Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-01-12

Description os One Of she Real ola.
Faah1omes kand.

- 1@N&a &4AA ~ 1&E HAS WF0UAUAX
read of, says a letter from Virginia 10
the New York Erening Post In fact,
lady who was born in the South. and
grew mp after the war, told me she had
never seen one herself. The opportunity
WAS not long ago afforded in one Of the
improved houses Of which hare spoken.
The proprietor, a bachelor, for whom a
niece was keeping house, determined to
invite hundred or 40 Of his Young
friends TO such an entertainment. Il
was on farm of several thousand acres.
Boosting fat and fatteniHg cattle of the
finest quality, and possessing an orchard
comprising hundreds Of the best varie-
ties of apples that couldreadily be found
anywhere. The former slaves were in
some cases still doirg the work of the
places. The house was situated about a
half mile from the pike" and was APP
preached by lane guarded By number
OF light gates. Al small branch
crossed the fields few rods from the door,
aifording the site for the spring house.
Behind and on one side were the numer-
GUS Struggling outh6ases, corncribs and
slaves quarters Of -belium 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 structure, and the other
the more modern frame building. be-
tween which the gallery furnished the
only communication. If the family slept
IN the frame half, it would be necessary
To lock up the other part FROM the out
side, II, indeed it were thought necessary
to lock it at ALL There were separate
ttairways in each hale, of course, and in
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 them
selves when musicaily 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 q
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 ad joining was the kitchen,
over which an ''aunty' of the old school
presided with apparently autocratic
powers.
The kitchen was the center of action
for days before the great party was to
come off. Aunty and niece and young
lady friend who happened to be at the
house were making cake, preserves and
other delicacies. Many we're 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 rail
road 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 it was necessary the master of
the house was pressed into the work.
The dinner service of such household
is never equal to an emergency like that
now approaching, and Che neighbors far
and wide were levied upon for plates,
cups, saucers and dishes of all sorts.
The miscellaneous collection that was
eventually gathered would have reioiced
the heart of q person struck by the mania
for old china, but here it excited no in
terest.
Finally the great day arrived. All the
forenoon the activity of preparation
grew in intensity. There was the ice
cream o be frozen and there were hosts
of other last things to lie DONE When
these had ell received attention there
was only time for the young ladies to
scurrls TO their rooms md make their
toilet. Scarcely had the last bow been
tied and the last curl arranged when the
chatter of hoofs told of; the approach of
guest. From that mDment there was
continued succession of!arrivals. All the
black servants that could be obtained
were needed to ensure the proper care of
horses and vehicles. These were of all
sorts and kinds. Even coaches and
omnibuses were pressed into service. OF
course dressing rooms for those who came
from as far as thirty miles in carriages,
and for those who had travelled long
distances by rail and six or eight miles
by carriage, were necessary, and engaged
much time, and there was great deal
Of costuming done during the few hours
before sunset.
Company that came from so great q
distance must, of course, spend the
night, and there was nothing for the host
to do but to keep up the festivity from
dusk to daylight. T1ere were prone
nadcs on the lawn under the Japanese
lanterns, dancing, and the usual doings
OF parties until IL o'clock, and then there
was substantial supper, and at 4. n.
an auxiliary repast. not quite so hearty,
that was sufficient to ensure life until
dawn. At daylight tired men and maid