National Republican., 1885-09-05

changed circumstanccs-for instance, the
immediate presence of Gordon Of the en-
cmy below and around the city-and they
were certainly not for the better as far as
the quletude and proper policing ol the
city was concerned Richmond, IN the win
ter of 1864 and 'G5, was not nice place TO
be In for an unarmed man, or even n single
armed man, on any Of its back streets.
But to come back To the time before the
decentralization which occurred at last,
there are some points to he noted. The
churches were always well attended, and
even while battles were raging around the
devoted city there were many social gath
crings, and may say that here, as at the
few balls and public sOciabes which took
place, there was an entire absence Of any
thing like display. No lady wore iewelry
Of any kind at these social gatherings,
for II was supposed that all had
sent their jewels to the confederate
treasury to help out the cause. The COS.
tunes were either calico or homcspun, made
up prettily with all the taste and dcftness Of
female fingers, or dresses that had evidently
been made over again that had done good
service In the days gone by, when times were
better. Any lady should have attended
q social gathering In new and fashionable
costume would have been Immediately ostra-
cized as one who allowed the suffering
troops to want at the expense of her own
vanity.
A SINGULAR SPECTACLE.
recollcct attended Us q spectator hop
given at the Ballard House In the latter part
of 1864, and was amused at the reverse Of
ideas, when saw the plainly dressed girls
| (none the less pretty for that, however)
wheeling In the mazes Of the dance with
young fellows who were resplendent In gold
| lace and braid, and who, Just from the dirt
D nd frfin Of ha MT hn1 t.nt mn
their best "bib and tuckern to do honor to
the occasion. God bless those girls They
were as good as refined gold, as far as self
sacrifice and sympathy with the men In the
! field were concerned, and | believe In oil
the other relations Of life.
There was an amusing story, as true as II
was pathetic that number Of girls In an
Alabama town Il now forget the name Of 1t;
| wish didn't who formed themselves into
Il society, and, as they had no gold jewels,
they determined to cut of their luXuriant
locks aud send them to Richmond to he
sold for the benefit OF the cause. The sec.
retary of the cabinet, to whom they were
consigned by express, could scarce believe
his eyes when the box was opened before
him, and at first he was amused, but, think
ing further, he said, 'Could patriotism &C
further? These girls have sacrificed 4
woman's crownng glory. 1t Is more thar
tnC gnu VI JtMtlp llul INV Nv iuiC Nv wv
treasury vaults. II Is an abncgatun NJ
self, of which | did not believe wOma,
capable" Turning to his secretary hC
told him to prepare letter to each OF Tho
blonde, the black, and the auburn haired
patriots, and to send them back her cacl
and every lock Of hair with a special gov
ernment tag attached to it-shownl
that the confederate government did no
wish to make trade in the hair of its fair
est maidens. The girls all got their hal
back, with a special tag and note iron
President Davis, and have no doubt the,
cherish these mementoes still.
A BONANZA FOR GAMBLERS.
Richmond was filed with faro banks, tn
largest of which was Montciro's, and dives
but the provost marshal made no effort Il
suppress them because these sporting mc
contributed heavily Of their winnings to tn
welfare of the cause, and, after all, TIL
sooner they skinned an officer or soldier tn
sooner he would return to his command
You see there was solid sense IN this on tll
part of the authorities, for gambling Is a
army failing that all the power Of
commanding general cannot suppress.
believe 1t is utterly impossible to supprcs
gambling In any army. After the cXcitemcl
of n campaign and battles and the troop
are relegated to camp life, they get mood
and despondent, and In state fit for m;
tiny, unless they are allowed some sort {
excitement, and gambling Is a sort of safet
valve, for, after all they have but little
lose, and u don't hurt them.
THOMAS j. MURRAY.