Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1884-01-10
I.a ricstoun, jefferson County, West Va.
january 10, 1854.
The Thursdny Club.

! brilliant Success ~ IaSU HJHdHy 4hsttH'y'
The votaries of Terpsichore had looked
forward to the evening of the 9th ultimo
with delightful anticipations of pleasure, for
had not the decree gone forth from the ofi-
ginators of the gas:ronomic adaptation Of
the cabalistic initials :" R. S. V. p" in Sc
cret meeting whereof they alone know the
workings, that the next social gathering
should be very gala night for the Thurs
day Club and their fortunate friends?
About % o'clock IN. s. the pleasure seek
ers began pouring into the hospitable man
sion Of Major Kearsley, and in short while
the paflor and ball room were thronged
with gay and merry couples, laughing the
moments away in merry, merry Xmas" JOY
in the exuGorance oftheir joyous spirits and
the play of eyes looking into eyes and
softening feelings back again.
The ball room was beautifully decorated
with festoons of cedar interwovcn with holly;
and at the head of the room, large letters
of cedar locked down in Welcome from
above, an open fire place glowing with
the genial warmth of woodfre; while at
the other cal was seen merry XnH'
and a happy New Year
Old Doria, blew MS fcrco3t blasts; the
sleet and snow opposed in vain, AMI the
heavy laden clouds lowered to no purpose
weather was deiel ani the lovers OF g'yety
hastened to the spot.
The evening WAS devoted to the festivities
appropriately Dedicated to Tor?'iehore, and
to do Justice to the subject, W. have called
to orr aid the descriptive talent of fair
member whose opposite observation we W Il
report.
Rarely have so many happy ones met to-
gethet for merry making. There were new
waltzes, new lancers and new polSas, making
the dancing doubly enthusing, and the touch
was so soft and exquisite AMI the time so
regularly expressed in the playing that even
tyros could have glided along unheediny
their own want Of ease, being fascinated By
the musc's spell and the whirlings on the
well-waxed floor.
Some said the waltzes were like dreaming
and SOME. that tire pckas were divine, and
all reioiccd with complctest glee
There was no need for the fancies OF
somnambulist dreaming of the sweet naiads
and gentle nymphs who foster up liic's
sweetest hopes, or of the joys Of Elysium and
the bright scenes Of the Vale Of Tempe
these did not open up like the mirage ofthe
desert. YOU were in the midst Of the reality /:
the charms Of pleasure were every where
and warm hospitality made delight Ger
tainty.
The girls were at their loyeliest, and an
old stager said, in our hearing, it seemed, as
some poet writes, that the bees had shaken
down bright flower blossoms upon their
cheeks. and that some fairy had haloed them
with spring-frshed appIe-growth.
Though the bachelors may not always hear
the welcome slogan, Rally Sweethearts, Vic
tory Portends yet their Epicurean p!open-
sites can ever rest satisfied and expect what
will equally warm their hearts and cheer
their Spirits rich supper rrrioa'ly PrePaT-
cd by the deft fingers Of the lissom fair
The hours flew by winged with pleasure
and the time for departure came all too soon
Thcgifls hurriedly donned their wraps; the
boys their oyercoats, and all moved silent
" away, 10th to leave the scenes of gay de-
light where the Stiffness of bushed music
and the soft melody of gentle girlish laugh
ter wooed them to tarry yet little longer.
"a thing Of beauty is JOY forever" and
the beaaties of that evening will remain to
brighten the spirits Of all the participants
with pleasautest of memories. y