Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-11-29

nearly the end Of the war. The occasions
were NOT especialiy marked, but Alr. and
Mira DAVIS we're alwaye delightful hosts.
Conspicuous figures in the social life OF
Richmond during the war were the accom-
plishod and learned Judah L. BENJAMIN;
the silyer.tongued orator, William L. Yam
cey, of Alabama the profound logi-
clan and great constitutional law
yer, Ben. Hill, of Georgia; the able,
eloquent aud benevolent Alexander n.
STEPHENS, also Of Georgia; the vol
ublc bat able Henry $. Foo'c, OF Missis-
sippi; the polished William Porcher Miles,
OF South Carolina; ex-President John ly-
icr, OF Virginia. the present Senator Sest,
OF Missouri, and tho proximity OF the
army % Richmond rendered Il possible Tor
General Deb Stuart, A. z. Hill. John Bank;
head Magrudef, Joseph r. johnston, ana
other officers OF distinction TO contribute
their contingent to its brilliant intellectual
life during that sangutnary period.
BENJAMIN, STEPHENS, TASCEY, AND HILL.
have never known q man socially more
fascinating than judah +. Benjamin. lie
was m his attainments a veritabie Admiral
CrichtOn, and think. excepting q. +. *.
james, the most brilliant, fascinating con-
yersattonahst | have known. lie was
q great social lion in Richmond during tho
war, and ALWAYS shOne most brilliantly
whenever occasion gave him the opportu-
nifty. ar. Benjamin loved GOOD dinner,
a good glass OF wine, and reyelied IN the
delights OF fine Havana cigars. Indeed,
even while Richmond was IN a state Oh
siege be was never without them.
That great and goodman, Alexander IL;
| Stephens, of Georgia. ia consequence Oh
his feeble health, mingled little IN the So
cial life of Richmond. He went out only
among few friends, but his tenoer,
| loving, benevolent heart was constantly
wounded Confederate soldiers. HIS tan,
| frau figure frequently wended It's way
| through the streets OF Richmond with
packages OF such little delicacies under
| his arms as he could procure, and When
thus seen the remark was always maze
There goes Mr. Stephens TO hospital
William l.. Ysncey, OF Alabama. was also
very quiet in his tastes, but mingled
good deal in the social life of the Coniede-
rafe capital. He possessed a finely de-
| yeloped head, with broad-almost mas;
siye-forehead His eyes were large ana
| lustrous blue and his manner very gentle
! and exouisitely refined. Ills voice was AS
sweet IN some of Its notes as STRAIN OF
music from a lutte and would swell When
| speaking to the deep, rich tones OF
church organ. Mr.. Yancey was an ex-
viewed bv the North as q fire-eater OF
| the most violent type. but to those who
saw hlm socially TIC was the gentlest OF
men. the most consIdeTate, courteous
well. bred of gentlenen-was the embodl-
| meat of the highest type OF southern
Chlyalry. r.,
Ben. Hill, of Georgia, was very fond, OF
| society, and went out great deal us
nature was prominently companlonsOie,
| fl,ru
was KIND. unDretentious, most fascinating
intellectually, fond of good Joke, ana
possessed most genial nature.
JOIN WISE AND HIS BIG CLOTHES.
The spectacle presented at the social
gatherings. particularly the, starvation
parties, was picturesque IN the extreme.
me ladies' often took down the damask
and other curtains and made dresses OF
them. My friend, the Honorable John y.
Wise, formerly OF Virginia. now OF New
York. tells The following story Of himself.
| IL wag serving IN front of Richmond ana
was invited 10 come into the city TO attend
q starvation party. Having no coat OF MS
| own fit TO wear he borrowed one from
| brother officer nearly twice his height
| The sleeves of this coat covered his hands
entirely. the skirt came below ms knees
| several inches. and the two buttons III the
| back were down on his legs. 30 attlred
| Captaln Wise went 70 the party. Ills hrst
partner IN the dance was young lazy OF
| Richmond. belonging to one OF It's best
| families. She was attlred IN the dress oil
| her rreat-grandmOther and part OF TINS
| dress WAS q stOmachcr very aggressive IN
| its proportions. Captain WISE relates with
exquisite huWor that IN the midst OF the
| dance he found himself III 'front.' OF
mirror. and that the sight presented by
| himself and his partner WAS 50 ridiculous
/ a.. H.. le1I
ner turned and looked at him angrlly, LETT
has side. and pever spoke to him again.
CONTRASTS THAT WE'RE PRETTY.
The varied and sometimes handsome
uniforms of the Confederate officers COM
minpliug with each other and contrasting
with the simple, pretty. sometimes anti
ouated dresses of the ladies, made PIC
| lures that we're beautiful in their COLI
trasts of color and of tone. An artist
would have found in these scenes infinite
opportunity for his pencil or brush;
am sure that this phase OF social life IN
Richmond during the war ls without
narnlIel in the worlds history. The army
officers. OF course, had only their uni
forms. and the women wore whatever they
could get towear.
In the last year of the war, particularly
| the last few months, the pinch OF deprya-
ton, especially as to food. became fearful.
| There were many families III Richmond
| that were IN well-nigh a starving condl-
ton. / know of some that lived Tor days
| on pea soup and bread. Confederate
money was almost yalueless. It's pur-
| chasing power had so deprecated that
| il used TO be said 1t took a
| basketful TO 60 to market. Of course the
| peOple he'd very few greenbacks, and very
| little gold or silver. The city was invest
| ed by two armies, Grants and Lees, and
| its railroad communications constantly
| DESTROYED by the Union cavalry; Sup
plles OF food were very scarce and enor-
| mously costly; barrel of -four cost seye-
raj hundred dollars in Confederate money,
| and lust before the fall OF the COntederacy
| / paid $500 for pair OF heavy boots Inc
! suffering of tins period was dreadful, anu
when Richmond capltulated many OF Its
people were in an almost starVing 9oll 'It
| ton. Indeed there was little food out
side, and the southern troops were but
| little better OIL.
LOYALTY OF THE SLAVES.
| But in April, 1865, the Confederacy
ceased TO. exist it passed into history,
and Richmond was occupied by the north
ern army. Many of its people were with
out food and without money! mean
| money of the United States. 1t was az
this period that the colored people of
Richmond, slaves up to the time
| the war enueut buJ NOW ~ AOhbt i
bondsmen. showed their loyalty and
love for their former masters and mis-
tresses. They of course had access
TO the commissary of the United States,
and many, very many, of these former ne
gro slaves went TO the United States COM
missarv, obtained food seemingly for them
selves and took it in basketfuls 10 their
former owners, who were without food or
money. do not recall any record IN the
| n than fhlR-innD0n.
equal to it.
These are memories of dead past, and
thank God We now live under the old
flag and in a happy, reunited country,
winch the South loves with patriotic de-
yotion unsurpassed by the North itself.
| The Name Flowerdieu.