The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-05-30
pErEEsBUEG mas NO SMART SET.
College Boys. Grass Widowers, and Bache-
Iors Constitute the Beaux.

TO the Society Editor:
am afraid IL Is almost a solecsm 20
speak OF a society letter from Peters
burg Society" az known 10 the fash
iouablc. modern world, does not exist
here The society CT the society column
may be 20 some OF US a Renaissance OF
other days and skies: 10 most the world
carries a distinct opprobrium, and we
n ore than fear that society girl is
goddess, If not immoral. Petersburg does
not have a smart set or. II II ever seems
to have ~. II Is q very little one, as was
said OF the unexpected infant, very young
and always impOrtcd-gcncrally from
college Balls. parties. and even o'clock
teas are scarcely known, though an oc-
casiOnal euchre club apes folly with CO.
operative entertainment. 20 suhside grad
ually into the more tempered joys OF
hcmming sheets for the city hospital.
Cotillons. there were, Planco consnle,
which means. freely translated, as Mr..
Hall Davis tells me when Or. Shipper
was sylph-lilSe and led the German But
those days are long gone. new order
Is established. and. under the social lead
ership OF Mr.. James Dunn. II waists were
made for arms, the conjunction occurs
, more happily in private.
WEDDING srRvICTs.
Even weddings are taken seriously, and
with a view rather TO the effects, than
TO the temporary felicity Of bridesmaids.
You will say that our social atmosphere
IS too dense for your readers, and l won't
deny IT, but we breath &c Luxurious ".
The jasmine-scented zephyrs Of tropic
gardens are heavy. but how dellciously
cnervating.
rs there any peace
In ever climbing up the climbing wave2
Give ms long rest or death, dark death, or
dreamful ease"
DAzzLfD by RICHMOND sPrTNDORs.
And yet we girls are not altogether
lotos- eaters When a Richmond society
girl. like a land bird that sinks faint
ing on a vessels deck, drops IN upon our
restfulness. we drink in strange tales
Of feverish life. We are dazzled by It's
spiendors and its assumptions, and some
times weakly long for vanities When
we are very young, perhaps even Nrvana
could not save US an occasional sigh. But
we know better. and such slips are mo-
mentary In lieu Of fashions whirl, the
endless belt of functions and the tread
mill OF calls. instead Of late
hours and shattered nerves, instead OF the
agonized alternative Of thrice used
gown or q scene raising dress-maker's
bill. we have leisure. health and UNI
strained credit with Barton and Maggie
O'Connor.
The rest cure finds here its natural
home Oonly a short time ago % fascinat-
ing. but, / fear. rather frivolous girl. told
me that the celebrated Or. Weir Mitchell
whom she had consulted for nervous
prostration ordered her TO stay in Peters
burg for three months. Expecting him
TO have prescribed the ALBANIA Of ST. Au-
rustine or the Pharpar Of Cannes and
the Riviera. like Naaman. she was wroth,
tlrr ala gfnnpl
I'm this Jordan. and already the fashion
able plague has deserted her.
If you are in love- or want TO have love
made TO you. come TO Petersburg.
ELIGIBLE BAcHiLoR.
The latter diversion Is absolutely free
10 all and guaranteed TO all visitors by
a syndicate heaued by a leading bank
officer From tho boys al McCabe's School
TO the veterans OF the Petersburg Club,
YOU may choose any age and varying de-
grees OF experience or the lack OF it.
with gradations Of responsibility ranging
from the grass widOwer (whose wife 10
summerlng at the Yellow Sulphur TO
the unencumbered proprietor Of large
phosphate deposits in Florida. They all
DO II. and do u well and often. Indeed.
there IS I'm Petersburg a gentleman. elder
lv. perhaps Cthey say he was mayor Of
some town I'm Carolina before the Mexi-
ported to have risked, having more affairs
than all the loves of all the gods Of
Olympus.
GUSTS rrJoY 1T.
But in the first case. you will pecu-
Harly appreciate our tranquil secusion.
The rigor Of social life I'm other cities
leaves no time for the divine passion. Can
YOU do justice tC a flet de merriam J.
Agnes Of the Chevalier Mirobolant, with
"tcn minutes for refreshments!' shouted
I'm your ear? SO a love affair sandwiched
between the demands OF fashions, is
robbed OF the aroma OF romance. retain
ing only the characteristics that provide
for the maintenance OF human life.
After all that / have said, | am not
unite sure whether Petersburg viii seem
attractive 10 you and your readers. II
not II win be my fault, for all strange
iris rave over their visits, and | must
confess we home girls sometimes think
they have all the best Of IL. BIBLIS.
Petersburg, May o. 1880.