The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-03-05

/ THE "HoP' AT THE BALLARD HOUSE on FRI
bar NIGHT.-Early last week, letters OF invi-
|tation were issued in this city for what was
|termed a Hop" to be given lat the Ballard
House on Friday evening, March 2, 1886, by the
members of the General Assembly of Vir-
|ginia, citizens OF Richmond, and Others" and
the announcement excited some curiosity, ana
Emore speculation, as to what object the Gene
raj Assembly intended to accomplish by the
|n Hop given under their auspices A formi-
ldable array of names appeared as members OF
the Committee of Reception; invitations
were sent to all the ''upper ten'' of the city, in
circular form and everybody wanted TO
know whether anybody was going. In the
midst Of rumor and conjecture, the FRIDAY
evening came, and atan early hour the bali-
room at the Ballard House was filled with
those who danced and those who preferred q
more refreshing occupation. The majority OF
the guests appeared to be particularly happy,
but a few, at least, seemed as much at home
as fish out of water.
, In one respect the title given to the Hop
was certainly unwarranted by the facts. IL
was not given by the members of the General
Assembly generally, but by some half dozen
of them particularly, and no Virginia leglsla-
tor was present with the exception OF Senators
Keen, Gray, and Robinson, and three or four
members OF the House of Delegates. In the
matter of the Committee of Reception, there
was also a great misunderstanding, which
was of course, unintentional. Three, at least,
of the committee " disclaim having given
auy authority ndVluB LIlSlr iiiSAuu0o
in the arrangements of the evening, and, so
far as we could learn, only three OF the Recep-
ton Committee were present.
There had been some anticipation OF sucn
misconception as this, and it is not surprising
that so few of the ladies or gentlemen OF
Richmond were in attendance. Our citizens
are willing and desirous TO show all proper
respect to their representatives In the state
but IL will be regarded as no
slight TO that body If they would not adorn
with their presence a I" Hop from which their
legislators generally ahsented themselves, ana
which was nothing more than dancing party
on large scale, given by some gentlemen 10
their own friends, at their own private ex-
1 nense. Those who have received favors may
feel It incumbent upon them to reciprocate
them, but those upon whom no weight OF oDii-
cation rests need not attend, by courtesy even,
n Hop - at the Ballard.
The crowd which thronged the ballroom
and corridors was composed chiefly of the
.sothersf' mentioned in the invitations but
among the guests were number OF Federal
Il officers: General Terry being at the head oi
the list. There was every variety of fash
ion in ladies' dress, from the robe of --latest
4 mode 10 that garment which had eyi
IDENTIFY experienced the trials and dangers OF
4 more than one festive season. There was
every variety OF dancing-the waltz, gallon
3 mazurka, and schottische, being, of course, II
Il the ascendant. The orchestra was filled by
81 that coiored band Of excellent musicians ovel
J' J'whom "Grandmother's JOSH presides with 81
fsnuch dignity and grace.
II Refreshments were abundant, and, as q con
2bequence, On enthusiastic youth In the music
II room sang with great vehemence the frs
verse of "Virgiuia Virginia =, soon after
yards snbsiding into q condition Of placid
1#epose.
8# The supper was elegantly arranged upon the
handsome tables In the long suite OF parlors
Ind those who had been fatigued by mucl
dancing, or patient waiting, passed many
4 neFited compliment upon the good taste and
j excellent management of Messrs. Maine 4
Co., the propriet0rs of the hotel
After supper, the dancing recommences
/ with new life and spirit, and was continued
uutil late, or rather early, hour.
The arrangements of the evening were alto
| gether unexeeptlDnable, and entitie the pro
be remembered, however, that our ladies will
! not attend party unless they know somethin;
more about IL than they can learn from mer
printed Invitation.