The Local news. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-12-21

and there were several then, Of the highest
responsibility as to character and numbers
the Fire Compa nies-the Free School chill.
,lren-( the latter all neatly dressed headed
by their teaehers-tle must interesting part
# the pa9aant) The volunteer companies
long line IF citizens who made it u rule al
ways to unite iii the ceremonies of the coca
tiou---and escorted the Reader of the Fare
we'll Address and the Orator OF the Day, to
some one Of the Churches. where the exef-
eiSes t, ok place. There was always fine
Ode sung-an appropriate prayer made
aud then succeeded the reading, and the
speech. The Church was crowded in all It's
parts, pees, galleries, and aisles; and such
collection of beautiful ladies' as attended.
c ,ull hardly any where else have been seen
in the whole country. Flags were holsted,
cannon fired, and huzzas shouted i'll every
direction, throughout the day. Aud, when-
night FELL it's shadows came upon happy,
peaceful town, ana conlented eaplc
On the sht of the 22nd, there was the
birth Night Ball" This 'aneent nstitu.
ton," as it may be almost called, was cotn-
m need during the life time OF the illostri-
oas man, in whose honor 1T was held.
have before referred to it, and need not,
therefore, dwell upon tue subj ect-although
the recollection OF many happy hours would
induce me to linger upon the pleasing theme.
Washington, himself, more than once attend
ed the bals-and there is, or was, in the
Museum, an autograph letterof his, framed,
sending his apology, on one occasion, for not
being able to come into town to visit his
friends, at this, che most delightful of their
social meetings. Fashion, youth, beauty,
intellect, shone Respondent at these balls;
they were conducted in the most admirable
manner; and the courtesy, refinement, aud
gaiety Of the company were "known to all
the country round" Al II o'clock precise
ly, supper was announced-and these sup
pers were equal to any of the ieasfs ever
prepared at the old City Hotel, then and
since famous for the excellence and taste OF
its entertainments. After tie ladies had re-
tired, the gentlemen remained TO drink few
regular toasts- and l remember, tnat FIR
several years, in succession, after Wash,
ington"-and the "Constitutiop and a
few theirs were given, one OF the most h'h-
ored of our lawyers, gave the Navy and
then one Of our merchants gave the "L4-
des"-and then all returned to the B.l-
Room, to go on with the merry dance.
By general consent, for macy years, tile
Washington Society, whose President was
Mr.. 6. w. p. GUSTS, selected the 22d Of
February orator-appointing him at one an
niversary to speak on the next. He thus had
whole year ID which to prepare his address.
The selection was contined-with occasional
rare exceptons-to the young men of our
own town or neighborhood- was the
means frequently of bringing before the pub
lie the literary abilities Of very able scholars.
Some Of these oratioDs were very admirable
performances, and collection of them would
Div" thao tuCy arc Iui oO pClAO1 w VI GHc
productions on similar occasions at the pres
ent day. Those few who still remain here
and remember the orations of VIM. H Fitz
hugh, Peter Cruise, Philip R. Fendall and
others, will agree with me in this opinion
With regard to Mr.. GUSTS, may say, that
the best Grafton lie ever delivered-with the
exception of his address on the death of Gen.
Lingan-was an ertempore one, on q 22d of
February, when the regularly appointed
speaker, who happened To be on the Mary
land side, could not come over to fulfi his
engagement, owing to ice in the river, Mr..
9. Was prevailed upon, to prevent a public
disappointment, to take the place Ut the. gen
tleman thus unavodably detained-and he
with great animation, and with many touches
of natural eloquence, spoke to a CT DIVIDED au.
dience for more than an hour, tn the great
satisfaction of all his hearers. He was much
applanded tor tbs effort.
Whlle am upon the subject Of celebra
tons l will men ion rha, the " ception and
welcome OF liayette (nn his visit to this
country, | thlnk in 1924, in Alexandra,
we're prun"unced by j G. Adams az equallny
any, in any part If the G untry. in design