The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-04-16
The GOOD OLD TIMES.
LAST NIGHTS QUAINT AND DE-
LIGHGFUL ENTERTAINMENT.
Sweet Memories Of Aud Lang Syne
Reviyed-The Affair Grand
Success.

at the Bethel Building last night un-
der the auspices and for the benefit OF
the Women's Christian Association,
it is no longer a matter of wonder that
our grandpas and granddames are
contrasting the goodness
of the days when they were young
with the present At s o'clock
the wide pavement in front was
crowded with fashionable equip.
ages, and from their cushioned
seats, from the less comfortable street
cars, and from the pavements, a
solid stream of people poured in at
the doors Of the building, which was
brilliantly lighted from pit to dome.
The style of its architecture aud the
glare of the gas jets were the only
things of modern type about the
building, except in some cases where
the men wore the conventional panta-
looms and open-behind shirts OF to-
day, few of the ladies appearing in
modern dress. The first figure upon
which the eve rested upon entering
carried the mind back half a century
or more-an usher in knee breeches,
black silk stockings, buckled shoes,
Prince Albert coat, with white
lace cuffs, a gorgeously ruiiied
shirt front, powdered wig and rib
boned queue. With the grace of a
courtier he bowed the guests in, the
older ladies and gentlemen passing
into the reception room on the right,
the remainder upstairs into the main
apartment. At 9 o'clock the crowd
was at its greatest, and there was not
an inch of space to spare. Yet go per
feet were the arrangements, and so
admirably did the various committees
perform their duties, that everything
ran as merrily as a marriage bell.
The scene was positively bewildering,
and there were few husbands or
sweethearts who did not wish the
modern Dame Fashion dethroned as
they looked upon the bright faces
which smiled from Martha Washing.
ton caps, beamed from the depths OF
scoop bonnets or looked Cheerful ly
out of the little starched linen head
dresses which took the places
of the mansard-roof hats
and the four story bonnets
which their wives, daughters and Sis
tiers now consider themselves obliged
to wear and which they are making
such great preparations to bring ont
in new gorgeousness at church on
Easter morn. In many instances I'M
usual taste was displayed, and the
tongue of many sappy dude chung
to the roof of his mouth, and the silly
clatter which he seeksto impress upon
! his sweetheart as wit and wisdom
10 ed down ceased to flow as he found
himself facing his young lady friends,
Younger and fresher than he had ever
before beheld them in the simple,
eweet garb of his grandmother in the
picture on the parlor we'll at home.
And it was not in dress alone that ye
olden tyne was suggested. All OF the
surroundings were in harmony with
the happy idea-au idea the happies'
ever conceived by the ladies OF Mem
phis, fertile though they have been il
conceiving novel and Attractive enter
tainments.
On table in The reception room lay
a register, in which some twenty-five
of the oldest present had inscribed
their names in trembling and uncer
tain hand. The following names
were copied from the book:
Miss Mary Ballard, born in South
Carolina in 1919.
John H. Priddy, BORN in Hanove
county, Va, 1911.
Mrs. g. Jewell, born in Louisiana il
1914
Mre. L. D. Watts, born in Living
ston county, KY in 1912
Mrs. @. Willis, born at Philadelphia
April, 1907.
Mre. E. L. Wright, born 1916.
F. NJ. White, born in Jones county
Ga, December, 1910.
Mrs. @. G. White, born in Augustl
Ga, 1921.
Harriet Forsdick, born at Hadlegh
Suffolk county, England, in 1910.
MIS-. F. A. Schoolfeld, born 1909.
Mrs. @. Kreighton, born in Irelan
iu 1904.
S,ml. Watson, born in Maryland i
1912.
Mrs. M. L. Anderson, born in Vii
ginia in 1915.
Mrs. II. B. Theobold, born 1889, tn
Oldest person present.
Mrs. Elizabeth Wood, born in Is
OH. Courtney, born in Louisian
in 1911.
Mrs. ]. B. Taylor, born in Missii
sippi in 1907.
Mrs. j. B. Kirkland, born in Mar
chester, Va, in 1914.
Mrs. j, @. Bailey, Memphis.
Eli Rayuer, born in BERTHE county
N. O., in 1915.
]. T. Trezavant, born in Sussex cour
ty, Va, 1914.
Mrs. E. L. Trezsvant, born in LeeI
| burg, Va, in 1921.
) There were about thirty other
aged between sixty and eighty, VII
! did not register.
Supper was announced at 8 o'cloc
: 5y the blowing OF a horn, and the oil
3 people, about fifty in number, 81
down to the table, and aft or a blessin
had been asked by the Rev. sam
Watson enjoyed a feast consisting {
liehtened cornbread and printed bu
ter. ginger bread, pumpkin and app
pies, old-fashioned fruit cake, homin,
: black coffee and other good, who'll
Q some dishes.
= When they had finished the tab
was spread with the new tanglt
dainties of to-day, and any who d
sirad were privileged to enter and
waited about by damsels in quail
lowered dresses, three-cornered nee
erchieis and odd head dresses. Nor
OF the old chinsware sent in VI
used on the table for fear it would
broken, but number OF candles
old.fashioned candlesticks were placl
in the center of the table, shield'
from the draft by enormous han
painted globes.
Another door on the fret flo;
opened into the "Snging Skew
room, where Mr.. F. y. Anderson,
an enormous powdered wig, kne
breeches, a ruffled shirt and Pin
Albert coat, presided as master, bel
assisted by Mrs. Gilbert Raine. ~
pitch was given with a tuning 10
and a number of songs, which wo
tender memories in the hearts Of t