The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-01-30


The curtain of the present has fallen upon
the majestic drama. and the colonial days
aud the Colonial Assembly, are alike behind
the scenes Of the past.
Though the one counts its hoary age
7,,vond ID century and the other but half Of "a
single night, yet each now comes under the
one head. Of back numbers ofthe periodicals
Of orr existence.
The pages Of the older volume OF our
Commonwealth history are illumined with
ino recorded deeds Of brave and gallant
,fatesmen and of the inspiration Of such
heroic actions. in fair and noble
women. while the pages Of the other
leaves 30 recently turned back
as 10 be vet luiteriug, in crisp disobedience'
10th tO leave the gaze Of intense interest 50
long bent upon them. they have only dared
fo bear the illustrative portraits and pic
gurcs of the recorded deeds and people.
such rich and radiant pictures they were,
though. that filled that one thin VOLUME that
is bound ia the simple words "last night
and closed with a golden clasp OF success
GREAT EXPECTATIONS.
Through many weeks heavy prepare
fions. plans. work. schemes gossip, tumults
and riimors spread out over vast compass
relative 10 the Colonial Assembly. Ia the
-uace Of five hours the intensity of them an
Ii far,ontly concentrated 20 a focus, with
l.yerish excitement 10 throbs with the
violent emotions Of perfect life. The cold,
cleaning blade of daylight stabs the iugi-
live night. and all is over.
THE Colonial Assembly is dead and gone,
us pale corpse is CHASTITY 20 look upon
bruised and ira0meniary, for It's spirit Is
ned. Alas, for the instability OF an Things
But the glorious consolation OF these are
lamentations is that the great purpose OF
fh. event has been grandly achieved. ana
fho five hours festival Of ancestral
romp has heaped with plethoric piles
1ho Golfer. of the Association for the
Preservation of Virginia Antiquities
and already the air castle that lifted H.
h,naful mrrcts upon the history hallOwed
ground of Williamsburg, the ancient capt.
fol. has taken the more material shape OF q
i.ncly constructed hall for the preservation
nf our valued relics.
Even ma the battlefield is first spied out
ere the fight begins, so must we turn our
gaze foremost TO this great scene Of social
action
NOW COME TO PASS.
As has been announced first upon parch-
mont with the scragly characters OF the
flme rcyercd goose quill pen ana then q
,ouifipiicitv of times since by the press, The
@'lrnial Assembly was "an honor 20 be-
rendered His ENccllcncy, the Governor OF
Nirsiuia. Phillip Watkins Mckinney ana
f.dV at the Theatre, in Richmond town, ON
fhe nine and twentieth day of the nfel
month of the year of our Lord, eighteen
hundred and ninety, at nine OF the CLOCK
past meridian
Xerfablv has an Of this come 20 pass. and
now the only reNelry is that OF memory.
INVITATIONS TO ENrER
ey,e entrance doors leading into the
,oii', revealed that usual sanctum of loung.
i,. theatre attaches. in the Respondent
.,sfb of she most artistic and elegant re-
.,ertiou room. lts floor was soited viii
INT fawny fur rugs. luxurious diNans ana
.,,ar chairs under the shadows OF tan, Oend-
800, rlanfs: lamps cleaned with every
hr.l,t hue Of the prism, and
dr,ne,jes hung in effective places.
Al tne foot Of the broad stairs two tall
lamp. surrounded by palms made gate
way Of brilliant beauty. Al the mead Oh inc
stairs. in the upper lobby. was ladies'
cloak room. so IN Tue ihpioNlseo IScel'-
tiou-room below. this the various cloak
.n,e1,s empty their sparkling contents, that
were not unsuggestiye Of new wine IN ola
hotfies. where they might all clash ana
eiint IN merry mood over their Assumption
III rraud-damos and atectation Of noble
.ifae. Hence they hied them 20 the limiiless
Grandeur of the ballroom.
ADAzzLING SPECTACLE.
As the dazzling eorgeousncss Of the spec
iacle first burst upon the vision. All OF It's
GLORY of costume, character, manner group
Tho snrroundinc. aud al, might mud eN-
,,rrssiye and adequate description IN the one
..,,nmon.place. eigculatOry exclamation:
r,.af.grandlathers.ii IL was con-
n,sed tanglc of high powdered ceifufes'
,,.fteau trains. satin knickerbockefs,
matches and rouge. yandyke collars, suui-
toxf.. quilted satin pefilc0ais, diamond
lneeiuckles. embroidered waisicOats, jew
oiled tiaras. plush coats, miniature pOf-
fraits. watch iobs. carved fans, and ribbon
fios queues. All q such ancient lineage that
methlnks IL we 80 aided with such reckless
generosity OF years 10 oeg own as well as
onr rollcs ages. that Methuseia3 would be
the ancestor ior us 10 personate correctly.
ArANclr OF rAHArHEnNALIA.
However. This tangle OF paFaphernalia
must le discntangled, for IL IL but due The
association the preservation u Virginia
nroprietios that the too ambiguous clauses
&c aualyzed. ~ Chat the rOssessise case Of
certain ancestral apparel may agree with
both person and gender
lfthis royal scene portrayed the rosy in
FAINT colony IN Is swaddsing clothes, then
truly must IL have been "born In the pur-
plc. . for richer fabrics, rarer laces or more
r-ssplendent jewels could mol have appar-
ci.cd pFincesses-Or crowned kings. over
onv social dominion there reigns Mother
,,rineasscs or kings OF coin, however, 80 q
.ac,,tnt which man abhOrs more than does
nature. will nost likely prove appropriate
he empty aiyiDcss Of many pocket. But
nat death 10 Ike would have ensued wiih
he opening Of 0I veins, ~ does deaiii 10
money With fAe opening Cs9urses, doubtless
NJ. ~. ,,cbes Of many OF Ous arislOcrats