Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-07-30
The Military Commission at the White
Sulphur.
"OLD VIRGINIA REEL" &C.

"Bric-a.Brac," the correspondent OF
the Richmond State, thus writes of the
Military Commission at the white" /:
The presence at the White Sulphur of
the commission to reOrganize the army
is one of the notable events of the week
"a reinforcement of eight live generals
and senators being under any circum-
stances a matter Of moment. The "per-
senner' of the commission is very fine,
and would induce one to fancy that APP
peerance as well as ability had some
thing to do with their selection. Gen.
Burnside is man of distinguished
mien Gen. NJ. G. Butler, of South Car
DINA, is strikingly handsome and the
others who have already arrived are all
fine-looking men.
The Military Commission consists of
Senators Gen. A. e. Burnside, of Rhode
Island, as president; Gen. M. C. Butler,
of South Carolina, and Mr.. Plumb, of
Kansas (who is absent). From the
House of Representatives we have Gen.
HI. B. Banning, of Ohio; Gen. Harry
White, of Pennsylvania; Gen. G. G.
Straight, of Minnesota; and Gen. Bragg
(who is absent) from Wisconsin. Col.
D. r. Larned, of New York, is secreta-
ry, and Col. John R. French. of Wash
ington, is sergeant-at- arms. After the
business of the day was over on yester-
day these dignified and reverend seign-
iors having in hand the affairs of the
nation found themselves ''conscripted"
by the fair ones for active service in the
ballroom, and responded to the occasion
with praiseworthy alacrity; not even
the dignified and portly Gen. Burnside
escaped, and when last seen was leading
an old time Virginia reel with one Of
the handsOmest married ladies at the
Springs; nor were his colleagues at all
backward in coming forward" Gen.
Straight, Gen. White and others were
found in the van, and those of the COM
mission who did not actively participate
in the engagement, made up a s'rear
guard" of approving lockers on, and
Oere ready at any moment to be drought
70 the front" Altogether the particular
"reel" to which we allude was one of
the merriest and most active tits with
old "Terpsichore" in which we ever in
dulged, and if the generals in command |
were really not prepared for such an &C.
tive campaign, they deserve great credit |
for having conducted it so ably to sue
cessful climax.
The dancers on this notable occasion |
were chiefly married ladies and gentle
men, some few young ladies and the |
more prominent guests at the Springs, |
who, jealous of their rights and privi-
leges, possessed themselves of the lower |
portion of the ball. room and nobly held |
their own against the superior (?) charms
of greater youth and fresker beauty in
the upper end of the room. Among the
dancers were several well-known ladies
and gentlemen from Richmond, who,
with others from North, South, East,
and West, engaged with charming zest,
all dancing as with zone copsentn to |
Yankee poodla,n Or to "Dixie,H and |
among the lockers on we noticed Judge
Shelley and Hon. A. II. III. Stuart, of |
Staunton Hon. w. w. Corcoran, of
Washington Col. Singleton, of Missis-
sippi; Judge and Mrs. Perkins, and
many other prominent citizens from
North and South, who seemed alike to
have hurried the hatghetn or the late |,
unplsasaantness," and to be entirely en-
rapporf with the Esprit of the times"
truly, ~ view OF its once disoofdant
feel that we have danced "reel of IRE.
and rejoice that the ia
NOUS words, 'Let US have peace" no
longer ring as an empty phrase upon
ears. The length OF the daily
sessions Of the Military Commission-
several hours-woQld indicate that thew
really mean business as well ,,o.
~ - '-e1A s' LII at the White, but
.Aere Is sharp antagonism, we fancy.
between the former and the inspiration
Of the time and place, and we cannot
blame them if, in their hearts, they
rather feel disposed to let the army take
care of itself while they deport them
selves with thoughts and things much
less ut variance with their surroundings.