The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-06-26

ANDER
of goose feathers dyed. Bonnets of pal
metto were much in vogue, as were those
of ornamental gourds. The extreme
weight rendered these dressy articles
more beautiful than comfortable. Yet,
for summer wear the palmettoes were
cool in appearance. A friend of mind
possessed tarlton bonnet made Of six
Yards of the cloth, with forty dollars
worth of goose feather flowers adorning
the inside. Once, by some odd chance,
q young lady of my acquaintance was so
fortunate as to have sent her hat and
pair of balmoral boots, with skirt to
correspond. These treasures were sent
by q blockade runner, and q reception
was held to display them and to allow
others the privilege of trying them on
T afterwards often saw the balmoral skirt,
worn very guilelessly, with simply an
antique velvet jacket.
The most ingenious dress / remember
during the war was black silk. made
from the covers of worn parasols, the
umbrella form being preserved. It was
regarded as being very stylish, and was
lined with a mosquito netting, which had
been presented the young lady by an
officer whn had been stationed on James
Island. The buttons on the dress had
been in battle, and were much valued by
the owner. At this time, North and
abroad, dresses were worn very high in
the throat and the skirts quite gored and
tight in front. The women of the Con-
federacy wore their dresses the same
length all around, q little longer If any.
thing Just in front, necessitating slight
holding up by the aid of one hand al
ways. The neck was very much exposed,
being worn half high often. Once | saw
a yery thin woman attired in this style,
wearing around her throat chain and
locket. The latter had slipped around
and was half hidden down in the hollow
of her collar. bone, just beneath her lett
ear. In her Inconsistencies she was
delighted with her toilet, and indeed so
was I. The first lady who visited our
town wearing o high dress at the throat,
with a ruche above, was regarded with
much suspicion, it being commonly be-
lieyed the throat was badly SCARED, from
her effort to completely hide even a
glimpse of its slender column. SO we
perceive both styles of dress claimed
disadvantages.
An aunt of mine was in Europe du.
ring the war, and Immediately upon its
close hastened to Georgia longing to look
once more into faces of relatives and
friends. The first Sabbath at church she
wept increasingly, and smiled at times;
Coming home she said no one could
possibly imagine how qu userly everything
looked to her in point of costume, each
form seeming a comic picture and ap'
pearing almost as If there had been
rivalry in each to excel the other in these
effects. This impression existed only IN
regard 10 the women. She wept in real
izing how painful must have been the
years and anxious months to those so
dear to her, when the effect was evinced
even in any thing 30 paltry as mere
dress.
MYSTERIES OF THE CUISINE.
In those days of self'denial there were
wonderful things in the cuisine depart
ments-much that was mysterious
Raspberry leaves we're used for tea:
Persimmons and black pepper formed
favorite ingredients for fruit cake, blend
ed with hickory.nuts and walnuts.
Groundnuts and parcbed okra made
coffee, and sometimes sweet potatoes.
Innumerable delicacies were originated.
Persimmons dried in brown sugar replaced
dates and figs. A young friend of mine
informed me that in her home dessert
was much enjoyed in this manner:
CATER dining she would take down from
its place their cookery book and read
aloud some choice selections" 1t was
customary at entertainments for the
ladies to enjoy the repast first; very often
the gentlemen left the room until their
enjoyment was over. Once an entertain.
ment attended was elegant in all
arrangements for the feast, and it was
whispered around that chicken salad in
pro fusion would be given. The ladies
we're first served, and the hostess said,
when the less favored ones entered the
room for refreshments, tall, ungainly
soldier-boy commenced looking an1iously
over the board, and finally, in disgusted
manner, said: 81 believe, in my heart,
the blamed women have eaten all the
salad i" He was only appeased by
Confederate fruit cake-strong of molas-
ses and pepper.
Our town was filled with refugees from
all points, and their society was highly
appreciated in our midst. AS rule they
were cultivated and charming additions
to any society, and represented the best
phase of home life from their respective
cities. As our college buildings were
useless, and furnished many homes under
one roof, they were occupied by families
who had fed to our walls for safety.
The old buildings reverberated to sol.
diers' tread, and to the flying feet Of
Southern girls, in light dancing, often on
summer nights. The refugees seemed to
accept their exile cheerfully, and when
ever any soldier came home his sojourn
was enlivened by merry. making and
CHEEKY society. You might see at some
picnic, given in honor of severl returned
soldiers, many young girls, clad in home
spun, with faces as coquetish and arch as
those that are now shaded by rich velvets
and soft plumes.
Among our refugees was bright
young woman from New Orleans, who
was 80 enraged by all her belongings
being inspected as she was leaving the
city 10 join her friends outside of Gen.
Buffers rule, she exclaimed to an officer
"You haven't inspected that trunk, and
is contains both powder and caps" This
announcement caused much excitement,
and the officer was much chagrined to
discover at the bottom of the trunk in
question box containing an old lady's
supply of caps and innocent face pow
der.
had relative in Mississippi whose
experiences were annoying and, in some