Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-02-04
The Grand Association Ball in Richmond.
SIR ROGER DE covERLY DANCE.

he Grand Association Ball in Richmond.
STR ROGER DE CovERLY DANCE.
We publish some extracts + ON the ac-
count of the grand ball in Richmond from
he special dispatch to the Baltimore Sum-
The ball given Friday night at the Rich.
nond Theatre, under the management and
or the benefit of the Association for the
Preservation of Virginia Antiquities. was
he most brilliant, as we'll as the most sue
,essful social event that has taken place in +
Virginia for some time. The feature of
the ball was, of course, the Sir Roger de
Coverly dance, in which sixteen couples, at
tired in the rich costumes, of colonial days, |
took part. 1t was past the hour named in |
the programme when the curtain rose upon |
this scene.
Mrs. w. L. Royal, attended by MIR. Boil |
ing, the leaders of this dance, were typical
leaders of past and illustrious age. The
appearance of the mngni6cently costumed
set was received with applause by the large
and fashionable audience. One of the most
conspicuous figures on the floor during the
reception was Gen. Jubal A. Early. His
Characteristic dress of Confederate gray was
particularly remarked. In the midst OF the
large gathering of gentlemen in the conven-
tional evening dress the old general was
quickly surrounded by group of the lead
ing men present.
OPENING OF THE BALL.
The ball opened at $50 o'clock, the cur
tain rising on picture formed by the ladies
of the reception committee and their at.
tendants in groups. In the central group
stood Governor and Mrs. Mckinney, Mrs.
John p. Branch, chairman of the reception
committee, and the gentlemen who intro
duced the assembled company. These were
Mr.. P. d. Mayo, Mr.. John Kerr Branch,
DR.. James B. McCaw. Mr.. Edward Valen-
tine, the sculptor, Mr.. Beverly Munford
and Mr.. j. Aston Cabell. The following
ladies composed the reception committee
Mrs. P. Branch, Mrs. Mckinney, Mrs.
Joseph R. Anderson, Mrs. Archer Ander-
con, Mrs. NJ. A. Branch, Mrs. A. 8. Buford,
Mrs. John Z. Connally, Mrs. James 81.
Dooley, Mrs. Alfred T. Harris, Mrs. Edwin
L. Hobson, Mrs. Fitzhugh Lee, Mrs P. 81.
Mayo, Mrs. Hunter Mcclure, Mrs. r. c.
Morton, Mrs. Benjamin H. Nash, Mrs.
James B. Pace, Mrs. R. B. Pegram, Mrs.
George Ross, Mrs. E. A.. Saunders, Mrs.
Frederic Scott, Mrs. Grey Skipwith. Mrs.
Charles Talbot and Mrs. Randolph Tatum.
A PICTURE OF THE LONG AGO.
The reception lasted for an hour, and at
1890 the floor managers stretched the rib
bons and cleared the floor for Sir Roger de
Coverly. The dance was dream-like pic
ture of the long ago, correct in every de-
tail. Pictures of the costumes and exact
directions for the dance we're obtained di-
rect from England, and the picturesque eff
feet of the beautiful costumes and graceful
dancing was the subject of enthusiastic
comment. A stately polonaise was danced
as an introduction to Sir Roger, for which
special music was written. Sir Roger was
danced to the old familiar strains of "Husb,
"Dauce the Boatmap," "Dixie," and
"Pop Goes the Weasel" old airs familiar
to all old Virginians and Southerners gen.
orally. The most amusing and quaint
features of the dance were the banjo play
ers, fddlers and the man to call out figures,
all of whom, dressed in costumes of eye
olden "Time," were stationed in front of
the platform from which the reception COM
mittee witnessed the dance. The dancing
OF Sir Roger de Coverly fairly brought
down the house and several encores had to
be responded to. Perhaps it was the old
fashioned dance or maybe the inspiring
music, but something seemed to bring back
''tbe light of other days." and the old
people in the house found it hard to get
enough of the "Balance' and "Dos Dos'
and so forth, and called for q repetition
again and again. During the dance col
ored lights were thrown upon the dancers
and fash light pictures were taken.
Then follow the names and description
of the dress of the 16 couples who danced.
In addition to their usual dress, each lady
carried re.icule and wore mitts. The
men wore across their breasts the slove
knot" made of ribbons matching their
costumes. Every suit was made complete
by lace ruffle and lace handkerchiefs, which
the men used instead of the cooked hats of
olden tiTes.
The girls shoes were strapped with rib
bons matching their partners colors. This
and the idea of the cap was gotten from
the drawings sent from England.
THE RICHMOND THEATRE.
The Richmond Theatre, where the ball
took place, was Handsomely decorated by
Reh, of Washington. The stage, decorated
to represent q garden fcene, was massed
with ferns, cedars and palms. On the CELL
ing, just above the stage, was placed the
shield of Virginia, bearing the motto oslo
Semper Tyrannis." Above this were
crossed the United States flag and the fsg
of Virginia. The galleries were hung in
buntings, the prevailing colors being white
and green. In the centre of the dress
circle, just below the rail, was placed q
large painting representing the badge of
the association. On an azure field were
represented the three ships which brought
over the founders of the colony, the Susan
Constant, the SpeeGwell and Discovery
Just above these ships is traced the motto |
of tho ASSOCIATION, "Dei Gratia Virginia
Condita." The trouble OF last year-lack |
of sufficient light-was obviated by the ad-
dition of 300 electric lights, which greatly |
enhanced the brilliancy of the scene and
gave the only improvement needed.
WORTHY OBJECTS OF THE BALL.
While the magnificent ball given Friday |
night was an occasion for much pleasure, a
more noble motive underlies the purposes |
Of the ladies who have 80 successfully car
ried the plans for its corsummation into |
execution. The entire proceeds of the |
will be devoted to the fluids |
for the Association for the Preservation of |
Virginia Antiquities. The patriotic women
of this organization have taken up the long |
neglected task of rescuing from destruction |
the perisbable memorials of Virginia's |
glorious history. Three years ago-on the |
4th of January, 188S-this association was |
formed in Williamsburg, the old colonial
capital.
WORK OF THE ASSOCIATION.
Since that time it has purchased and re-
paired the Powder House, the most interest
ing relic of early history standing in that
historic town, and which was fast crumb.
ling to decay. It has bought the home OF
Mary Ball, the mother of Washington, |
which is situated in the town of Fredericks- |
burg, and which they propose to restore to