Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-04-16
EDITORS BOOK TABLE
THROUGH COLONIAL nooawAYs'
A DAINTY WELCOME BOOK.
rn,.rest,ux Comments on This New Work
BIZ the DIspatch's Reviewer
Other Book Notices.


days. The most fascinating study OF his
tory lies not in the great actions OF rulers
and leaders so much as in the habits ana
manners aud customs of the people. We
wish instead a faithful portrait Of the
life and spirit of the time. We would
rather not see men on the dress-parade OF
history with trappings and lace. but IN
their free and easy life and IN intercourse
with their fellows. Our heroes seem I'M
real when placed on pedestals or swung in
frames among the immortals; We would
much prefer regarding them as endowed
with life and OF like passions as we are.
That they possessed their social and do
nestle side, that they were persons as well
as statesmen and generals. that they
actually had their loves and hates and Jea-
lousies and heart-burnings and suferings,
that they had nerves and flesh and blood
rs well as wigs and frills and flounces-
all this in the lives of our heroes interests
US who live IN more commonplace gene
ration.
Such is the feeling which has inspired
this dainty volume. The heavy brass
krocker, characteristic Of these eighteenth
century colonial mansions, as it still Is IN
many homes of England, il sharply 10; fall
in two quick raps, and the author invites
the reader TO pass through the broad door
way Qtself typical of a hospitality that
allows more than one TO enter at time)
into the still more spacious halls and par
lors and dining-rooms. Even the folding
doors have been thrown open. and the
whole house is ablaze with the brilliant
company Of q century and more ago. The
folks one meets IN these pages are not only
delightful and charming-they are likewise
| "of quality"
We catch sight of General Washington
and the wife Of General Greene enjoying
"a little dance" at headquarters, which
the latter describes as "a pretty little
| frisk." # is especially the Philadelphia
| society of old to which we are so kindly
introduced. though not a few Virgnians
| mingled IN the social world of the CONT
mental capital. For instance, we are told
| of the wedding of President Madison to
the pretty widow Todd-Dolly Payne that
was-who afterwards became the famous
| social mistress of the White House
Aaron Burr had introduced her to " the
great little Madison" The occasion was
very brilliant. The girls wed with one
another in obtaining mementoes OF the
| evening, for which purpose they must nave
enioyed cutting in bits the Mechlin lace
| that adorned the grooms shIrt-rufhes. Ot
| course the happy PAIR were greeted with a
| shower of rice as they drove Oh TO Mont
| pel:er. the Madison estate.
| Mrs. General Washington, recalling her
| own experience perhaps, assured Dolly "
| that she and the General approved OF the
match. and even if Mr. Madison was twenty
| wears older he would still make good
husband. which very sensible advice on the
| part Of the digni6ed and stately matron
| caused the glrl-widow TO blush and run
away.
| Others who figure in thus good company
are Franklin, Mr. and Mrs. John Adams,
and Mrs. Robert Morris. IL IS perhaps at
first sight little distressing to patriotic
nerves to know how many hirtations went
on in Revolutionary times between the
young colonial damsels and the relocated
officers, but after all 1t IS greatly TO their
credit as fascinating and charming CON-
paniOls. Indeed, the quarterlngs OF Brit
| ish troops in New York and Philadelphia
| took away not few of these American
/ 10 lOLhFcs Wv VI NHS
most gallant and popular OF the British
| cavaliers was the unfortunate MAJOR
! Andre. Many of the entertainments gotten
| up under these circumstances were gor-
geous, and army life was not all thorns for
| British officers.
The first inauguration balls and re-
| ceptions seem 10 have been very grand
and stately occasions. People moved more
| slowly then, and did not trampl0 on one
/ tOos opI troiuc "a they do now.
The Presidents costume on such oc-
casions," il is said. was q full suit OF
black velvet, with long black-silk stock
| ings. white vest. silver knee and SHOE,
| buckles the hair beng powdered and
gathered together at the back IN black;
! silk bag tied with a bow Of black ribbon
| The costume of the ladies was not always
| so becoming. if we may trust tho hume
rous satires on the enormous head-dresses
and wonderfully spreading skirts OF the
| day. President Washington inclined more
| 10 the state and ceremony OF the Old-
| World courts than TO the republican SIM
| pliclty of later generations. some one
| even accused his bows of being moro stlf
than anything to be seea at 81. Jamess.
Jefferson in his younger colonial DAYS was
| as much given To style as any OF the young
| bloods. 1t was only later in life that his
| famed simplicity of manners appeared;
| Scholarly interests were very early looked
after in thus Philadelphia world. The
| American Philosophical Society was the
creation OF Franklin, and also warmly pa
| troniZed by Jefferson, who wes for eighteen
| wears its president. Both these men were
the most versatile products of the colonial
age. Both were statesmen OF the highest
order. and both were intellectual forces IN
their day besides in matters OF science,
education, and letters. Jeferson's scientific
interest led him TO dispute with the learned
Button, to design a pillow (for which he re-
celved gold medal, to interest himself
in calculating the number OF bushels OF
| wheat to the acre at Monticello. III import
ing seed-rlce from italy, Egypt, and the
| Leyant, to frame instructions for the
guidance of western explorations. TO evolve
a system of State education, and to found
n State university. Such was the wonder
ful harmony between the practical and
ideal IN his daily life and experience.
Tho Wistar parties were so called after
DR.. and Mrs. Caspar Wistar, in Phlladel-
phia. who threw open their hospitable
house every Saturday evening. These
gatherings show the genial and social side
of old Philadelphia life. as the Philosophy
cal Society displays the scientific In
terest. The original Wistsr club. however,
was not altogether unlike this latter IN
character, though more informal. and the
Wistar parties became after the good Doc
tors death permanent social orGanlza-
ton In honor of his memory. These gath
erings became the centre for all the dis
tinguished men of those days living in
and visiting the city.
The Philadelphia dancing assemblies
give still another glimpse at the charm
and gayeties of the old life; and through
"A Bundle OF Old Love Letters y our great
danes and stiff gentlemen become quickly
transformed into living beings. and mer
imbued with tenderness and feel
ing. They were not only really marble, a.
we sometimes imagine from the statuary
IN the rotunda at the Washington Capitol
the, actually had hearts and souls.
But the charm of the series of essays in
this little volume has led US further thar
} we intended. The originality of concep
ton, the delicacy of treatment. the charm
OF portrayal, the daintiness of appearance
all conspire to form an interesting ant
welcome book. We lay IL down witt
thanks TO the gifted author for letting u,
have this peep through the doorways ant
windows of these old colonial mansion: