Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1864-02-16
"suHpIUous REPASrS =" RECEPTION
DAYS."

W. took OCCASION, some iew lays ago, to
..Iimsavo:t upon the gaiaty Of Richmond dun
ing the past winter and upon the new-fanfied
reception days which ara attempted 70 De IL.
roya;ei upon Chs good old Virginia custom q
social writing. 4 lady friend, who - au 'uN'.
csta OF innocent recreation ss well a. u uee'oFs
i.brr., in the work OF reforming 'hs s:eieEt
hahis AMI manners transmitted from sire 10
son as Vir;r,a addresses us r letter in deiercs
sasins. our animadversions which will be found
in smother column.
We srs n, enemy Of "iuuocen. recreation. hut
Only IN. decided opponent Of ~un.imcly ~ffivoi:Y'
81, as told By the worl of Col tia:
To ,vry thing ,aere t,u -,n.o-. a.i . rra.t - errs par.
%. nm ter h-area = A t~a 10 rsp ana =
rim. 70 lngSh; a ttme 10 roHrs and a t"e 10 dane;
4 in. aF sar as3 q sIms Of peaee.'
1t my 10. os nyporcri,i;sl TO call attention
to the construction Ct thu sentences which
Oppose weeping and mourning aud war, to
laughing and dancing and peace. Tho map
nrorr;c.aness OF laughing and daucing, Of col:-
yer,irs ths house OF mournine y into "shs
house of feas'ius," i. too apparent to per"l'
the defence Of innocent recreation. IL net Vi
county s"house OF mourning J
W. know there mast 10 res:cat!on even IN ne
miis. of mourning ard sorrow. end It IS !he da'
~ If ell 70 take re2.sa ion nor would We Lave
persons nursing their sorrow those VINO ear
lauyh aud ian:, q: sucn a TINA should do 80 out
thai i, neither p~rorriaty nor Necessity IN accom-"
7s-vi?..hs innocent recreation with 4 sa!0p'
.a,as Ropes Shc'.. willis unncc 'SsAGiIy ronsan''
ia p-GY .,i1Ui, ~ac:lsliy rybs others OF ia's:ca4
an ma. .rQa,!eI 10. their Sistsaaac.. lis Mt
:ha.. psop.e enjoy themselves that We condenn'
bu: ina, in doing SO. they canmm, tn, prov''
SION, ~rsqa.so! for he support of The army nnt the
poo:
Tom .he :ocao'Fn days we mus: say g
wori I, gu, fir correspondent. corfd7ntially sad
T., al iinjusss. The work If reforrs!nc man.
mas sui uus'oms :, an ursracious task n. best
ro,,,.. tou'. liz, 20 be toll thu. the habits Hna
~eos,o7.; Of their ioI e's'hers are not The m'de.-
This IS m5re especially true with regard to FiT.
~rini.a, rhty hold in the highest veneration
AMI ra-oac. the sncisnt customs of their soele'y
they pride themselves upon their Hospital ~:
p.,han. thers may b. NJ little vanity in tie
,sn,,i"~ with which :hey adhere 20 old habit.
Av;rgn,. '.ly i. expected to sos her t'iap3s
whence i. nay suit the convenience OF ihe
uirY;, 20 ell. The vi.i. IS msdo TO Gee the
lady. 70: her dresses, nor her porter nor farni'
,nr.. Ifi.wara kn,Tn :ha. the lady OF the honoo
was nv % the t7oabls .: ~renawiH! her toilet to
s.e h.r visitors. i. ro1ii rob :he visit OF half its
pleasures.
Tu, creqt difference between Virginia society
And Ytukae society. is this: This ons is cordial
and warm AMI hoGpitable the other cold, mi
h~esr.'ess. AMI foro.al. The Yankee reception
as7s" az weekly exhibitions of the lsdy's
goods aal ch.:t2l1. OF ho7 silks and sssir', her
;:ysl:Y AMI furniture -of all :hc ~ysuitios and
parish sho y, - proTerbial Of a mesu. low-bred
Yankee. Thay are q part of the same love OF
1is,lav that has caused ''c-ests and coats o.
acns" 20 he revived and psinted on panels Of car
rage doors, upon tho termination Of a prosperous
coi-6sh sess,n. IN Yankee land, a long line ot
:l!ussrious ancestors is often discovered By avoy-
aga tc R:1 -hu. no bsg of colt ,e wins q grateful
acknowledgements OF its virtu., By baing en-.
gravel on s silrsr spoaa. Every Yankee well.
TODD in thsr%or!i' has = hevsldry book, anI
can trace his family, wksn, in many cases, the
name of hs father WIS . NJ .tter Of probability.
L, matters t.. whether reception tays' ale
prsc.ic. I'd in the S,a!h nad IN. Enrop,. When in
ROM. do as the Ro nsns," aud whon in R:ch-
moal, we wdrli, 10 all kinlness, aavis. OF
tair T:!enl 20 follow, and TO: ~a.temltto leai.