Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-02-24
LETTER FROM RICHMOND.

CORRESPONDENCE of the Alexandria Gazette
RICHMOND. Feb. %, lST6.-The Colonial
ball has beeu the theme Of conversation here
to-day 1t was grand and gorgeous scene,and
nothing occurred 10 mar 10 any way It's beauty.
Macy dresses were r0 Oh this occasion Tor
the first time since they We're worn hundred
years ago. TIE ladies, as a matter OF course,
Displayed more taste 10 dressing than the gen.
tIcmcn. What completely captlvated me was
the wigs. For gentlemen especially they are
tie ve.y thing VIC have teen wanting. An ef'
fort viii b. made By the admirers Of his ex-
oulsi!e article to have it revived and worn On
dress uccaslous. The funniest part that sa"
about the bali was the pair If tooth pick legs
of oyhe lord. These shorts and stockings are
DOT good for such gentlemen. But, iuooler
! still was the dress of noble lord. His
| broeche, were too short for him, and after he
had been dancing sometime they slipped up
from the stockings, thus displaying his bare
calves. Aud he thought the people around
him must be amused at something, he would
! like to kcow what? As whole, the company
taking part in the ball, was very select, but
! there were Que or two who, If they had any
ancestors at all (Which is doubtful they must
have been sculllouS or sweeps, and this caused
some talk. Uuder the head OF pre- emptlon
claims and squattcr sovereignty contributor
to the Journal, gentleman, By the way OF
illustrious ancestry, says this evening"
Il. was sad by same inviIious persons that
t;icre was slight odor of soap ADD candles, a
lingering scent Of the shop which the newest
and least ancestral coogue, backed by the per
tunes Of Araby, would not dispe. If few
meu can dance the minuet 1t IS equally true
that the dress aud sword Of the courier canuot
be suddenly assumed with grace, your amateur
arit ,crat will sometimes remind one ot Crts-
pho IN COn,nre
We can afford to be critical, odds pede-
grecs, we've had ancestors, every one or em
Colonel or a Captain 10 the militia, and II
we hat our way everybody should be asked as
Daute was iy the arlstccrat 10 the inferno.
What ancestors arc thine !
Now know exactly who this is aimed at.
How did hat party get there? is the question.
Where did that party come fton and several
other parties who took part 10 the ball But,
10 spite OF the ''squstter" element, imagine
that the assem- blagc upon the fo0r 10 costumes
vas as elegant land more SOY than any that
cruces the luxurious paror of to-day; that there
were more oil the royal blood, more beautiful
women (Firgiaas JEWELS aud less wealth
thau any a,scmblagc Ut slnlIar size to-day. MIR.
George WASHINGTON Bassett pcrsonated CO.
;, George WASHINGTON. lie was next to the Lee
family, The dearest linca descendant. Capt.
r. f. Lee was asked t. assume the character
first but decilued in very humorous letter.
stating that he wuu not dare 10 attempt the
thiug, but if they would get up corn shuck-
Ing or postum hunt they might count him In.
That the sort OF rooster he was. Your Cor.
resuouGcut and George represented their great,
great great uuc!c, Wm. Digges, the editor of
the Virginia Gazette, published in those days
at Williamsburg. This w2s the paper that adver-
tset. New Lonion dresses by the late ves5y
Stays, vice and siugIe, pumps, halt bow stays,
STAYS made to buckle before twice or buttons. -
Hence, cur pride. The ''minuete de la cour'
was danced at the Colonial bail L Is ahead
f he german and Boston, Or far superior.
Il combines beauty with grace, and in its state
illness is almost awe inspiring. l. wi superecde
the german aud Bo-tou, predcl.
The House ~ day, By a vote OF So to 81,
agreed t. cxton: thc session for 80 days from
the oSth iilsr The Scua'e has DOW to vote
, up"'. Il.
. ExG,v L ;ehcr I'D x Gov. Smith locked
! hGras +, laj oM II, } mes River ADD Kama
. eha cara O.. tnn fhc latter favored the
! cx'e.sion. tut Homes! JOHN did not thick 1t
! feasible. y Jco this, the first disagreement
! between the W q overnors was known, the
| House locked % aghast Truly II Is time to
aojrurn sine die. oTRoSGBoW.