Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-08-09
LETTER FROM ROCK ENON
SPRINGS.
Masquerade, Tableaux and birthday
Surprise.
Correspondence of THE EVENING STAR.

Correspondence of THE EVENING STAR
ROCK ENON, VA, August 5, 1854.
You know l came here for rest and health
primarily, but with firm though concealed deter.
mination to work up many arrears Of writing
for onelong- deferred debt after another Well. the
rest and health have found in generous. IN
stlnted measure. But how to set deliberately
to cork in the fair face of this charming holiday.
1t is more than ought to be expected from
human nature to do or the spirit of innocent
recreation to bear. So again Mss and proof-
sheets must be consigned to the much-containing
Notwithstanding trunk and the long hours al
labor exchanged for the flying moments of
pleasure We are all seated quietly for a chat
after breakfast, when there comes a rumor of
''chldren's masquerade this evening" whispered
about. "Will you get Us all the things YOU
cam! 80 bundles OF shawls, draperies. &c. are
Overhauled, and all available material collected.
Nothing more is heard till after tea when we
are invited to the fine spacious music hall and
ball room, and On the pretty little
stage one band takes up position, and
a procession of tiny masqued figures
with good vanguard of full grown fancy dress
and well disguised aiders and promoters follow
ing. 1t is pretty enough to appear on any ball
room floor. and is wonderful as being the work
OF children and very young ladies and gentle
men, organized aid completed in q day.
Again. we hear there are tableauX in prepara-
ton. All quiet till the hour arrives The room
fills as If by attractions OF 0dc or Edison force.
the curtain rises, "scene from a gpsey
camp" is set, good in color, grouping and pos
ture, as If arranged and sustained by far more
experienced and practiced posers-s'posies,
had nearly said for the bright little faces. de-
mure and eager little living pictures, were like
flowers released from their silence and stiffness
and endowed with life. This is followed by
about dozen Others equally good. A whisper
ing well and Mary Anderson as Galatea draped
def hands Nv
This evening | feel as if | could not sleep
(what sleep can blessedly count on cool and
ba!my. sound and strengthening until | have
told you of the last surprise of Rock Enon The
chiidren's hour OF dancing was past and a quiet
hint went round the ballr room and parlor: Miss
+. RS birthday-a little fete i'm the pa
vilion. Come out; the moonlight is lovely. -
Yes, indeed; lovely enough to make fete Of
itself with the tall, graceful trees quvering and
showing their tremulous sheen on every leaf;
the great rocks, all softened in the mysterious
half obscurity; the clouds grey and white and
silver. piled in unnumbered forms of castled
tower and magic symbol, each group more love-
ly than the other. But the pavilion is like a bit of
Aladdin's underground garden. Colored lanterns
hang twirling and reeling and cutting up most
ChtneSqae and Japanesque figures and capers
and dancing measure quite on their own ac-
count-three or four sets of dancers were busy
set and kept going by the grand abettors and
alders OF the delightful frolicS-Mr. p. and Mr.
X. The young and charming recipient of the
compliment was quite unexpectant and unsus-
picious of it till she was placed at the head of
the quadrille and saluted with brilliant sayo
of really admirable fireworks. Imagine the
effects made by the fairylike stars and rockets,
bursts of colored lights and showers OF spark
ling, vanishing jewels amid the bending arches
of those graceful trees and against the back
ground of rOHks-there is merry travesty of
birthday cakes and candles" (sand cake for the
grand piece. but followed by really cake and
honest lemonade. Well. the crickets are busy
now over the crumbs. and the grasshoppers are
tOasting their fair favorites in stray drops of
lemon dew, and rest and peace hush all the in
mates of this green sequestered Eden. So good
night. ID.