown hair blown about, and the Fox Run bridge near at hand. On the bridge llugli O'Donnell sat smoking his pipe. The draw was open, although no drifting schooner was in sight. Some evil bird had whis pered to Hugh the Sunday trip of his rival with Mollie. He determined on murder at once. This is the reason the rusty draw was open, while Hugh sat in his seutry-box on the other side, smoking his pipe, and watching up the coverging lines of metal that seemed like satin ribbons tied in a bow by the perspective. He did not have to wait long. First came the rumble—the far-away sound that dies away while it increases—and then, swinging suddenly around the curve, the hand-car, bearing the girl he loved and the man he hated. He drew another : whiff of smoke, and looked calmly at the tumbril ! of death, with Its arms whirling wildly, since ! George had trusted to the steep grade and the ap- i palling acceleration he had given the machine, to j accomplish the passage of the bridge, and had sat | down beside Mollie. Just as they neared the draw, which was never legally allowed open on Sunday, he turned his head, and his face became white. He sprang to his feet, and tried co seize those revolving han dles, which were only a blur and a mist. lie thought of throwing the girl off, but before he could think of anything else, the car took the leap, and as Hugh O’Donnell sat smoking in his sentry-box, he saw the upturned faces, pallid with agony, but pressed close together, go down with the hand-car to the deep pools and cruel rocks of the Fox Run, and as he did so he said: “ Curse you !” and lighted another pipe. They found him there, but mad—not raving mad, but in that lymphatic state of mania which is beyond reach. On the shore below, held by the gnarled roots of a willow, were discovered the bodies of George and Mollie. In the moment of death she had thrown her arms about him, and as the sunlight, filtered through the surging branches and fell upon the upturned faces, they seemed like bride and groom in the sleep of happiness So they were, but Death had been the minister. Stage Dots. Washington is having the popular French play, A Celebrated Case, with the full strength of Ford’s company. Miss Anna Story, who played here with Louise Pomeroy last winter, has a leading role. The Capital says of this young actress : She has been content to make haste slowly ; she has given the profession she has adopted hard, patient study, from the best of models, aud with her natu ral gifts, that are rare and beautiful, aud with a very clever brain, she is sure to win in the end. The Celebrated Case is a French play of the most approved sort, and runs on the fact that a father's guilt or innocence turns on the testimony of a child too young to know the consequence of its acts. These French authors know how to do it, and their success can be found in one little word, called situation. To this everything else is sac rificed ; cliarscter, sentiment, and even probabili ty, are considered as subordinate to this one great end. Don Piatt is hard upon the actors of Washing' , ton and Baltimore. He says the death of the China packing the eggs. They find a market in every j p linza (monkey) Nip in the New York aquarium port of the United States, anil so long as these a vacancy which severs Tennessee hens continue “ to do their duty ” thus, there is no danger of a corner in eggs, even at Christmas, when nogs are in order. As may nat urally be supposed, where there is so much that is good to eat, the hotels, as a rule, in this sec tion are good. The Barksdale House, at Shelby™ ville, and the Healan House, at Wartrace, are not exceptions, and furnish a bill of fare to tempt an epicure. A short line of railroad runs from this point to McMinnville, the home of the justly dis tinguished Mrs. French. In common with many, we regret that for months, her muse has been silent, and her pens allowed to rust—we missed her on our recent visit, as she was called away a few days before our arrival, to the bed-side of a sadly afflicted sister in Huntsville, Ala., but spent several hours in the society of her genial and cul tivated husband, Col. French. lie is giving his whole time to farming and raising fine stock. SHELBYVILLE is reached by a railroad five miles long, which leaves the main stem at Wartrace. It is noted for its beautiful women, its big spring and its magnificent Courthouse, which as stated in a for mer communication, cost one hundred