Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-08-22
CUPID VS.. HYMEN.
A LOVE LEGEND OF THE WHITE SUI
PHUR SPRINGS.
Why the Water IL sulphur Private E1'
tertainmcnts All the Go The -.dies'
German q Brilliant Affair.
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS,
August 10, 1886.

AuBuss ASs AoOos
To the Editor oft Dispatch:
II Ia said that Cupid WAS once the
presiding genius Of the White Sulphur,
but it is quite certain that Hymen now
reigns supreme. Shall tell you the
reason wby2 Well, here it is Once,
long while ago, there came here q
fond mamma, bringing with her dangh-
ter Of surprising loneliness. So great
was her beauty that she captivsted all
beholders, sand rose, where'er you
turned your eye, the morning star OF
memory" A few days after her arrival
there came q young man from the ex-
IRENE South, with the form Of Apollo
and the confident air Of Achilles. They
met they loved.
A RIVAL.
But as the course Of true love never
yet run smooth, there came 10 this in
stance another individual upon the
tapis, "in shape and gesture proudly
eminent" who gave bis "locsl haoita-
tom as 8" the Interior" He brought
with him all the accomplishments OF
wealth and style. He, too, was victim
to the charms Of this fair northern flower,
and Immediately the careful, loving
mamma commenced to maneuvrefor the
position Of mother-in-law. A msgnif-
cent diamond which he wore helped to
complete the sacrifice. The usual duel
was fought, and the southron fell-not
wounded, however, for the gentleman
from /" the interior" fred IN the air,
but some subtle influence laid him un-
conscious at his enemy's feet.
LOVE PUT TO FLIGHT.
Believing himself forever disgraced
in the eyes of his beloved, and the
world in general, he fed. The heart
broken beauty soon yielded to the en-
treaties Of her mamma, and married the
mysterious stranger. On that day the
spring was so charged with sulphurous
gas as to be undrinkable, and no one
has ever seen or heard Of the bride and
groom from that day to this" Gu
pid, in deep modification, retired, and
Hymen has since been worshipped as
the reigning deity Of the Old White.
Whether this legend is true or not |
cannot prove, but this much can as.
sert: Love-msking goes on the usual
way, and though the gentleman from
the interior has never been seen here,
some days the springs very, very
strong, and sweet young girls turn away
in disgust from its troubled waters.
/ believe in love, and true love too,
at first sight. Where such variety Of
both sexes assemble there must be
many that possess natural aflinities for
each other. Hearts by Heaven desigo-
ed for each other rush together like the
atoms in q chemical mixture as soon as
they are brought into proximity. Why
then should any object to their learning
here the e" old, old story?
PRIVATE ENTERTAINMENTS.
The number of private entertainments
seems to increase instead OF diminish
as heretofore, after the middle of the
month. On Monday night the band
german was brilliant success. Mon
day morning Mrs. Fred. Scott gave a
handsome breakfast to fifteen couples
Several hours were spent in "discuss-
ing" the several courses, to say nothing
Of intellectual discourse inseparable
from such assemblies.
Major Dabney gave reading in the
parlor from his book "Don Mllf, !"
which, | regret to say, was poorly at
tended.
THE IRISH CLUB.
Tuesday morning the " Irish Club "
had its annual reunion and breakfast.
Miss jackson, of New York, was pre-
sented with the bouquet Of honor,
which now graces her table in the
dining-room and covers space one
yard in diameter.
Tuesday night Mr.. Kemp, Of New
York, gave reception and german in
the ballroom, followed by a mssnif-
cent supper in the dining-room, to q
large number of friends, which lasted
from IL until 3. A lady friend told
me the handsomest toilets worn on this
occasion were those of Mrs. Jones and
Mrs. Z. ii. Whitlock.
THE LADIES GERMAN.
On Wednesday a morning german
helped to take the backbone out OF
those who try to see and do all that Is
expected of them at this gay place. At
night the "ladies' german was the
most brilliant event Of the whole sum-
mer. The ladies participating paid 81
for their badges, and used unlimited
paint, powder, and court-plastsr, trans
forming themselves into stately danes
or modest maidens Of the eighteenth
century, and causing the poor mascu-
line heart to palpitate with unexpected
rapidly at their Augmented charms.
We will never again "b4 ugly" to our
- sisters and cousins" and sweetaearts
sbout paint since beholdiug the trans
forming result Of :he ball. No wonder
our grandfathers think they loved hard
er than we do if all the girls looked
like these.
Nothing have ever seen could excel
the beautiful dressing, the grace, and
loneliness of the ladies. Each one in
yited her own escort, and, feeling per
fectly independent Of outside influences,
exerted herself to please and charm, AMI
nowhere in the whole world could an
assemblage of equal size be found So
perior TO this social success.
1t would be impossible to describe all
the elegant dresses that deserve re-
mark-only the most noticeable can be
mentioned. Among these was that OF
Mrs. r. II. Whitlock, light-blue MORE,
almost entirely covered with diapha-
nous velvet, striped tulle, looped with
red flowers; diamonds. Miss Coop
CT in black lace and diamonds
Miss Scott, in pink silk and tulle; Miss
Peasants, in black embroidered tulle
and silk Mrs. Woodsrd, in white silk
and null Mrs. Jones, in Paris dress
elegant TO look at, but impossible to
say what; Miss Ford, in exceedingly
beautiful white silk train Miss Baron,
in white velvet and brocade; Miss Lee,
in white lace and satin, and many