Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-12-06
TWO FTsTTYAL3.

TWO FESTIVALS.
Two annual big days. which occasionally
come in two days running" "a the com
mon phrase is, funnily illustrate how one
has gone down while the other has gone
no. Internationally, November 2jtn, used
to be one of the chief celebration DAYS IN
this city. The entire First Division OF
New York State militia Varaded IN COM
memoration of the much smaller matcn
of the Revolutionary army down the
Bowery, now 108 years AGO, when the
British army, after seven years &C.
cupation Of ,he city, finally evacu-
atel il. Now the day IS so feebly
observed that the celebration IS almost o
farce. And vet the day should be deemed
remarkable as the only dav-unlass we eX-
cept the loss Of the World Falr-in the
history of this city, when II got LETT.
As for Thanksgiving, November 26th. there
is an immense population hero from New
England or Of New England descent, and
they used 10 60 by trainfuls to the old
homestead for their Thanksgiving dinner
with the "old folks at home" But
the odd folks" are here now, and
the most Of them celebrate the day
in the old-fashioned way IN town;
OF course. an immense number stu
90 10 the country-the travel 70
and from town during the week was enor-
generally celebrated and made much more
OF in the city. In fact, Thanksgiving has
come to be close second to Christmas
and New Years as a genuine New YORK
festival. The day used TO be deemed
TOO Yankeen and too countri-
6ed ~ to be tolerated, but some
body has discovered, on the au-
| thofity of New York historian. that the
festival did not originate with the Pun
49,, I,,k mas orfuiuollv irnuOTtal nv and
with the Dutch from Holland.
The fame of the great football game
with Yaes easy victory over Princeton
has gone throughout the land. Why the
came was played here Is easily explained.
| There is good ground to play on and here
can be assembled $4,000 people who are
wiling TO sit or stand in the rain 10 see
| twenty-five boys kick the ball and one
another. The town; too, presents attrac-
| sions which brought here on Thanks
glying-day at least 1000 students from the
| two colleges. Students" indeed Queer
| studies those boys must pursue to de-
| yelop the accomplishments they dis
| PLAYED after the football game
| in the hotels, theatres, streets
and what may be generally summed up
and with sufficient defniteneSs described
AS "other places" There is no use IN
being severe or critical about boys VINO
L
| but their curious ideas of good time "
would be calculated to puzzle Comanehe
or even amaze q gorilla. This city fur,
| nishes a goodly contingent Of students ',
| 10 both Yale aud Princeton, and one would
suppose that the faculties of the two in
stitutlons ould be fearful lest quiet and
| well-to-do fathers in this town might con-
Guide that they would better send their
| sons 10 some other institution. while many
1 4hfpk fhQt thaU nnTll1 hest
not send their sons to college at all.
NO LITERATURE IN OURS.
In one OF the December magazines Q
writer, who is herself an entertaining ,
| woman, prints pleasing paper on : Amerl'
can Entertaining" IN which she deploreS
that our fashionable gatherings decidedly
| differ from those OF London or Paris II
| their total lack of the literary and artistic
elements. This is superfuous sorrow. Our
| -Four Hundred would no more think OF ad
| hitting acknowledged authors, accepted
| artists, and great actors into their coterle
than an assemblage of tomtlts would con.
slider il polite or prudent to invite owls and
| eagles TO q banquet. The tomtlts would be
| invisible. Even the Butler, whose amusing
| satire on society was tolerated because II
| was supposed 10 be serious, has been taken
to task for contributing social soap-sudstO
| one OF the Sunday smotherers. He was
| forced 10 acknowledge that he did not, IN
fact. could not, write this matter and II he
| had SAID that he did not, or could not read
IL, the" smart set - would have really be-
| lieved him. Nothing even approaching
the literary" would be tolerated by the
| -Four Hundred. They derive their princi.
| nal enjoyment. not from their heads, but
| their heels. This is manifest In their
long list of balls and dances published
to the end of February. Besides the
numerous dancing classes, the three
Cotillons at Delmonicos. the two Assem-.
bles, the three Patriarchs Balls-of course
| at Delmonico's-there will be the Annual
| Charity Ball at the Metropolitan Opera.
House. A Cincinnati friend has written e
me for definite information about Chair,
| tyn balls here, 80 that the -Four Hundred
Of the western city can do something Of
the same sort. The most definite" IN
formation that can be given for any city Il
this: Your fashionable people desire 1
grand dance for their own enjoyment anC
display; suppose the subscriptions and re
ceipss are 5000; music. supper, printing
decorations. and all other expenses amount
10 1885; your distribution COMMITTEES
gives Sl5 TO the Janitor's wife and children
and the mission and motive OF the :" CHAR
ty Ball are fulfilled.
THE NEW VANS BALL.
The great ball Of the season, if McAllis
ter can make it so. VIII be the so-calleC
New Years Ball, !" to come of. or cons
on, exactly eighteen days OF nights afte
New-Year's. AS arranged it will be in tn
new Madison-Squara Garden, which
though used as occasion offers as q bil
dog-kennel or gigantic horse-stable. col
be converted into the finest ballroom
ia this country, if not in the world
The Butler is, said to have Sc
cured the needed subscriptions. 70
he IS powerleas 20 give picnic on hi
own little farm without subscriptions.
But he has been forced TO go outside Of tn
select end sacred -Four Hundred, 70
Twelve Hundred will be invited, and tn
friends will make the number full,