The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-08-16
Correspondence Of the Rirhm ord Dispatch-I ]
RoCKBRIDGE ALUM SPR1NGs,2
August IA, 1871.
SUNDAY AT THE ALUM.

! world Of thought for an adult. lt has Deen
stated heretofore that MIR. Gholson was
! from Georgia. This is an error. He Is
Virginian, but has parish In A!a3ama a a.
present. and is now on visit with his T7l,f
to the Virginia Springs, both of whom see6
rest and recreation. He leaves here tor the
! White Sulphur tomorrow, at which place
| ,,a H.il, suend few davs, and return to the
Alum for month. Tits ls the minister
! spoken of in connection with the pulpit Of
| Trinity Church, Staunton.
| The company is yet on the increase,
| though this morning number OF tne oldci
visitors left tor other places OF resort.
| There was
! A MISAPPREHEES10N --.,
! as to the night which had been fixed fol
| the ball. but it has had no effect whatever
on its success-at least thus far, for it l;
now past midnight, and tue scene which
the ballroom presents Is grand 1naeed
Moxley; the cos stufner, arrived several days
ago: and 1t was soon announced that he was
prepared to furnish those who desired to
attend with handsome dnd appropriate out
fits for the ball. -.s. 49,. .r:--
! TIE COSTUMES. -
Never since the war has greater variety
ora better selection Of costumes been eX.
hIbited at any OF the Springs, and IL larger
number are being worn now tlian eTer be:
fore ut the alum. Soon after his arrival
here it became known that he had made
quite an addition TO his already full sup
ply Of masks and costumes, and as mat.
ter of course the old ballroom (the room
In which, they were en- Khibited} was soon
Gesiegcd by various parties who were anE-
ious to get the pick Of the lot.
| The scene there, presented was an amul-
sing one. Young ladies' whispering to each
other gentlemen bobbins around the cor.
ncrs Of the house, or peeping through the
key-hole, eager to get sight OF how the
! fair ones would look or what characters
/ they would take; but all in vain, for the
windows were well curtained, and only
small parties were allowed to so in at 0
time.
| PREPARING FOR THE BALL.
At an early hour this morning there were
only seven costumes left-four tor gentle
men and three for ladies-and bv 10 O'Clock
! there was hardly young person to be seen
on the lawn, all, or nearly all, having gone
: to their rooins TO get ready and . fix up.''
At dinner-timc; in passing throuah the
diniig-roOm. j could hear the ball dis
cussed on all sides the probability OF It's
success how Mr.. and Miss SO and SO, oil
Richmond, would look ii not in costume
ginia would be dressed, and anxious In
Guiries as 10 whether she would go in
character. lShe is The belle Of the Alum:
But aside from the many remarks made
about this great event here, let me say Il
word Of what have seens
THE BALL.
Long before 9 o'clocka large and brilliant
concoursc of persons gathered in the ball.
room to witness and participate in the affair.
AT the door we were met by the reception
committee, composed OF Capt. l.. Stone,
nloble; Gen. II. E. Hambleton, of Mary
land; flessrs: E. Barnett, New Orleans
G. ". Tlnges, Baltimore DR.. II. IL. Go,
hen, New York; VIM. Devries, Baltimore;
S. s. Early, Ind; Chas. nj. Dougherty,
MARYLAND ; and Judge w. j. Woodward, OF
Bucks county, Pa, and escorted to COM
Portable seats, where fine view of those: IN
mask was had as they marched in, keeping
time to pleasant music from the band. AND
How
THE DANCE ....
begins, and just dot down few OF TIE
principal characters !: Mr.. b. OF New or-
leans as Hamlet, Miss K. of Georgia as q
Greek Lady, Mr.. c. as Earl of ESSEX, Capt.
| S. and Mir. Is. rs Punch and Judy, anu MISS
; b., of Mobile, as Queen Elizabeth, are the
| kIr. b. as the Fat Boy, MIR. p. Of Virginia
as Position, MIR. T. as Romeo, Mr. &. as
Page, MIR. q. as the American Clown, Hiss
e. as Aurora. and Mr.. B. as Page. Next,
there are O batch OF cadets, who are i'll
character Messrs. N. as \ Brigand, u. as
Don Cesar, Nj. as Heather Chinee, b: as
| Charles H.. as Fra Diavolo, w. as Fig
lii full dress, j. as Prince Carnival, M: az
Joan Of Arc, T. as Frog; NJ: as HtghlaIid!tef,
M. as Fairy Queen, I. as Mary had Lutte
Lamb, T. as Wild 1rishman, G.. Paui Fry
(excelient), j. as Black knight, d. us LORD
of Misrule, w. as Earl OF W., NJ. as harle- Is
as Pinch. A. as hickory Dickery Dock, e:
ne fnfiiar1. and last, but not least. Mr.. >. OF
r. .as Little Silver Hair, which character, ne
sustained handsomely, as, indeed, dld ALL.
But aside from those in costume, must
not fail to mention few of the ladies who
were in full ball dress; and who added
greatly to the brilliant affair. And hrst
comes the belle of the Alum, Virginia
woman. indeed, from Loudoun county, OF
that peculiar style of beauty (light hair and
dark eyes, which never fails to attract. She
is dressed in a lilac silk, with tiounces or
the same; her hair eXquisitely powdered,
and tastefully dressed with pink roses. she
sits like queen, and has near her throhs
of earnest admirers.
Miss A., of Lexington, with her hair In
flowing ringlets sand her neck encircled with
pearls, and clad in spotless tarletan, wears
q smile of beauty which tells every moment
on the Young men who worship at her
shrine. And there is Miss G. Of b., no.
ted beauty, who as yet has taken but little
part in the ball. -,
Mrs, S., in a superb rose-colored silk,
trimmed with white lace Mrs. T., OF Bal
timore, in a black silk with white point lace
trimmings, and Mrs. W., of Arkansas, a TAR
bride. i'm q blue silk, are perhaps among the
married ladies who are deserving of special
mention. 80; IN. .s4,,
Mrs. DR.. N. dressed in blue silk, with
uoint appIieuE Mrs. B. tastefully dressed
IN a lilac silk, trimmed with white French
muslin and point applique and the hand
come Miss p, OF Balto., first in a yellow,
somare.necked dress, trimmed with BLACK
lace, and subsequently, as Lady Wasnng.
ton, were just now near tosether, anu ~ all
occasional glance Of the ere towards tIs
Young men told plainly how tney couiu
nd now for glance at the agreeable
and stylsh Miss T., of Baltimore, VINO
wears n white muslin dress trimmed J. WILD
mink roses. and her hair powdered sne
Stands near the centre Of the room, eaikims lI,
with number Of cadets, and occasfonally
gives one d favored smile and klnd gialFcs
from her pretty black eyes. AND 1l.ss n:'
OF Lexington, who has before 5graceQ sosI w
efy in Richlnond, wears "a blue SILK hressi g:
eyer which is d beautiful white muslin
f a 4