Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-08-26
THE ROCK. ALUM.
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UorrtsponGcnct OF TIC Richmond Dfspatchi
RooKnRIpor ALuM SrRIsos,
August "a 1855
Judging by the chilly weather we arc
having one would think the "melsn-
choly days" had come, bot Judging by
The prevailing festivities they seem q
century Oh. Our season is now at its
height and the young people are taxing
their powers 10 tue utmost to keep up
with the round Of gayeties which every
where prevail. Last Tuesday night we
had q tremendous fancy-dress bail, and
Che beauty and Diversity OF costume was
dazzling in the extreme. When the
waltz began and the large ballroom be-
came filed with lght-hearted couples.
the scene was a strange and beautiful
one. Ny descriptive power could hard
ly do justice 10 the affair taken rs .
whole therefore viii select fewfof
The more beautiful kdies and undertake
10 describe them individually:
Miss Bessie Pace, OF Richmond, In
pink with silver ornaments, fully realized
our idea of a Grecian Maiden. and COM
bined modern beauty with classical
grace.
Miss Carrie Elicit, OF Richmond,
looked charming as Flower Girl. She
was exquisiiely arrayed in cream lace,
ornamented with flowers.
Miss 4ahm, OF Richmond, in jaunty
costume OF pink and white, beautifully
represented Patience, the village milk
maid.
Miss Mary Simons, of Richmond,
chsrmingly sustained the character OF a
bohemian DancingGirl both by her
beauty and her grace.
The Misses Reynolds, OF Baltimore,
and Miss Rosa Britain, of Texas, as the
"Three Little Maids from School, won
all hearts.
Miss Sue Hickson, OF Danville. was
o,Iite pretty as a German Peasantess.
Miss Graham, OF Lexington, made o
charming Nun. e
Miss Bessie Gammell, of Charleston,
s. c., was even more beautiful than ever
as an Aesthetic Maiden.
Miss Bruce, of Halifax county, looked
bewItching in white muslin, aesthetic
dress
Miss Sue Miller. of IT. Louis. in pink
satin with diamond ornaments, made an
exquisite Aurora.
Among the married ladies Mrs. W. j.
johnson, OF Richmond, in white silk,
with diamond ornaments, looked ex-
tremely handsome also, Mrs. John Is.
Levy, of Louisa. arrayed in lovely cos
tuuie of black lace, with diamond orne-
ments. Mrs Joseph Ruffnsr, OF
Charleston, W. Va, in New York cos
tune of mahogany Henrietta, created
universal admiration. The gentlemen
should also be given great credit for
their costumes. but. ss they were mostly
of the comic nature, am afraid L viii
fall "from the sublime to the ridicu-
lous." Mr.. IL. f. Knabe, of Mont
gomery, Ala, made special hit as
Rock-Alum Tough"
We had comic drama at our theatre
last night, and everything turned out re-
markably well In my judgment 1t far
surpassed a good many of our profes-
sional affairs, both in good acting and In
the plot We had no dark and "heayy
villain TO keep us agitated, but only
some very touching little love scenes,
sweetened by al occasional stage
kiss. The name of this little drama
was ga Scrap of Paper" which
scrap WAS of course a biLet-dOuT. 1t
underwent some very narrow escapes
by the elements, but was finally rescued,
TO the satisfaction of all the parties par
ticipating. Mr.. Ernest III. Stires, OF
Norfolk, as Prosper Coursnt deserved
great praise for his splendid acting, also
for his graceful and experienced manner
of love-making. Miss Sadie V. Hail. OF
New York, as Mile Susanna de Rusevllle
was undoubtedly the star of the occasion
and created universal admiration both by
her acting and beauty. Miss Bessie Pace,
OF Richmond, sustained the difficult
character of Mile. Zenobis in q mastery
manner and was repeatedly encored.
Mr.. Elridge Hatcher, Of Richmond, as
Brisemonche, and MIR. II. r Kane, OF
Bristol, Tenn, as Baron de la Glaciere,
were faultless, and both showed COM
plete command OF the science OF elocu-
tion as well as acting.
/ have frequently made mention OF the
bellies Of this place, and will hardly feel
that have done exactly right until | also
mention our most popular beaus. Mr..
Dean Maury. Mr.. Howard Cottrell. Mr..
James Valentine, Mr.. Frank Rahm. Mr..
Henry Smith, Mr. Allen Sch@n, Mr.. j.
G. Shafer, Jr.. and Mr.. f. Hatcher, OF
Richmond, are forever basking in the
sunshine OF female smiles, which are
layishly heaped upon them. Mr.. Ernest
Stires, of Norfolk ; . Mr.. William Ora
ham, Of Lexington, Va. Mr.. John Ma
thews, of Louisville, Ky. Mr.. r. r.
Kane, Bristol Tenn, and Mr.. William
Baker, of Jacksonville, Fla, are also
noted for their popularity with the ladies,
and consequently for their participation
in many g9aires de c@ur. l.. @.