Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-08-26
Correspondence of the Spectator.

! RED SULPHUR, August Goth, 1867.
Messrs Editors At this dull season of the
year-dull even in Staunton-it may not be OBJ.
jectionable to you and your many readers, tc
have column, ''nore or less" filled with de-
scription of a Fancy Ball" which came off al
this place on last evening An anomalous idea
truly A ball at the Fed Sulphur, when it is
an established fact that every other room, and
the intervening ones, are occupied by q bron
chial or consumptive invalid Yet it does moi
follow that they are incapacitated Tor ienJoylne
the innocent recreation common TO watering
places. Indeed, each individual here apparent
y feels it incumbent upon himself or herself tt
contribute to the general fund cfamusement and
entertainment. And ] may just add that after
repeated visits to many of the Va. Springs, II
has never been my good fortune to meet with
more genial, sprightly and social company than
| find at this so called haunt of the afflicted
But to the Ball. One, whom by common con
sent is called ''our presiding genius" "mistres;
of ceremonies" ct cet., and who, by the way, IS
lady of uncommon tact and talent in every
line, as far as opportunity is afforded here tor
development, in Short "a universal genius, y
declared on last Saturday she would get up q
Fancy Ball, and that it should come of before
the goth, as on that day a party OF guests pro,
posed leaving The subject, however, was not
taken under consideration until Monday. Our
Lady insisted there was no such word as "fall
in her vocabulary, and the Ball must be carried
through, though it should only prove bur-
lesque. Some twenty-five or thirty persons con-
sented to appear in fancy costumes, while the
remaining taco hundred and more would attend
as spectators. The worthy proprietors entered
with great spirit into the arrangements, appear
ing really gra,ified that such thing should be
attempted here and, on last evening, not on
lily the assembly room but the buildings and
grounds were brilliantly Illuminated, presenting
a scene only equalled in our dreams OF fairy
land. Invitations were sent around to the ma
tiyes who focked in, expecting to be "astonsh-
ed" aud, we trust, were not disappointed. At
an early hour the ballroom was filled, and a.
bout 9 o'clock the fancy costumes made their
debut: some of the most prominent and success
full of these characters | must mention particu-
Ilarly. Our ''presding genius" appeared as ''Mrs.
Bedott," and though lovely young wife OF
twenty-five, stranger would have wagered a.
ny amount that she was an outsetting widow OF
fifty. She entered the room leaning upon the
arm of one of our landlords, and was greeted
with an involuntary, but quickly suppressed
burst of applause Her character of course, was
admirably sustained through the whole evening.
SIZE met with many friends whom she had not
"seen since the Deacon's death" But | can
not pretend to describe all that was said and
done by this inimitable "widow"-her manner
of taking snuff-her 'airs" upon being intro
duced to the ''youpg member finally consent
ing to take place in the dance &c, &c. And
we had "La tile 9N reginaGa~ charnagy per-
sonated by polite Mademoiselle of Washington
city. Her dress was perfectly carried out, even
to the coat, cap.and drum, and then her twink
ling feet" and ankles encased in thin red bootees,
'like little mice, peeped in and out" as she pol
kaed through the may quadrilles, and complet-
ed the witchery of her appearance. LA File"
was devotedly attended by d handsome young
''Brigand,' who, with his fierce moustache,
glittering eyes and teeth, and gay costume, not
to omit the silver sheathed dagger at his side,
was. perhaps, the most striking figure on the
floor. A beautiful lady, with natural queen.
like bearing, came as the i'll tated "Mary Stuart,
attended by two fantastic Pages lads of ten and
twelve Then we had Swiss peasant girl and
bow whose dress & acting were both cOmnleal tdut,
even to the brief skirts and bodice and coquetry
on her part, and the ribbons and jealousy on his.
1.-THE CITY exquisite was capitally caricatured by
young Southern blood and to make both more
expressive, he and"the country clown" otlen came
in contact. | must not forget our lovely,
bright "Morning" and another "who walked in
beauty like the Night" the "Fortune-teller, "
Wood nympb," and "Shepherdess with her
crook" The "Greek Lady"-so extremely Gre
clan in her costume that few comprehended the
design. the beautiful Southern Bride" bright
little Flower girls and Gipsies," a merry
sailor Boy" "a grave looking Turk" and "a
savage Indian Chief" who sskeered the lone
and Iurn widow l3edott frightfully" But the
most laughable character OF all was one VINO ap-
peared late in the evening, as an "ancient color
ed Aunty," so completely metamorphosed, that
but for her slight French accent, which she
found impossible to lay of, those vino knew her
best would have failed to detect the Disguise
She carried basket of maple sugar. nuts, &C.,
and very humbly cnrtsied into the obscure cor
ners to dispose of her wares, but attracted a
crowd constantly. At the proper hour our
eood-natured host observed to some gentlemen
who did not fail to report it, 'he supposed it
was about time to serve up ths qestduum,"
which ',reslduum" proved 10 bea bountiful supply
of delicious ices, cakes, nuts, fruit &c. But this
letter, like our fancy Ball." must come to a
close; only in conclusion, let me say, this place
is generally regarded as gloomy, DAMP forbid
ding, only visited as the dernier resort OF inva-
lids, but so far as my experience goes, it is just
! the reverse Until yesterday, when there was
an agreeable change, the weather has been ex-
cessivey warm and dry; the rooms are COM
Portable, the negroes accommodating, polite
and kind / hear no complaints, but all seem
satisfied and happy, determined time shall not
hang heavily The number of permanent guests,
25O or Whereabouts, some evidently improving,
others discouraged that they are not imrmeedi-
ately cured, ).
BREACH OF PROMISE CASE Damage $25, 900.
"A case of no little interest to fashionable cir
cles in this city, has just been entered upon, and
reveals the following state of affairs. 1t would