Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1884-12-21
A SOUTHERN 6ALL.
Description of One OF tho Zeal oio-f@sh
toned Kind, as Seen in the Virginia Noun
tain District.

toned Kind, as Seen in the virginia Noun
tain District.
Yueinia Liter IN Ner York Po'!.
II is not often that the visitor has the op-
portunity to see q real old-fashloned South.
ern ball, such as he has probably read OF.
In fact, lady who was born in the South,
and grew up after the war, told me she had
never seen one herself. The opportunity
was not long ago afforded in one Of the i'm
proved houses Of which have spoken. The
proprietor, a bachelor, for whom a niece was
keeping house, determined to invite hun
dred or so of his young friends to such an
entertainment. 1t wss on farm OF several
thousand acres, Boosting fat and fstten!ns
cattle Of the finest quality, and possessing
an orchard comprising hundred Is OF the best
varieties of apples that could readily be
found anywhere. The former slaves were
in some cases still doing the work OF the
piece. The house was situated about a
half mile from the pike and was ap..
nroached by a lane guarded by number Of
light gates. A small branch crossed
the field few yards from the door, afcrd,
ing the site for the spring house. Behind
and on che side were the numerous strag,
Cling outhCuses. cOrn-cri5s, aud slaves
quarters Of anti-5ellum days, and large
trees shaded the house, making the gallery
An agreeable place from which 10 look over
tie rich valley that it dominated. The
house was of two halves Joined at right
angles, one being the original log structure
and the other the more modern frame build,
ing, between which the gallery furnished
the only communication. II the family
slept in the frame halt, it would be neces'
sary to lock up the other part from the out
side, if, indeed it were thought necessary to
lock it at all. There were separate starr
WAYS in each half, Of course, 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 musical:
" inclined. In the corner OF the hall stood
one oil those stout boxes OF plug tobacco
seen only in shops in the North, and 1t WAS
not mere ornament, for the host and his
friends required an ample supply OF the
weed to satisfy them A few bookstores
add, d 10 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 "auuty OF the Old
school presided with apparently autccrau!
powers. :
Tie kitchen wss the centre Of action 70:
DAYS Ltiore the grea, party was to come Oil;
Auuty and niece and young lady iF.eni
WHO happened to be at the house were max
ing caEe, preserves and other de.1rac, 3
MANY we're the trips made by the late' =
lie .icre down at the other end Of tie W
lev, ard probably lis caPC@.hLcs We
severely tricd, for there WAS no ra!-ya.
within laIf dozen miles AID D. ~
onencr than 'ri-weehly. Generally =.
Young ladies went on tho. -.ia--s1 n
rsloping 0 the pike AID Lr.1r.1E ss-1
their small parcels With tl-~ Z. g.,H
times they took a buggy, aud rhen >, VA
necessary the master Of tEe bose va
messed into the work. The d.aaer service
| Of such q household is never e4ua. 70 So
emergency like that now approaching, and
the rcighbors far and wide were levied upon
for plaits, cups, saucers and dishes Of al
| SORTS Tie miscellaneous collection that
mls eventually gathered void have
| rcjOiced Il hear: OF person '.~"'H ny The
MANN IGE biu Satnai Wv Ht'C - N>''' ~
| interest ~
Finally the great dsy arrived. Al! the
iorru"ou the activity Of preparation gr'' IL
intensity. There was tie ice cream 10 %
frozen and there we hosts Of other las
| lhipps 10 be done Eu"n ,hc,. hal Al! re-
ccivcd attention there ~, only time to7 The
Young ladies to sorry % their rooms An.
| make their toilet. sea scgly had the las
| how L.cn tied and the lE,t curl arrange
when tie clstler of hoo.s told o! the ap
proach Of a guest From ;hat U:pren
Thor. wsa- o,-o"ptirnnd, sVg,"rSl3p Of *
he Obtained wc.c needed t, ensi~c III
the proper care Of The horses and r.hicles
| Thee were Of MI sOrta and kinds l,yo,
cCncErs and onnibuses were pressed I'M.
service. OF course dressing rooms for thoS
WHO came from rs far as tnirty miles il
carriages, and for those who had travelled
long distances by rail and six or eigh
| miles Ivy carriage were necessary, and en-
| gegCd much tine, and there Was grrat
deal q c0Stumiug done during he few
hours before sunsc.
Company that came from so great dis
tsuce mus, Of course, spend the night. and
thcre Was nothing for the host to do bat to
keep mp III" tes,iyity from dusk to daylight
here wOs promenades on the lawn under
the JarSnese lanterns, dancing and the
usual doings ofparlies until II o'clock. and
tEen there Yves substantial supper, and al
! o. M. an auxiliary repast, not quite 50
hearty, that was sufficient to ensure life un,
Ill dawn. At daylight tired men and
msidens called up their horses and had
their Conyeyances made ready, and the
exodus began. twas not until after late
breakfast that the ladies' of the house were
able to sit quietly down with host and dis.
cUSs the events OF he previous hours. Then
every item wGs brought TO mind, and a.
prOiahl TIE same process was pursued BY
ihc OF! yrs. the party Of Smith Valley wai
proItk thoroughly ovcrAsuled before night
spsiu draw It's curtains over the Vi-sinia
mouLtr,r5 There was no caterer to take
lie t..rca nFRr. and the amount Of dish.
- t.rc ard o;hcr work done in that line
~ Il, 'unseholi staff can be imagined bet
'rr 'iam il can be described The party
tHs t',r Nucc been a theme for cOnversa
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