Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-08-30
CORRESPO NDENCE FROM THE SPRING
CATAwBA Aug. 16, 1867.

..
CATAwBA> Aug. 16, 1867.
GENTLEMEN You know that the favor
tie song of our glorious Jeb Stuart con-
tanned one line, which his mellow voice
would ring out with a power and melody
that never failed to thrill clear through the
hearts of his hearers
1" II you want to have good time jine the Cav
alry'
find this merry refrain running through
my mind all the time, though slightly al
| tered, by force of position, into:
g If you want to have a good time come to Ca
tawba -
The very best of good times are we
Springs eople having, and the hours seem
to grow more and more rosy as they speed
away. The musical moonlight dance,
which I mentioned as about to come off to-
night a week ago, did not do SO. At least,
though the 'fairie round moor" waspunctual
to her engagement and flooded the fair hill
sides and sparkling waters of Catawba with
distilled essence of silver, the gay party,
which was to have danced a merry measure
around the fantastic May-Pole, did not as
semble according to engagement. No ex-
ception was taken at this violation of pro-
mise, inasmuch as the rule of this blessed
community is that of the world-renowned
Three Guardsmen One for all and all for
one - In other words, everybody does
what everybody pleases, and nobody finds
fault with anybody else!
With my ticket in my hand, presented
myself at the Castle in order to attend the
menagerie and make the Journal faithful
report of the proceedings. I found, how
ever, that the animals had succumbed to
much dancing and exhausted nature, and
were quietly sleeping in their dens. They
were too pretty to disturb, SO left them
to their dreams.
On Tuesday the pleasant information
was disseminated that regular party was
in process of arrangement, and that it
would come off that night. Sure enough
it did, for Colonel Wyatt, having made
ocular promise to a gentlemen, who was
here a few days ago, fulfilled that promise
most gallantly, when the said gentleman
it. This was to the effect, that if the gen
tleman, then unmarried, would enter into
the holy estate, the Colonel would give him
a party. I am inclined to think that this
promise, pleasant as it was, was not the
motive power in producing the desired con-
summation, for the strongest possible argu
ment in the premises is the bride herself. |
However, The deed was done the happy
groom presented Himself and his dearer |
half at CataWba. and claimed the promise |
It was paid most cheerfully, and the result |
was Sc full dress - in the ball room and a |
delicious supper in the dining room Mrs |
Wrenn excelled herself in the cakes md |
ice cream, whose preparation she superin.
tended, and among several other toasts |
when her health was proposed, the entire |
company responded with good will, which |
testified their appreciation. Last night was
the occasion of the merriest meeting I have |
for many day, or night either
lmpelled by the same motive which makes |
a mocking-bird sing, we determined on the |
spur of the moment, to get fancy mas |
querade party, "just for the fun of the |
thing" and we did it Did it in style, too, |
for though the time was counted by hours.
and very few of them, too, we all worked |
with such will that the affair was perfect
success not only in the variety and excel
lSuCo VI Gue CudIdCtefS, DuG the elegance OF
some of the dresses, several of which might
have attracted attention in New Orleans it.
self.
The agreement was that at certain hour
all the maskers should meet at the Castle
and proceed thence to the ball room.-
Having a number of costumes to arrange
and several toilettes to make, was pre-
vented going to the parlor, and so went to
the ball room direct. The porch, the
doors, and even the steps were thronged
by crowd of " citizens, so closely packed
that to force a passage through it was, to
say the least unpleasant, but the difficulty
Of the ascent made the ball room, when
once gained, all the more agreeable.
wish you could have seen the variegated,
parti-colored view which was presented
through the eye-holes of my mask as I
entered. Nearly all the masks were as
,embled and stood grouped for ten large
double cotilhons. presenting the quaintest
and queerest medley, a sort of mosaic in
which all colors, shapes and sizes were IL
mingled
The citizens, three rows deep, lined the
outside wall, filed up the windows, and
sven found temporary resting places on the
1oor, gazing with eyes and mouths dis