The Local news. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-11-30
ALEXANDRIA, VA.
Manuscripts Of an Old Bachslsr.-No
"REMINISCENCES OF ALEXANDRIA. )
Dulce Domum LAT. SONG.
To mako a happy fire side cline
For weaus and wife
That's the true pathos and sublime
Of human hfe-BURNs.

Inc cnlet charm OF every city, town, ana
neighborhood, is the excellence of its SocIE.
~. And by the word Society, do not
mean any exclusive clique. which from the
mere possession of wealth, may consider
itself 1.-The cream of the cream"---or any
particular class of individuals, who, from
accidental circumstances, may think them
selves the porcelain Of the earth, when they
are in truth but common clay, and frequent
~ not the best Of clay BUT l refer to the
general manners, culture, taste, decorum,
habits, and intelligence of the mass of the
citizens, 'of all ranks and degrees" l
have, as every other observer of human ma
ture, and lover of his kind has, often found
in the humblest walks of life, if not the pol
ish, at least the courtesy and the old English
idea Of gentility, IA phrase now perverted
from its original meaning and ludicrously
msapplied,) which l failed to discover in the
splendid mansions Of the rich, or in the con-
duct and conversation Of the afiuent. When
speak Of S,clErY, then, all will understand
what mean.
And how pleasant-how agreeable-how
charming was the society of old Alexandria,
when resided here near thirty years ago !!
The people, as think have already init
m lted, were fond of public amusements:-
they supported Theatre-they had balls
and mblies-they visited Concerts when
the entertainment offered was such as ladies
and gentlemen could be pleased with and
they gave dancing parties-at which, in
side room, open to all-horresco referens -
there was table for whist! Strange to saw.
the contrast that | draw between the Alex.
andria then, and the Alexandria noao, during
my present visit, does not make it appear
that we OF the olden time were less moral, or
charitable, or, if you please, religious, than
those who figure upon the stage of action at
the present day. 1t seems to me, that we
used to dance more, to laugh more, and to
drink more aotne; but then we wore more in
dulgent to the errors Of our neighbors, know
ing our own imperlections; more sociable
and friendly; and used far less ,chishcv.-
Not that the latter article in its proper place.
and lime, and quantity, was ignored even
in the good old days of which write.
We had one of the best Theatres in the
country, as far as the actors and actresses
were concerned. Our balls were we'll at
tended-few young ladies, then, failing to
take part in them. The Birth Night
balls"-22nd Of February given in honor
of Washington's birth day-and which he
honored,with his presence on several occa-
sions, were kept up until comparatively re. |
cent period, and were famous all over the
country. Invitations were applied for, by
gentlemen, for ladies, living fifty miles Off
and the town and country bellies divided the
SURFACES of the beaux, as to their grace and
beauty. These balls were always given at
the City Hotel; and a splendid supper fol.
lowed the festivities of the dance. The
Assemblies" were held once il every two
weeks at the same place. Annually, on St.
Johns night, there was Masonic ball. at
the Washington Lodge Room, which was
always pleasant reunion of such of orr
citizens as were brothers Of the mystic tie
and of their lady friends. Il fell in love with
q beautiful girl, from the country. at one If
these balls, and had the audacity afterwards
to address her. The result, of course !.
known, from the fact of my still being an
'old bachelor" She was afterwards hann;.
ly married-is the mother of a large family
and sitting cozily with her husband by
her side, not long since, she knitting socks
for the young ones and he laughing at her
unnecessary work, and talking of cold
times" l good humoredly asked her, upop
a calm review Of the circumstances of the
occasion referred to, how she could have had
the heart to treat me as she did? She seem.
ed still to think that it was all for the hest
certainly it had turned out best for her-a,d
her husband fully acquiesced in the opinion J
MIR. Generes, a French refugee from St. Do.
mingo, where his family had been wealthy
but from which island he was forced to av
Turing the bloody Instruction there, and
who upon landing in this country, like a
gentleman as he was, determined to make
uDpOrt for his family and commanoeJ |