Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-04-24

Hump fence, thrash ferocious dog G.
Esmoke cigarette, he would inevitably b'
disappointed.
+ With her intimate friends in the seclu
sion and protection of her own home she
may be. and indeed is, free and iDdepend
ent in her habits of life, her recreations
her exercise, her dress and her talk; but
| With strangers and in society she is as con
vsntional as the most exacting could de
sire. How the stories of her eccentric and
sensational style of dress originated it i;
hard to say. Among her own people (whc
are infinitely the gamers thereby she does
| wear very unconventional little crowns oil
her own designing, made according to the
dictates of comfort and ease, as we'll as ex
ceeding felicity of taste, and her long
| tramps over the red clay hills of Albemarle
| are taken in a short, scant corduroy skirt,
with flannel skirt and stout walking boots,
but out in the world she dresses as the rest
of her sisters do who are able to command
| the best that can be get in the way OF dress
maker, boot maker, milliner and tailor.
| Il seems singular that girl who has
beentcoptent to spend all the years of her
| girlhood in the quiet of an isolated country
home should have been SO singled cut for
criticism as to her every act and custom.
| Here is a sample of this criticism. Per
haps some Of those who read this paper
may recall an account of Amelie Rives as
she appeared at an entertainment given for
the benefit of the yellow fever sufferers at a
| New York theatre Very elaborate details
were given as to her costume, even TO de-
scripton of the noddug lilac plumes that
adorned her hat and the eccentric slippers
that deformed her feet. The ensatiopal
manner of her entrance and exit was de-
| scribed, and the story was read with avidity
and copied eagerly. | read it myself, with
some interest, aloud to Mrs. Chanler, and
| We were divided between Indignation and
amusement as we recalled the manner in
which the evening corresponding to the
date the paper gave had really been spent,
We had passed it most innocently together
in her room at Castle Hill, reading, writ
ing and talking by the big wood fire, over
which we popped corn and roasted apples,
az comfortably as though newspapers had
no existence and reporters were not.
FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH REPORTER.
Ameie Rives' first experience with a re-
| porter makes such an amusing story, as
told by herself, that it seems worth relat-
ing here.
1t was when she was on her way to New
port last summer and had stopped one night
| at hotel to break the long Journey 1t
| was thought best that she should permit
| herself to be interviewed once or twice, in
| the hope that she might be able to CONTRA
dict some very offensive and unpleasant
stories which, uncontradicted, might pass
for truth. All this was by way of expert
euce-such as has been profited by since
for the reports of the interviews were so
different from what she really said that
things were worse than ever.
However, with feeling of intense dis
taste she agreed to see the reporter in her
private sitting room, where she was talking
to gentleman who was an old friend Of
her family. Having no brothers and being
accustomed to,the constant companionship
of her sisters and girl friends and the most
companionable of mothers, she felt very
strange in thelbig hotel without woman
to speak to, and this feeling had been so
strong when she first arrived that she re-
lates that when she rang the bell and stood
waiting for it to be answered By boy or
man or the strange looking Irish maid
whom she expected and dreaded and saw
instead the kinky neatpess of an old color
ed wemap's head thrust through -the-sdoor
the welcome familiarity to the sight so de-
lighted her that, to the infinite amazement
of the old woman, shs flew across the room
and gave her d big hug.
A conversation fill of eagerness and ami
NATION on both sides ensued. The woman
proved to be a Virginian and former
slave, and q treaty of mutual friendship
aad confidence was entered into on the
spot. Accordingly when the reporter cali
ed be was not admitted to the room until
its mistress had summoned the old colored
woman, whose name was Virginia Jeffer-
cd hor do RI haI
door, the transom over which was opened
wide so that she might hear and be heard.
She was made to bring a chair and take
her seat.dlrectly under this transom, as .er
own sense of fitness had rebelled against
being actually present at the interview.
Mr.. Chanler brought the reporter in and
introduced him. Mrs. Chanler bowed aud
asked him to sit down, after which, as she
relates, she felt SO frightened and excited
that she could think of nothing except how
she louged for her mother in this strange
scene, Never was woman SO dependent on
the companionship of other women. No
sooner had the reporter accepted her invita-
tion than she surprised the whole party
except Mr.. Chanler, who had been taken
into the secretly calling OUT
"Virginia Jefferson are you there?"
"Yes'm," came the quick response
through the trans.m. Don't you be
skeered. I aim gwine leave yur, honey"
f'Please, don't" was the lmplorng an
swer, aud then Mrs Chanler turned to the
reporter.
sPray, will you be kind enough to tell
me how you knew I was in Washington"
she asked.
81 saw your name on the register. sNIr.
and Mrs. Chsnler' is an entry that could
~
"Really," said Mrs. Chanler, turning to
her husband, 81 think in future we'd do
well to register as Mr. and Mrs. Jones,
Don't you2"
Agonizing expostulatioo on the face of
Mr.. Chanler, confused reproach on the face
of the friend, mortified embarrassment on
the face of the reporter.
"You didn't hear this gentleman's
name." said Mr.. Chanler, coming 10 the
rescue. 81 introduced him as Mr.. Jones'"
s'Oh, please excuse me. [ didn't hear it
at ALL" said Mrs. Chanler, in infinite cou-
fusion, and then added in helpless little
wall, sVirgipia Jefferson, are you there?"
'Right jam up gin do do, honey. Dom
you be skurd," came the prompt reply,
reassured by which she turned once more
to the reporter and made her apologies with
an honest regret that must have atoned
LIFE AT CASTLE HILL.
Nothing is more characteristic of Castle
Hill, nor more picturesque and pleasing to
see, than the relations that exist between
the white people and the servants. A
stranger would be struck By the fact that
every member of the family has the un-
varying habit of telling the servants good
morning, and as there is a host of these
black attendants about the premises, these
AL
place.
The little black housekeeper, trim tidy
woman of forty, is fine specimen of the
best result of the slave system, and to hear
her wish her young mIstrcsses good morning
and inquire how they rested last night is to
cnvet, for many conspicuous woman of
the world, such voice and manner.
The slight young negress who is the
special maid of Amelie Rives, and who is to
accompany her to France, will be sure to
take with her an atmosphere of home which