Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-07-03
Republican Fa,apa,s a. .spar,e and ceue.a..

quent letter to MIR. D'Alambert against the es.
taolishment ola theatre at Geneva, saws:
/ ~ nave proposed the festivals OF ancient Snar
tn. rs = model of those which should wish to
see instituted among us. find them commendable
not only by their object, but by their simplicity
destitute OF pomp, of luxury, Of ostentation, they
oreathed together with secret charm of n.tr
otisin, that rendered them interesting, a cerl.;u
martial spirit becorn. ng freemen. Disengared
from business, at least, from what we call bv
.iiat name, and from turbulent pleasures. the
Spartans spent the day in that pleasing uniform.
NY, without hndmg it too long; and their life
, mus siided away, without appearing too short
Ihey returned home, in the evening, cav and
alert, TO take frugal repast, delighted viii
'heir country, with their fellow citizens, and
with themselves. If you ask for specimen OF
.heir festivals, will quote the following, as re-
iaied by fiutsrch.-" There were, he saws, three
Cholrs, corresponding with the three ages of
man. The old men began.
'Once in battle bold we s!,cne -
Iheyoung men answered,
Try as; our v,gor is not gone 80
And the boys concluded,
The palm remains for US a!onen
The same Rousseau saws. in the above let,er.
'1 remember having been struck in nv vouth
with sight IN Itself very simple, but the inn.
preston of which still remains on my mind
Notwithstanding the distance of time, and the
variety OF intervening objects. The regiment of
st. Gervais had been exercising during the dav
and, according 10 custom, the men COMPOSING
the several companies had supped together AZ
ter supper, most OF them assembled in the
square st. Geryais, and began To dance torether
officers and soldiers, round the fountain. on ,b.,
1asin of which the drummers, the tihs.s and
those VINO held lighted torches, had placed
themselves. A dance of men eniiyened bv
long repast, seemed TO offer nothing of erreat
interest: however, the regular movements M
six hundred men in their uniform, holdne each
other by the hand, and forming :: long file me
andering III cadence and without confusion, with
thousand wlndings in alternate directions.
thousand figures and eyolutions, the choice of
the airs that animated them, the noise of the
drums, the light of the torches, certain militia.
ry ponp in the very lap of amusement. all. th.t
excited very lively, sensation, which allowed
no one TO preserve his sang .frOid 1t was late
the women had gone to bed. They all got nm
again. Soon The windows were filled with e..
male spectators, who gave additional ardor 10
the performers; they could not long remain a,
their windows: they went down The mis-
tresses came to see their husbands the servam
maids brought Wine: the CHI ildren themselves
awakened by the noise, ran down half dressed
and placed thems elves between their fathers AMI
mothers. The dancing was suspended. moth
ng was now to be seen but embraces. demon
STATIONS of joy, caresSes--noth;ng to be heard
but toasts, andhearty laughter, From all TIM,
resulted AN emotion which cannot paint, but
which is naturally felt in The midst NJ ,vbs,ea,
is dear to us. My father, as he embraced rne
was seized with an agitation which Ithink Is,iII
see and partake. John James, said he 10 me
love thy country DO you see these good Gene.
vese! they are so many friends; ioy and con
cord reign in the m DIST of them. You are .
Genevese you will hereafter see other peoDle
but even it you should travel as much as vo,r
father, you never will see better people than
these"
They wanieo to recommence dancing. The
thing was impossible. They no longer knew
what they were about Every head was turned
with an intoXcatiQn more pleasant than that
caused by VINE. After remaining some time
longer on the square, talking and laughing il
became necessary to part every one retired o,,i
city with his family and in this manner 4 Il
those amiable and prudent wives bring back their
husbands, not after disturbing, but ait err sharing
their pleasures | am fully sensible that this
spectacle with Which was so forciblv strucL
would be without any charm for tbougand oil,
er people: It requires eyes fit to see it, heart
made To feel it. No-there is no pure ioy. ex
cept public Joy--and the genuine sentiments of
nature are found prevalent in the people aloue.-
oh Dignity, Daughter of pride, aud mother of
WEAKNESS, never did Thy gloomy slaves enio,
such moment in all their livesp'
CT The individuals, eight in number. arrested
IN York County, under a charge of Piracy, have
been transferred TO Richmond, under escort of
the Deputy Marshal They arrived here on sa-
turdry night, and are to be tried before the Fed
eral Court. They are now confined in the Penn.
Tertiary.