and thirty thousand dollars. It is also a place of no insig nificant commercial importance, as the following exhibit will show, during the winter months, <1 e re were shipped from this point, 300,000 Pels of wheat, 40,000 barrels of flour and 300 , bushels of corn. W B S vacancy wtnen several society actors in : this city and Baltimore could fill with credit to themselves and profit to the management which i would lose their service. i An intellectual treat, such as is seldom equall- J ed, was given recently by Mrs. Theodore Martin, j at her residence in Onslow Square. Her royal I Highness the Princess Louise honored the enter tainment by her presence. The assembly, which consisted of the elite of the literary and artistic ! celebrities of the day, had been convoked to intro duce the new Hungarian tragedian, Naville Moritz. J The reading chosen was that of Shakspere’s I “ Merchant of Venice,” to which the exquisite | rendering of Portia by Mrs. Theodore Martin her- I self, lent 'its great enchantment. Herr Moritz read the part of ShylocJc, Irving taking the part of Bassanio. The new tragedian produced the most favorable impression upon the critical audience, and the warmest reception into the London world of literature and art was awarded him. The artistic sensation of Paris is an artist nam ed Andre Gauthier, who draws large audiences to see him paint a landscape in five minutes, a por trait in six, and two different pictures, simulta B neously, one with each hand. A negro, being asked for his definition of a gentleman, gave the following; ‘ Massa make de black man workee—make de ox workee—make ebery ting workee—only de hog—he no workee; be eatf he drink, he walk ’bout, bo go to sleep when he please, be liff like a gentleman,’ of tenderness, or compassion ! In a word the instinctive repugnance of the men of his time, who knew him best, is fully justified by impartial historical records; and I can’t help suspecting Macauley in his more than i quasi-defence, was actuated by very much the ! same sort of perversity, and ambition of para- I dox, which prompted De Quincy at a later date, I to enter an elaborate plea in vindication of the ' morals, and the patriotism (!) even of Judas Is cariot. 1 Verily; the modern world is becoming ‘won drous pitiful,’ at least .... in print ! Of the ‘Half Hour’ novelettes, ‘The Bride of Landeck, (or, an old Gentlemen’s Letters,’) turns out to be the production of no less a writer than the late G. P. It. James ! This tale has never been included in the au thor’s collected works; nor transferred in any shape fromt he Easy Chair of ‘Harper's Magazine for which it was originally penned under the following circumstances: While residing near NewgYork, in 1830, Mr. James often visited the counting h; use of the Messrs. Harper in Franklin Square. He was a brilliant story-teller, and invariably found a provocation and a genial lecturer in Mr. James Harper, himself a raconteur of marked ability.’ One morning we are told, Mr. James having been especially successful as to the number and entertaining nature of his anecdotes, Mr. Harper asked him to write them out for his monthly. ‘Oil ! I can’t do that, you know,’ said the nov elist; ‘why, I cannot even recall the stories I’ve just been telling; and how could you expect me to write them out in cold blood!’ Mr. Harper dropped the subject; but subse quently requested Mr. M. B. Field, (an intimate of James), to note the points, and characteristic phrases of the novelists’ stories; aud by recalling them to his memory, endeavor to persuade him to commit them to paper. This stratagem suc ceeded. Soon Mr. James had dictated a large number of anecdotes, etc., etc., to his amanuetjsis, which otherwise would have beeu lost tiTTh* ffToAd, But how was the material_to be utilized ? A happy inspiration arose ! ‘The Bride of Landeck’ told in letters to ‘The Easy Chair’ furnished the ‘provocation,’ to the entire series of brief tales. The author as a gar rulous old gentleman continually loses the thread of his narrative; but one story suggests an other and,every nowand then we catch glimpses of the poor Bride and her little love afflictions, while the writer engages our notice with his in- exhaustive reminiscences of men and affairs.’ Certainly, the volume (as^now re-produced,) is|a unique one! Even the chronic sneerers at Mr. James, and his ‘solitary horseman;’ must find themselves vastly exhilarated by its perusal, and be forced to acknowledge that they had underrated the author’s humorous powers, and real genius for putting things into readable form. And here, en passant, let me observe that I have ever been disposed to join the lilmd ‘hue and cry’ against James and his romances. It began with a class of reviewers who ac cused the author of ‘Richelieu’ and ‘Darnl9y,’ of servile imitation of Walter Scott, was eagerly taken up by the sensasionalists and utcra mem bers of the storm and stress school (to whom Yictor Hugo was high priest and infallible leader); and finally gained a species of prescrip tive authority, so that every callous editorial goose and half grown donkey of a criticaster thought proper to hiss and bray against one, who as a story-teller proper, a bon racconteur, has had few equals in any literature ! He was not a profound philosopher, a great metaphysi cian, nor a superbly imaginative artist, but what he attempted was capitally done, and I feel convinced that the peculiar place which, by indomitable labor, he won in English letters, is securely his, for an indefinite period ! Of the other ‘Half-Hour’ stories m entioned, ‘The tender Recollections of Irene Macgillicud- dy,’(from ‘Blackwood’) are so full of satirical fun and scenes of irresistible humor, that any body—yes, even the disciples of ‘Tribulation Trepid’ ought to procure and read them. If ‘The Macgillicuddy’ cannot provoke a smile upon the most saturnine face, it must be because the individual of the ‘doleful counten ance,’ is saturated with ‘bile’ and in immediate need of ‘Simmons’ Regulator,’ or ‘Biandreth’s Bills!’ Miss Hay’s‘Shadow 7 on the Threshold,’ is in her usual charming style; a style unambitious, but exceedingly effective. Edward Everett Hale’s ‘Back to Back’ is arnoDg that author,s really characteristic productions; that is, the story is truly told, and with much graphic character painting, we have a great deal gof suggestive thoughts, a moral subtly insinuated, rather than bluntly and inartistieally obtruded, after the ancient, and too often offensive fashion. The most valuable, ‘hand book’ of joopular as tronomy ever published, perhaps, has just ap peared (with the imprint of the Harpers) con- piled by Simon Newcomb L. L. D., a profl'essor in the U._S. Observatory. Within the compass of about 5U0 pages, we have a complete practi cal history ot astronomical discoveries and sci ence, from a demonstration of the earth’s mo tion around the sun to the complex discussion ot ‘Parallax,’ and a resume of the marvels reveal ed by the spectroscope. To the astronomical student, no less than the general reader, this work is invaluable. Issued in the same handsome style, by the same firm, is the 1st vol. of a History of Eag- laud, J. R. Greer, N. A.’ It begins with early England 449, and concludes with the ’ Parlia ment 1307-1401. Mr, Greer’s method of Jivstori- cal naration is singularly lucid and vigorous. . We sieze as by instinct almost, upon the sa lient features of a reign, period or epoch, and bring them out into bold and picturesque relief. Never dealing in superfluous words or useless episodical detail. The result of bis mode of writing, offers a strange and pleasing contrast to the jumble of confused, after contradictory conclusions of not a few histories, whose names, The Great Mystery Play at Oberammergau- Once every ten years in Bavaria at the close of the Lenten season, there oocurs a representation that draws many thousands of people of all faiths and nationalities, to the little village of Oheram- mergau. It is the wonderful Mystery Play—the most unique and remarkable representation in the world. The circumstances that led to it are singular. The village ofOberammergau is prettily situated just inside the Bavarian Tyrol, in a sort of meadow land, with bold high hills on the south, and lower rolling country north. The in habitants, numbering some twelve hundred, are peasants, and, with few exceptions, carvers in wood—an occupation which seems to raise them quite above the ordinary baiter, or farmer. Many of their carvings are really art work, and bear the marks of careful study. Ruben’s ‘Descent’ and Da Vanci’s ‘Last Supper’ have beeu mos beautiful cut in apple wood. The inhabitants, in the seventeenth century, had made a vow every ten years to represent the Passion, in order to drive away an epidemic which then raged among them. On the first representation, the plague that had ravaged the community, suddenly disappeared, and