The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1884-11-19
A SOUTHERN BALL.
One OF the Real Old Fashioned Kind in the
Virginia Mountain District,

One OF the Real Old Fashioned Kind in the
Virginia Mountain District.
1t is not often that the visitor has the op-
portunity to see real old fashioned South.
ern ball, such as he has probably read OF,
says e letter from Washington Springs Va
to the New York Evening Post. In fact,
lady who was born in the South and grew
up after the war told me that she had never
seen ore herself. The opportunity was not
long ago afforded in one of the improved
houses OF which have spoken. The pro.
pIietor bachelor, for whom 8 niece was
keeping house, determined TO invite a hun
dIed or so Of his young friends to such
an entertainment. 1t was on a farm OF
several thousand acres, Boosting fat and
fattening cattle of the first quality, and
possessing an orchard comprising hundreds
of the best variety of apples that could
readily be found anywhere. The former
slaves were in some cases still doing the
work OF the place. The house was situated
about half mile from the pike" and was
OF light gates A small branch" crossed
the fields few reds from the door, aff5rding
the site for the sprIDg house. Behind and
on one side were the numerous struggling
outhoUses, cCTn-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 itch valley
that il dominated. The house was OF two
halves joined at rieht.angles, one being
the original log structure aud the other the
more modern frame building, between which
the gallery furnished the only communica-
ton. III the family slept in The frame half,
it would be necessary to lock up the other
part from the outside, il, indeed, it we're
thought ne cessary to lock it at all. There were
separate stairways in each half, OF co7rse,
and in one was a 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 musically inclined. In the corner OF
the hall stood one of those stout boxes OF
plug tobacco seen only in shops in the North,
and it was not mere ornament, for the host
and his friends required an ample supply Of
the weed to satisfy them. A few book.
selves 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 the old
school presided with apparently autocratic
powers.
This kitchen was the center OF action for
days before the great party was to come off.
Aunty and niece and a young lady friend
whohappened to be at the house were making
cake, preserves and other delicacies. Many
were the trips made by the ladies to the store
down at the other end of the valley, and
probably its capabilities were severely tried,
for there was no railroad within half dozen
miles and no mail oftener than tri-weekly.
Generally the young ladies went on their
side saddles, galloping over the pike and
bringing back their small parcels with them.
At other times they took a buggy, and when
ii was necessary the master Of the houss was
pressed into the work. The dinner service
of such household is never equal to such
an emergency like that now approaching
and the neighbors far and wide were levied
upon for plates, cups, saucers and dishes oil
a m n a
was eventually gathered would have rejoiced