The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1895-01-15

Club and strangers lin the city. Each
member OF the club who entered his
horse lthe very creme dc la creme OF
equine aristocracy, one and all), had
rosettes upon its bride of his own es-
pecial color. and the costume OF the
jockey was of the same color.
The father of Gen. Wade Hampton
always dressed In coats aud caps of
elegant mazarine blue velvet, while
tc but less liberal, dressed his In red
flannel. Amid the widest enthusiasm
the races ere lost and won. Society
during race week was very gay, often
several balls at private houses taking
place in q single evening. But Tues
day, Wednesday aud Friday nights
were set aside as aleadv engaged. On
Tuesday evening the st. Cecilia ball
took place. Wednesday night was
defeated to the annual supper OF the
Race Club. AT this function the pres
ident of the club was. whether he
could or not, compelled to sing a song,
1.-THE High Mettle Racer, !" for the
benefit OF the assembled company.
And on Friday night came the race
ball, the browning event of the season.
Each matron and maid had a new
gown for the occasion, and the prcsi-
dent of the club took the newest bride
into supper. The floor was marked off
into circles, large enough to admit Of
dancing o cotillion, and In these were
drawn pictures of the favorite G
with the winner at the head. All
these and all the other grand balls and
banquets were held at st. Andrews
Hall, in Broad street. This building
was burned long years ago. It stood
on the lot now owned by Capt. f. w.
UUnnnnnp Uhnpa ,,nuy Is nplu an avail
brick building, just east of ST. Finbar's
Cathedral.
And now that wo have heard of the
joys of these ancestors OF ours, what OF
their sorrows? Alas, their funerals
and their MORNINGS seem quaint to
us, but were as sadly real to them as
ours are now.
Immediately upon the death of a
member Of the family formal invita-
tions were seut out to friends. A
great number of these we're invited
specially as mourners, and for these
great hoods of black silk, covering
The invited guests. including the
mourners, 1.-THE chief only of whom
were admitted into the room with the
family, ranged themselves around the
rooms in silence, and at last a maid
servant entered bearing % silver tray
piled with sprigs OF rosemary. These
she passed around to the mourners,
each of whom took q sprig. The pail
bearers we're all furnished with silken
scarfs-white for young persons, black
for those of more advanced age-and
these were worm passed over one
shoulder and tied in u knot at the
waist OF the other side.
There were no carriages hired, the
friends Of the bereaved family always
offering the use of their vehicles for
the occasion. In tho funeral process
sion the slaves followed close behind
I the coffin, the men with long banners
OF Grape streaming from their hats,
the women with great head dresses OF
Grape, obtained from their societies.
There were no funerals ut home, the
solemn burial service being held al
ways in a church and never at u pri-
vate residence.
And now we of the end of the con
fury have followed the Charlestonian
OF the beginning Of the century from
tho cradle to the grave, taking a peep
at all the Important events of life.
How far off and quaint those times
seems! And yet time does not stand
still. Only u little while it will seem
to us, and the years will rush by, and
we will be the grandmothers and great.
grand-mothers of the young people oil
another day and times that will seen,
new and strange. They will look with
wonder upon'our silvered hair and faces
where Time has left his 6nger-prints
iu sad lines and wrinkles, and, cagel
for q romance OF real life in days long
past, will plead, "Grandmother, tell
us about when you were young.".