The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1882-09-06

Flanders; his pantaloons are Of blna
satin: his stockings are of scarlet s;lL
tied by red velvet garters, clasped nv
) diamond buckles. Spanish leather
shoes, with heels three inches bicb
{ complete the costume of the Viroinia
Adonis of the eighteenth century
Thus bravely attired. with his exouis.
Ite snuH-box and cooked hat with its CAV
feather, our young Virginian appeared
at Williamsburg on pleasure and con-
quest bent. He could tread the meas
ured steps of the minuet with grace and
dignity, bow with consummate ease and
elegance over lady's soft white hand.
while whispering we'll timed compli.
ment in her willing ear. But when the
time Tor action came, and Patrick Henry,
III thunder tones, called upon Virginians
to resist opposition by force, this SEEM
ingly efeminate dandy responded with
aiacrity.to the call, and showed that he
was able and willing to WELD the sword,
proving upon numerous battle-felds
that the blood of the cavaliers was not
turned to water.
When we read of the profusion and
luxury enjoyed by the Virginians in the
last century--their fine old mansions.
their delicious fare, rare wines and
many servants--we cannot help con- /
trasting their condition with that of
their ancestors, the early immigrants.
"whose drink was unwholesome water, /
whose lodgings were castles in the air.
Yet in a few years, so prosperous was
the infant colony, that Lord Bacon with
vision of the future, exclaimed /: I
Certainly it is with the Kingdoms of
earth as it is in the Kingdoms of heaven,
sometimes a grain of mustard seed
proves a great tree" In those early
times, Virginia labored under the dis
of being ruled by royal gov
ernors, most of whom were incapable,
many of whom were dishonest, few of
whom were friendly, none of whom were
natives of the colony One of the
worst of these was Sir William Berkeley, :
d man of despotic disposition and infa- !
nous record, who was so hopelessly ig- (;
norant that he thanked God there !
we're no free schools, nor printing in .
Virginia; and hoped there should be :
lone these hundred years for learning .
las brought disobedience, and heresy !
md sects into the world, and printing "
has divulged them. God keep us from .
1oth!" Itwas this besottedgovernor who :,
ried to crush out the spirit of indepen- " v
lence, which was the birthright of Vir- =,
'inia, by putting to death Thomas Il
William Drummond, Major q,
and other brave men, whose
ives were worth all the royal governors, sc
nth one or two exceptions. ~
As We began by speaking of the love- Ia
' DANES of Virginia, so we are irresisti- =.
ly drawn to them in concluding this -
rticle. Let us assume the privilege of r
ehronicler, and attend one of the state 70,
, colonial balls at Williamsburg. The ~
est society of old Virginia was there, o.,
ut the best and most attractive portion, p,
it were the beautiful daughters of h.
lose ancient families that had for near on
? two hundred years been the masters e.,
princely domains. Take one as the a.
preventative of all the fair throng 10,
ae her as she moves with rare grace an
trough the fayorite Virginia dance ~,
1w bright her eyes-how truly refined M
Ich movement-whatsW sweetness in that ool
ance-how daintily she steps along the
ossy foor-what a rich costume an
1all we describe it? The hair which ~
lis in graceful curls over a neck of 70,
owy whiteness is all her own--so is I, lao
e lovely color in her cheek. Around e taa
II slender, shapely throat we see the ~, ~"
stly poillte de Fenise lace, yellow, as tao
Is then the fashion her rcherry-colored tb4
k bodice sets off the matchless beauty No
her figure. The ample sleeves fell IF
er an alabaster arm delicately tapered; tel
e underskirt was of fowered satin, Tb
ID the gown was looped back, and fell nm ""
large furbelows to the dainty feet, ho
lich were eneased in white satin slip thc
rs, with heels two inches high. Her sne s
were rings, bracelets and We, yPI
caches of gold and precious stones. tin
The fair Virginian has long since =,
need her last minuet--she played her ext
rt well in society, and in woman's hin
Iest, sweet world, the home circle aft,
d all that remains to tell us she once the
red is the sweet memory of her kept ext
we by family traditions and filial love, ne,
Whose fragrance lives in many lands, say
Whose beauty stirs the earth, All
A nd lights the realms of many homes -
With loveliness and worth" lug
EUGENE l.. DpIER. car