Connecticut western news., 1884-10-22
A VIRGINIA BALL.
PLEASANT ENTERTAINMENT IN THE MOUNTAINOUS DISTRICTS OF THE STATE.
A Gathering of the Young People from the Surrounding COuntry-How They Were Entertained.


 Entertained.
 It is not often that the visitor, says a Virginia correspondent of the New York Erening Post, has the opportunity to see real old-fashioned Southern ball, such as he has probably read of In fact, a lady who was born in the South. and grew up after the war, told me that she had never seen one herself. The op. portunity was not long ago afforded in one of the improved log houses of the locality. The proprietor, a bachelor. for whom niece was keeping house, deter mined to invite hundred or so of his young friends to such an entertainment. It was on a farm of several thousand acres boosting fat and fattening cattle of the finest quality, and possessing an orchard comprising hundreds of the best varieties of apples that could read fly be found anywhere. The former slaves were in some cases still doing the work of the place. The house was situ- ated about half mile from the pike" and was approached by a lane guarded by number of light gates. A small "branch" crossed the fields few yards from the door, affording the site for the spring house. Behind and on one side were the numerous struggling out houses, corn cribs and slaves quarters of ante-bellum days, and large trees shaded the house, making the gallery an agreeable place from which to look over the rich valley that it dominated. The house was of two halves joined at right angles, one being the original log struc- ture and the other the more modern frame building, between which the gal lery furnished the only communication. If the family slept in the frame half, it would be necessary to lock up the other part from the outside, if, indeed, it were thought necessary to lock it at ell. There were separate stairways in each half, of course, and iu one was square hall opening into the parlor in which, among other furniture, there was an upright piano, upon which the niece and her friends exercised themselves when mu- sically inclined. In the corner of the hall stood one of those stout boxes of plug tobacco seen o1ly in shops in the North, and it was Got a mere ornament, for the host and his friends required an ample supply of the weed to satisfy them. A few book shelves added to the furniture of the hall. In the other half was the dining-room, and in another log building adjoining was the kitchen, over which an "aunty" of tue old school pre-. sided with apparently autocratic powers.
 This kitchen was the centre of action for days before the great party was to come of. Aunty and niece and young lady friend who happened to be at the house were making cake, preserves, and other delicacies. Many were tue trips made by the ladies to the store down at the other end of the valley, and proba- ply its capabilities were severely tried, for there was no railroad within half-a- dozen miles and no mails oftener than tri-weekly. Generally the young ladies went on their side-ssddles, galloping over the pike and bringing back their small parcels with them. At other times they took buggy, and when it was nee essary the master of the house was pressed into the work. The dinner service of such a household is never equal to an emergency like that now ap- preaching, and the neighbors far and wide were levied upon for plates, cups, saucers, and dishes of all sorts. The miscellaneous collection that was event ually gathered would have rejoiced the heart of a person struck by the mania for old china, but here it excited no in- terest.
 Finally the great day arrived. All the forenoon thesctivity of preparation grew iii intensity. There was the lce- cream to be frozen, and there were hosts of other last things to be done. When these had all received attention, there was only time for the young ladies tc scurry to their rooms and make their toilets. Scarcely had the last bow been tied and the last curl arranged when the chatter of hoofs told of the approach oi a guest From that moment there waS continued succession of arrivals. All the black servants that could be obtained were needed to insure the proper care o the horses and vehicles. These were o all sorts and kinds. Even coaches and and omnibuses were pressed into service Of course, dressing rooms for those who came from ss far as thirty miles in car riages, and those who had travelled long distances by rail and six or eight mile' by carriage, were necessary, and engaged much time, and there was & great dea of costuming done during the few hour before sunset.
 Company that came from so great distance must, of course, spend tn, night, and there was nothing for tn host to do but to keep up the festivit. from dusk to daylight. There wer , promenades on the lawn under tn Japanese lanterns, dancing, and the usus doings of parties until eleven o'clock , and then there was substantial supper and at one a. n. an auxiliary repast, no quite so hearty, that was sufficient t F insure life until dawn. At daylight tire, men and maidens called up their horse and had their conveysnces made ready , and the exodus began. It was not unt
 after late breakfast that the ladies c
 the house were able to sit quietly dow with the host and discuss the events C
 the previous h. lrs. Then every iter
 was brought to mind, and as probabl n the same process was pursued by th