Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1892-11-23
ALeap Year Party.


| Just on the southern confines of the little
, village of Mint Spring, near by the Lexington
turnpike, on the sunny slope of hill so grand
and so rich with memories of by-gone years
stands a spacious brick mansion, the home OF
Mr.. d. W. Speck Because of the eligible
location of this place, the capacious size OF
the house. and the convivial disposition OF
Mr.. S. and his popular and most excellent
wife, who always take great delight in encour-
aging anything that will bring the young peo-
pie together in an evening of amusement and
pleasure the ladies of the aboye-named burg
and contiguous communities selected this
household in which to hold a leap year party
on the night of the 18th of November.
| As the ladies in this case were to make the
advance steps, petitio princip1 as it were, the
young men to be on the qed gipe, invitations
handsomely gotten up by them were sent in
all directions, and arrangements for the neces-
sary refreshments made with as much dis
patch as if a Western cyclone had been presi-
| dent and business manager of this organlza-
| ton. while the pale, emaciated, hunted-down
remnant of mankind of the species of 1892
had to come up to the rack, not only to 'face," "
but to ''pay" for the music Like the week
and gentle creatures we men are, we could but
throw ourselves upon the tender mercies OF
these fair daughters of Eve, and, while torn
and bleeding from the arrows of cupid and
the realization of collapsed money purse,
repose our trust in Him who 'temperetli the
wind to the shorn lamb
By 9 O. clock the crowd had assembled, and
IL. Ii
forth their sweetest strains. Music's melting,
mystic lay had its wonted effect upon the dis
picles of Terpsichore, and when we saw a half
dozen girls seize hold of one young man as a
partner for the dance, each pulling in differ
ent direction our eagerness and desire for
leap-year party vanished like dew before the
morning SUM- The vision of frizzly chicken
or porcupine was before our eyes, and the
many weary and painful moments we passed
in waking our toilet had evidently been in
judiciously spent We said, WELL girls, the
year and day are yet yours. Make use of
them, turn them to good account anything
that you will, we cheerfully accord to you if
you will only leave us in the possession of
face by which mother can recognize her
darling boy"
At late hour of the night refreshments
were served and breathing spell taken the
latter of which we boys enjoyed to its fullest
extent. Dancing was then resumed and con-
tinued until the morning star, the harbinger
of day, rode high in the Eastern sky. AS for
those who could not "trip the light, fantastic
toe" they found agreeable pastime in social
conversations and card playing
In gathering in which more than fifty
were in attendance, as on this occasion, we
never saw more gentle, refined, and sociable
set of young people, and the ladies who were
instrumental in bringing about this affair are
greatly to be congratulated upon the success
that has crowned their efforts.
In future days that are to be, tossed as we
may be upon the rude sea of life, or quietly
basking in the sunshine of some leafy isle,
there will be a yerdant spot in our memories
around which will cluster associations and re-
collections that will CLEAN and glitter like
gems upon the crest of dark wave.
Among that gay and festive throng, in that
galaxy of beauty, fancy l saw fair Imogens,
whose cries go forth, What is it to be false;
sweet and gentle Mirandas, who disclose their
love as flowers ope their bosoms to the sun,
and if all these attractions and sterling quail
ties are wasted on the desert air." young
man, who is to blame? Not l.
The following is complete list of those
who were present:
Misses Ella Hiser and Mary Baylor, of
Staunton; Misses Mamie Bell and Ella Yates,
of Arbor Hill; Miss Ida Brown, of Grafton,
W. Va; Misses Mary Lou, Bessie and Margaret
Merritt, Ella and Florence OFT, of Greenville;
Miss Bette Brooks of Avis; Misses Mary and
Matte Christian, Mamie and Alice Towber-
man, BERTHE and Title McPheeters, and Ella,
Emma, and Florence Wilson, of Mint Spring;
Miss Nettie Leftwich, of King William coun-
ty; Misses Pattie Van Lear, Kate and Ella
Banner, of Folly Mills; Messrs. c. P. Bow
man, George w. Britain, &C. B. Tutwiler,
Robert Blackford, and Pendleton Burress, Of
Staunton; Frank Hays, Bruce Randolph
Harry Palmer, Frank Larew, Frank and
Boyd OFT, and Tom Pilson, of Greenville; Ash
by Brooks, of Avis; Charlie Van Lear and
Joe Cochran, of Folly Mills; Charles Swink,
of New Hope; John Palmer, Frank and
Charles Bell, and John Hughart, of Arbor
Hill; Walter and Frank Wilson, W. L. and
Lacy Towberman, Ben McPheeters, Hansford
Gilkeson, Davie Henkel, and Samuel Wallace,
Of Mint Spring. W.