ever since the Mystery Play has been per formed in the town at the close of each decade, with but two exceptions caused by war. The expense, wliieh is great, for the representation is on a grand scale, is all borne by the people who take a pride in receiving no outside help. The last representation took place in 1870, so that there will be another in 1880. It is thus de scribed : At seven the village band go marching through the lanes to announce the eve of the Great Fest, and at nine o’clook the bell rings for all to be in bed. The music is repeated at three the next morning, and from this early hour masses are celebrated till seven. At the high-mass the actors are present, and receive a special consecration for the day before them. The church bell at eight o’c!o#k finds us at the door of the theatre, which presents a most singular appearance, crowded to overflowing with every nationality and char acteristic costume—a Babel of tongues and clamor of expectancy hushed by the first sound of the orchestra. The choir come on the stage, after the manner of the old Greek chorus, singing the prologue. The curtain rising as they retire, displays the tableau of “Adam aud Eve driven from Paradise.” Again the choir, aud the first act, showing the streets of Jerusalem through which the multitude came shouting hosannas, and strewing palm branches, Christ in the midst of them riding on an ass. The whole audience tremble with excite ment, aud the expectant hush is painful, as the personation of one so sacred to most of them makes his appearance; but in every face we read satis faction—the Iona dark hair, mild eye, tender yet firm expression—the whole face and figure realize one’s idealization of the God-man. Every movement is natural, yet so indicative of extraor dinary being that one forgets that the dark green hills beyond are Bavarian, and fancies the sway ing poplars, which form a long line on each side jhe theatre, are the trees round about Jerusalem. In connection with this scene the choir—twenty in number, and dressed in long gowns of red, blue, green, and purple, each one wearing a lace apron and a long open-sleeved mantle, also of Some bright'color—sings a chorus full of life, and a fine triumphal opening hymn. The entire play is divided into eighteen parts. Each of these parts opens with a tableau from the Old Testa ment, during which the chorus sings. This tab leau is typical of the action that follows, which is taken front the scenes of the New Testament. For example, the second part opens with the tableau of the sons of Jacob plotting over the sale of their brother. The tableau is preceded by a beautiful tenor solo, “See, ah, see the dreamer comes.” The leader of the chorus sings t wo verses while the curtain is up, and after it falls there is a duet of tenor and bass, the words showing the analogy between the tableau aud the action which follows, representing the high-priests taking council how they may destroy Jesus. The gravity and pedant ry of the council is very finely rendered. The next old Testament tableau is of the bride bewail ing the loss of her bridegroom. From 8 till 11a, m. the various incidents in Christ’s life are represented, closing with the scene of Judas’s Betrayal”— a piece of superb- acting. This first part includes, of course, the ointment of the Magdalen, the Last Supper, after Leonardo da Vinci, and the agony in the garden, all wonderfully presented. Every little detail is carefully observed, the feet-washing, the sop of Jndas, aud the consecration. At twelve, noon, the wondrous drama pro ceeds with “Christ’s trial before Annas and the Jewish priests”—before Pilate, who literally washed his hands of “the blood of this just son. In this scene Christ and Barabbas are brought out on to the balcony of the Roman governor, while the Jewish priests and the rabble stand in the street making their accusation. Then follows the release of’Barahbas and the “Cross-bearing,” after Paolo Veronese, which is made particularly touching. Far in the back stage is seen the (throng of men and boys ap proaching, with Christ in their midst bearing his cross, andfihe two thieves with theirs; then come Maria, John, the Magdalen, Joseph of Arimathea, hewailing the agony of their Lord and Master; and Christ, sinking under the weight of his bur den, is held up and comforted by the St. Yeroniac of the legend, carrying the pocket-handke r chief which Correggio has made so familiar. Simon