The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1883-06-14
>ANNALSOF THE WAR.
Phases OF Social Life In Richmond
Woman's Work and Amusement
Rents In the Social Fabric.

Phases Of Social Life In Richmond
woman's Work and Amusement
Rents In the Social Fabric.
!, Mrs. NJ. P. Hardy of Philadelphia,
who was in Richmond during the war,
writes an interesting sketch of social life
in that city for the Philadelphia Times,
from which the following is extracted:
Naturally the war was the centre Of
everything, the pivot on which all plans
and interests turned. Richmond was
the heart of the confederacy, and there
the pulsations OF the conflict were
strongest. Uniforms filed the streets,
martial music sounded from morning un-
til night; troops came and went in per-
petual procession, and the city, waking
to the reveille at dawn, saw the sun set
to the tattoo and drum. Social life in
those days was AZ military % that in any
western outpost Of to-day, land news
from the front" was the topic of most in
terest in all circles. Indeed, the women
of Richmond took no uncomfortable part
in the struggle for secession, and did
everything except bear arms. The vari-
Gus departments, treasury. commissary,
naval. etc., were filled with
women clerks in order that the
men who would else occupy them might
do duty in the field. Many of these
clerks belonged to the best families of
the state, such appointments being
eagerly sought by refugees as means
Of support. So far as possible, women
were also employed in the confederate
workshops, and many of them lost their
lives III the explosion of large car
fridge factory in 1868.
The southern soldiers Aid Society
organized in the first days of the c0nfed-
eracy and did noble work to the last in
caring for tho eick and wounded all
over the country, Its head quarters
were at Richmond, with vice presi-
dent in every state and sub-Otfices in
every county. The women who did not
belong to it were the exception, and
every cry of restitution from army or
hospital was answered by aid to the best
of it's ability. In Richmond it's work
was constant and unremitting. There
its members were organized into relays,
which visited the hospitals ON alternate
days, and it's sewing societies met reg
u
pital supplies. The Medical Director
looked to them in all emergencies and
never looked in vain.
On Sunday during the seven days
fight around Richmond, there came q
reqnisition from the front for sand bags;
they were imperatively needed for the
Notifications. Not one was left in the
city and hasty message was sent from
the ordnance department to the churches
where the congregation were assembled
for public worship, with the result that
in more than one Of them the notice was
read from the pulpit, and the women of
the aid society adjourned to the lecture
room, sent home for their sewing ma
chimes. sand before night the thousands
of sand bags for Whieh Lee had asked
were delivered and the Notifications
saved
Wealth had little to do with social po-
sition. Nearly every ne was straight
ened alike, and privations were accepted
as a sort Of honorable martyrdom, of
which the people were proud rather
than ashamed. The refugees who
thronged the city belonged many of
them, to the best blood in the state, and
represented families whose historic
ers and in the Northern Neck. But lit
tie of their wealth was portable. State
bonds paid no dividends and the STAY
law prevented the foreible collection of
debts; therefore they were tain to earn
scanty living by hard work. The men
were in the army on beesarly
pay, while the women toiled in
the governmental offices for q
mere pittance. Thus many of the most
refined and cultivated people in the city
were in actual want of all but them crest
necessaries Of life, and sometimes even
of them.
During the earlier part of the war SOL
der worship was carried to the greatest
lengths and the women of the south
made heroes of all who wore the gray.
A uniform covered any number of sins,
and as disguised small girl, brought up
in the most exclusive circle, expressed
it, it really seemed as if any man with q
stripe on his trousers thought he had a
right to speak to any lady whom he met.
Virginia society of the best sort is pro-
verbally arlstocratic priding itself on it's
cavalier blood and looking scornfully
down on all of less ancient lineage. The
war fever changed all that for the time
being, and the parlor doors of many an
exclusive house opened to those who
but for the uniform they wore would
have been entertained in the library or
office by the gentlemen of the family
without even glimpse of the ladies'.
votion to the cause so lar a. to Cores
pond with all and any soldiers who cared
to write to them, a piece of Quixotism
promptly suppressed by prudent par
ontS and QllardianS
The fact that uniform, especially an
officers uniform, was accepted as a suf-
ffcient passport to society could hardly
fail, sometimes. to bring about disagree
able results. So surely as the cat is left
In close proximity to the cream jug the
cream will be absorbed" and 80 surely
as young people of both sexes are al.
lowed to mingle freely in social inter-
course there will be more or less falling
in love betwe cen them. Every wearer
of uniform was not exactly the sort of
man to whom a careful father would
willingly give his daughter in marriage,
and not few unhappy unions were the
consequence of this romantic disregard
ofsocial lines. Worse, also, some wretch
es, trusting to the security afforded by
distance and the difficulty of making in
quiries in districts occupied by the
uulOn 1OICcS, dCtcu upon Lll0 SaSiOr b
rule of "a wife in every port" and
married in Virginia. after having left a
wife at home. Fortunately such cases
were rare and a greater pro-
portion of war marriages proved happy
than could have been reasonably ex.
pected.
There are many romantic episodes,
such as marriages in hospitals, at the
bedsides of wounded or dying lovers, in
order that the wife might nurse her hus-
band in sickness or mourn as his widow
after bis death. One of the saddest
stories of the time was that of Miss
c., q refugee beauty and belle, who
three weeks after her marriage to
confederate general was left a widow,
her husband being killed instantly in
battle.
The latitude allowed in some direc-
tions was counterbaianced by strictness,
in others and the standard of morals
was never relaxed. Thus when q beauti.
full girl, whose family name is among the
Oldest in the state, appeared in tableaux
as statue, with her perfect figure dis
played in stockingnet, with only cradle
blanket thrown about her waist by way
If drAnarv Richmond aaciotv waa hOr.