The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-09-27
KESWICK.
ITS SOCIETY AND SOCIAL PLEAsUREs-A MOST
SUCCESSFUL FANCY BALL.
rCorrcsuondence Of the Richmond DispatchJ

ITS SOCIETY AND SOCIAL PLEAsUREs-A MOST
SUCCESSFUL FANCY BALL.
I Correspondence Of the Richmond Dispatchl
SEPTEMBER 2G. 1883.
! The days Of Springs-correspondence are
over - letters from the White" the
Rawley." the Warm" etc. no longer
eXas pera:e the stay-at-homes. These great
centres Of summer society have dissolved,
and nothing is left OF them but memories
and few belafcd lovers OF lawn-tennis
and autumn leaves. Nothing could have
/ induced us to claim notice OF humber To-
caltieS when the public eye sought only
the familiar Dames Of the great, but now
/ that they are gone give Us Of your courtesy
your editorial nod Of recognition.
The traveller on the Chesapeake and
Ohio railway will pass Keswck with con-
tempt. He will see nothing but depot, rs
unattractive rs dep0ts usually are, and it
will scarcely occur TO him that it is the GEN.
ire OF a large and pleasing neighDOrhood.
N0rthward and southward fine old resi-
dences nestle under the shelter OF the
Southwest mountains; fertile fields and
wooded hills compose in landscapes Of
great Leauty: and historic associations
cluster around many OF these hOmesteads,
where noted sons OF Virginia lived and
died.
The social life OF the neighborhood cor
responds every way with its external beau-
tv. A literary club holds it, weekly meet
ings, doing glad homage to the muses. mot
forgetting the honor due 10 TerpsichOre),
and serves rs the central spring OF social
activity. Marriages with festive accom-
panimentS, dances, merry gatherings,
lawn-partieS. and the like have beguiled
away the long summer weeks, and the So
cial spirit, finding it must be for time
exercised. after the manner OF spirits. raj
lied its energies for final display and de-
parted with the noise OF trumpets. The
particular form which this spirit adopted
for final activity was a fancy ball on Monday
night at the residence OF Mr.. John Fry.
II has been voted a splendid success.
From far and near the country bellies
and bcauY assembled in radiant cos
tunes and well-choSen characters. His
tory. literature. the past and present,
were duly represented in effective persona
ton. Aurora dawned upon us in the per-
son Of Miss Mcpherson, OF Charlottesville,
Miss Frances Meade and Miss Hettie Eve
rett rs FlOwer-Girls, Miss Harrison as
Flora, Miss Fox as Buttercup, and Miss
Kate Stewart, OF Alexandria, as SunilOwer-
Maid. represented the floral realm. Miss
Sadie Fry, the charming hostess, was SUI
perb in the garb OF Sable Night. Mr. Ma
gruder rs Jack Frost and Miss Pace. OF
Richmond, as Snowflake. suggested wintry
weather, and Miss Brockett. Of Washing
ton, personated Autumn. Miss Sue Neal,
OF Richmond. and Mr.. T. y. Pace made de-
mure Sisters OF Charity. Miss Chewing
/ nd
and Miss Lovise Long rs Maud Muller;
Miss Sampson as French Maid, Miss Merri-
wether and Miss Cannon. OF Richmond, aS
Gypsies. Miss Gardner as Queen of
Hearts, and Mrs. Frank Randolph aS
Old Lady, were striking characters.
History found its representative in Mr..
Charles Everett as Lafayette, Mr.. Frank
PAGE As Lord Baltimore, Mr.. Aylett Everett
as George Washington. and Miss Josie
Hancock as Martha Washington. Some OF
the best aud most amusing characters were
Mr.. Cary Ruiin is Texas Cowboy, Mr..
John Everett as Jockey, Mr.. Chewing a.
Clown, Mr.. Lansing Fox aS Ragamufn,
and MIR. George Macon A. Sailor. Mr..
Frank Randolph as China nan. Mr.. JEFF.
Randolph as Uncle sam, Mr. Willie Tay-
loe aS Gentleman OF the Old school, and
Mr.. Isaac Long as Scotch Laddie were eX-
cellent. Mr.. George Randolph was 4 very
good Devil. Penitence was affected by
Mr.. Ned Magruder. Mr.. Henry Meade
represented a French Peasant. Other
characters were Mr.. Sampson as Bum
thorne, Mr.. Oby Magruder a. Melnotte,
and Mr.. Mason Magruder as Rob Roy.
Taken altogether, it was brilliant affair;
but alas the hall i deserted, the lights are
out, it has gone like dream, aud nothing
is left but another picture, hung, for tine
TO mellow, in the galleries OF memory.
III.