the Cyreuiau takes the cross, and him they slow ly follow through the broad streets as the curtain falls. The effect of this scene upon the simple- hearted peasants, who compose so largely the audience, is startling, the sobs of the women aud groaus of the men giving great reality to the while. Then follow the scourging, the purple robe, the crown of thorns, aud finally the cruci fixion; when the peasants, unable to restrain themselves any longer, burst into a pertect wail of weeping. At the “Crucifixion,” when the curtain rises, the three crosses are seen on the ground, the Christ being nailed aud the thieves tied. By strong men they are lifted and lowered into tight ly fitting sockets, a foot or more deep. The two thieves are simply tied with their arms hanging over the arms of the cross, and the legs, also bound, rest with one foot upon a long nail. Here they hang fifteen minutes, after which, being beaten with large leather clubs filled with straw, they are taken down. The Christ hangs by a firm band passing around the body to a nail in the centre of the cross, over which, of course, the flesh-colored tights are drawn. The extended arms are tied with concealed cords from the wrists, and between the fingers one sees the nail- head and blood-stained hand. In the same way the left foot rests upon a false sole, and the nail appears between the crossed feet, making the position somewhat endurable for a reasonable length of time; but thirty-five 4 minutes of such suspension produces intense pain in the ends of the fingers and elbows—in fact, the poor man suffers an agony almost amounting to paralysis. The crown of thorns and the cloth about the Ions complete this extraordinary picture—a perfect Albrecht Durer. William S. Chase’s painting, “Rsady for a Ride, 1790,” goes into the possession of the Union League Club. The Yale College art gallery was an unsuccessful competitor for the work. The artist is from St. Louis, studied for a time at the Academy of Design in this city, and at present is living abroad. The picture was imported by Mr. S. P. Avery. Carl Muller, the sculptor, has furnished some quite original and fanciful designs for the Smith pottery at Greenpoint- His bouquet-holders, formed of a pitcher-plant calyx, supported by a frog rampant, are graceful in form as well as naturalistic and fairy-like in conception. Al though comparatively trifles, they are executed with a fidelity to nature characteristic of all this artist’s work. The Baroness Adolphe de Rothschild has jus bought for S70.000 two groups in bronze, discovt ered in an old Venetian palace and attributed to _ Michael Angelo. Rich of them represents a panther on which is leaning a graceful figure of either a satyr or a fauu. These are to be shown at the Paris Exhibition. Mrs. Fassett’s large painting of the “Electoral Commission” has been brought home to her studio in Washington from the Supreme Court room, where she lias been working assiduously upon it during the vacation of the court. Last week Mrs. Myra Clarke Gaines sat for a place in the picture. Over six hundred people attend the usual Thursday evening reception at the Corcoran Gal lery of Art in Washington. Several new and valuable paintings are on exhibition; among which the full-length portrait of Mrs. Ilayes, by W. Carl Brown, one of the “Art Club” members attracts great attention. Mrs. Fasset, the artist, i.s c great favorite in Washington Society. At her reception Ia3t week, the spacious studio parlors were crowded with distinguished 'people, and the works of art with which the walls were adorned elicited great £ad- miration. Mr. Alfred Guerry’s portrait of lion. Wm. G. Preston, las been bought by the Preston Society of Wofford Cellege. It is now on exhibition in Spartanburg, S. C., and old friends of the distin guished orator and statesman pronounce it won derfully life-like, while good critics praise it, as a “noble painting. ’ ’ Little Birdv in Florida. The following little letter was written by a Georgia lady, (now in Florida to the Boys and Girls of the South, was in advertertiy left out last week in the making up of that paper. Magnolia Hill Fla. March. 