The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1866-02-28
"reminiscences of "Bracebridge Hall"
By osP Es.
.Cnnclude6.

The small and select audience which was col
lected, Or inyitedto witness the charades and ta-
bleaux on the occasion mentioned in the last
chapter, was composed of near neighbors and
relatives of the family, with one or two excep-
tons. Amongst thrm were two sisters, married
ladies, whose small, neat persons and dress were
to be admired. The elder still exhibited the re-
mains. of great personal beauty, which, in her
eayRerlile, was quite remarkable, possessing that
7felicaey Of outline and beautiful proportion
which is purely classic. Her style was that of
blonde With light hair and complexion. which
was nar5le.like in its pureness and slaoothness.
Her sister, twhose bon MARI was described in
the last chapterb without the beauty Of the for
Tnef, was even smaller, with the same reatness
Of 6gure and dress, and with rather more viva
city of manner as wellas a more brilliant wit.
She Is rera. Intelligent, very quickewitVed, and
vith nameiess fascination, which is perhaps
more dangerous, weapon than beauty: Another
lxdy present, who was q temporary guest at the
house, and not resident Of NJ, possessed 3
6ae commanding figure aud air, and who seemed
to have an inordinate love Of dress, which seemed
TO growrwith whatsit fed upon like dram-drink-
ing or opium-eating. Her wardrobe almost ri
vailed Miss Flora MvFllmsey's, in variety and ex-
tent as well as in quality, and was so far re-
narkahle that the wonder vas how she could
have gotten such fnery in time of blockade.
There were: -,. '~~'. ~. g.
- ,- X
An ma nrer Of things that woman can put -
On-the crown of her head or the sole of her foot,
9r wrap round her shoulders or TT round her
- waist, . -. - -
Or that can be sewed on, or stitched on or laced,
Or tied on Rith a string, or pinned onwith bow,
In front or behind, above or below:
Fine bonnetS, mantilas, capeS, eoflarS aad shawls;
Dresses Tor breakfasts and dinners and balls; g.
Dresses to sit in, and stand IN, and walk in :.
Bfesses to d>pee in, and hirt in, and talk in
Dresses in wh:ch to do nothing. at all. s s
Dresses for Winter, spring, summer and fall;
AiEof them different in. color and pattern, -.
Silk, muslin and lace, Grape, velvet and satin,
tBrocade and broadcloth and other material
sGpite as expensive and much more ethereal;- s.
InAaoFt of all. things that could ever be thought
From, RalineF, raodiate Or tradesnan be bought
80 ~0ff.1 -, .. = ,.-.-~-.. ~.s-
This lady was evidently quite aa fat to all the
1sages Of the fashionable world, and lived on ex-
citement; she had lived much in the world, had
travelled good deal, and was. in her element in
society; but had not that high refinement Of
good breeding, which debars egotis:n as ill-bred,
for she loved to repeat rather too weH the COM
pliments of her admirers, and was too much
given to boasting-of her Bourbon descent as she
was pleased TO call it,
But it is time to give some account of the
entertainment for which the young ladies Of
BrarebEidge and their young friends had been
preparing and rehearsing with so much interest.
The acted charade, which was quite little play,
came off first, and was done very creditably By
these neophytes or tyros in the dramatic art con-
sidering that young ladies of fifteen and seven
teen had to assume the male characters in the
absence of male actors who were all in the army.
One of them assumed a kind, Of Bleomer cos
tune as the nearest approach to the male dress
that she could venture upon, to which was added
iaunty cap for her head, and an imitation of
moustache and imperial done by piece of
charcoal or charred stick The other one enact
ed the part of voung artist in his studio or
GtaIier With geptlemaps dressing gown and
crimson. smoking cap. Fn the female cast Of
character, the Young lady whose name is not
Bridget" was disguised as a verv tidy-lookiDg
black servant who murdered the Kings English.
Stella came ont radiant in pink silk and gauze as
the principal female character, which she enact
ed very well, and in the picture-scene where she
represents portrait in handsome gilt frame,
she was really Masterpiece" which was the
name of the charade. After the charade there
was song with piano accompaniment, (the in
Btrument having been placed in the entrance hall
At the Tigh. Of the folding ;oo7s,( DonPSsq1siPS