The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1895-01-18

balls and dances then as now, but all
the year everybody looked forward to
race week. This came during the last
OF February, and was the climax OF
festivities before the solemn Lenten
season. Everybody had new clothes,
every body made merry, everybody
went mad over. horses for that week.
The races were held at the old Wash
ington Race Course, and to the grand
stand were admitted ladies, but no gen.
tlemen save the membcrs OF the Race
Club and strangers in the city. Each
member OF the club who entered his
horsee(the very creme de la creme OF
equine aristocracy, one and ALL, had
rOsettcs upon its bride of his own es-
pecial color. and the costume of the
jockey was of the I'M color.
The father OF Gen. Wade Hampton
always dressed in coats and caps OF
elegant mazarine blue vclvct, while
another gentleman, equally aristocrat-
ic but less liberal, dressed his in rcd
flannel Amid the widest enthusiasm
the races were lost and won. Society
during race week was very gay, often
several balls at private houses taking
place in Il single evening. But Tues
day, Wednesday and Friday nights
were set aside AS aleadv engaged. On
tuesday evening the St. Cecilia bail
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 tile
benefit of the assembled company.
And on Friday night came the race
ball, the crowning event OF the season.
Each matron and maid had new
gown for the occasion, and the presi-
dent of the club took the newest bride
into supper. The floor was marked off
into circles, large enough to admit OF
dancing cotillion, and In these were
drawn pictures of the favorite racers,
with the winner at the head. All
these and all the other grand balls and
ban9uets were heid at ST. Andrews
Hall, in Broad street. This building
was burned long years ago. 1t stood
on the lot now owned by Capt. f. w.
Wagener, where now is only small
brick building, just east of ST. Finbar's
Cathedral.
And now that we have heard of the
joys of these ancestors of ours, what Of
their sorrows ? Alas, their funerals
and thoir MORNINGS seem quaint to
us, but were as sadly real to them as
ours are now.
Immediately upon the death OF u
member of the family formal invita-
tions were sent out to friends. A
great number of these were invited
specially as mourners, and for these
great hoods OF black silk, covering
head and shoulders, were provided.
The invited guests. including the
mourners, 1.-THE chief only of whom
were admitted into the room with the
familyl ranged themselves around the
rooms in silence, and at last a maid
servant entered bearing a silver tray
piled with sprigs of rosemary. These
she passed around to the mourners,
each OF whom took O sprig. The pail
bearers were all furnished with silxen
scarfs-white FIR young persons, black
for those OF more advanced age--and
these were worn passed over one
shoulder and tied in knot at the
waist on 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 the funeral process
sion the slaves followed close behind
the coffin, the men with long banners
of Grape streaming from their hats,
the women with great head dresses of
There were no funerals at home, the
solemn burial service being held al
ways in church and mover at pri-
vate residence.
And now we of the end of the CEN
tury have followed the CharlestOnian
Of the beginning OF the century from
the 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 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 of
another day and times thst will seem
new and strange. They will look with
wonder upon'our silvered hair and faces
where Time has left his finger-prints
in sad lines and wrinkles, and, eager
for q romance Of real life in DAYS long
past, will plead. Grandmother, tell
us about when you were young"