1878. Dear Little Girls:—This is a beautiful country for little children; I wish you could go wi-k me to Orange Lake and take a nice sail on the silent blue waves—or to the Orange Grove anu seethe pure waxen bridal blossoms, and smell their de lightful fragrance. Then you would never grow weary of the long grey moss, swaying so graceful ly in the gentle breeze. If you could visit Mag nolia Hill, Marion Co., you would never wish to live anywhere else again—not even in your own darling state. I would like to tell you how little Birdv whom the little girls in Cartersville and Barnesvilla will remember, spends the long, sunny, breezy days. A month ago, when old Jack Frost was shining on your cold hare ground, little Birdy gathered the blue violets and jassamines, huge clusters of them. She would fill every vase— broken cup and old ink‘stand she could find. Now the orange trees are in bloom. We are in a grove of seven acres, dotted here and there with the glossy skimering magnolia and the water oak. Thousands of white buds ard blos soms drop from the trees—not the petals like the rose, hut the perfect buds and blossoms. Litt'e Birdy gets her ‘Frog Bucket,’as she calls it, and fills it full, every day. She has a tiny red bucket, but this one is a collar bucket with the leap frogs on it, and she always asks for her ‘Frog Bucket’ She has a little grey squirrel; he is as loving and gentle as a kitten. You would just eat him up he is so sweet. He eats, corn and pinders, orange blossoms and roses. I wish you could see him sitting up so straight and proper on Birdy’s arm, while she feeds him with a beautiful red or yellow rose. He has never been in a cage, nor has he ever been tied; yet he stays in the house tko’ the doors and windows are all open. He will run all over your neck, sit upright on your head, nibble aud play with your fingers, but he never bites. Everything in Florida is sweet and lovely, but the ants and roaches. Altko’ the orange blossoms cover the ground, there will be more golden fruit this Fall than the people can gather. We have so many yet, and they are sweet and delicious now. Little Birdy pokes her finger in the centre, sucks out the juice, and then calls loudly for ‘just thrico more.’ What will we do when they are all gone? But we have the Bitter Sweets all summer, and they are almost as good. After awhile, the little oranges, no larger than a pea, begin to fall, and then out goes the litt'e girl and fills her bucket with pretty, green marbles, until they get as large as hickory nuts, when they stop skeddine. When the rainy season sets in they begin to split open and fall off again. All this would seem to indicate a slim crop, but some trees mature from 3,000 to 5,000 sound, sweet oranges. There is a little girl in Georgia named Pearl Rivers, only eight years old for whom I have especially written these little stories. She was taking up a subscription for the Sunny South when I left Georgia, and it grieved me to think I could not bring the cheering paper with me, and thus gratify the charming little girl in her work of love far the Sunny South. If you are as well pleased with this simple story as Birdy is with the ‘Colt Story’ in the New Y'ork Observer, I’ll write you something more about Florida and little Birdy’s pets. I ead about Rotha, the pet colt everyday for her. L. L. A New Southern Resort. At Thomasville, Georgia, a lately-discovered land of pine odors and health-giving atmosphere, there have been and still are many notable North erners. Dr. Metcalf, of New York, is its discov erer and patron saint, aud through his advice a large number of invalids have spent a beneficial winter at the Mitchell House, aud also among the hospitable town’s people. Among its guests are F. C. Laurence and family, the Misses Garner, who were made orphans by the d saster of the Mohawk ; F. F. Thompson and wife, Mrs. Wil liam Boyce, Miss Boyce, Miss Clara Field, Wash ington Dtirbrow, G. L. Gildersleeve, W. C. Shel ton, New York ; Mrs. Augustus Ileminway, Miss Homans, Dr. E. W. Underhill and wife, Boston A. T. Geisseuhainer and wife, Philadelphia; S. B. Parsons, Flushing ; lion. Mr. Townsend, Mrs. Pitman, (“Margery Dean,”) aud Mrs. Davis, of Newport; Bishop H. B. Whipple and wife, of Minnesota; General and Mrs. Armstrong, of Hampton College, Virginia; Mr. aud Mrs. John Rankin, of Binghampton, New York, aud many others. Lieutenant Reade, U. S. A., on duty in the sia. nal corps at present, has tested the powers of the telephone between Yuma aud San Diego, a dis- tance of two hundred miles. The lieutenant has beeu ordered to Washington for duty by General Myers.

Georgia Historic Newspapers

The sunny South. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1875-1907, April 13, 1878, Image 5