Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-05-17
RICHMOND SOCIETY IN 1854.
A Letter Found In n Northern-Nec
Trunk.

N
Trunk.
A friend IN Lancaster county sends US
the following old letter, which explains
itself:
Dear -: Yours OF the 1lth instant
| (March, 1850 was received on yesterday
and completely disarmed any resentment
| (confound II. that It Is not the word that
might have felt, and. at the same time,
my own conscience, as a faithful mont
tor, tells me that 1 have not done my
duty. II / were disposed, I might make
a better excuse than you did, for surely
there never was such an eternal round
OF gayety as there has been in Richmond
this winter; but excuses are not always
as palatable as yours, so 1 Will forbear.
We have completely abjured the old style
here, and have taken 10 balls, costumes
de rig -" masks Zone OF which was at
your worthy uncle's), and private the
atrlcals. The last- named species Of
amusement is IN my opinion the most
intellectual and pleasant Of all. How
much superior 10 the dull inanities, which
are so often heard at parties, TO sit by
some sweet one and listen 10 the ele-
waited sentiments, choice wit, and sparkling
dialogues framed by some great writer2
Much rldicule has obtained against the
/ amusement, and the Puritanism Of the
/ age has stamped il as a snare or the
/ devil to entrap mems souls; but 70 us, OF
! liberal spirit who do not see anything so
/ terribly wicked in dramatic entertain
ments. private theatricals must be as SUI
| perior 10 public ones as education and
| refinement are to mere imitation and
| In ha
theatre its entertainments are far from
being refined, as they ought 10 be. and
| this state will continue as long as the
better portion OF society frown upon the
stage. The drama has survived through
all attacks for 1900 years. and this fact
ought Il seems 20 me, TO satisfy every
reasonable-thinklng man OF the futility OF
all endeavors 10 extirpate 1t and OF the
expediency Of elevating II az proof 10
morality, instead OF degrading IL 20 an
adverse influence. But Puritanism Is the
order Of the day, and the old Stole doc
trine that all crimes are equal, that
pecadilloes are cardinal sins, that he
who dances a cotillon and he who steals
a horse are equally out of the pale OF
redemption, is leading TO a deplorable
state OF society, and driving many to
scepticism who would otherwise be be-
levers. II was at a performance Of the
| Honeymoon" at Mrs. Pegram's some
nights since, and l don't know when
| have been 50 much pleased. Miss Mary
| Pegram's performance OF the Duchess
was the very perfection OF acting; Miss
! Lucy Haxalrs "Volante" was inimitabe,
and the Duke" by W. Munford; "Ro-
! lando," by Ned Myers, and Count Mon
talban." by Willy Allen. together with
! little Willy Myerss "Zamowa," would
! favorably compare with the same repre-
| sensations by even star actors I would
! guarantee that there is no company II
the Union which could give acting 81
uniformly good. Few professional &C
tors of the stun they are made Of now
could so thoroughly conceive and under
stand the parts as did these gentlemen
/ and ladies'"
The writer OF the above, Colone
! George Smith Patton, graduated from th'
| Virginia Military Institute, July, 1872
second in his class; read law In the oiiic
of his father, Hon. John NJ. Patton; mar
ried Miss Glassell, OF Cuipeper county
Soon after went TO Charleston, and prac
ticed law in partnership with Hon
George W. Summers Commanded th'
Twenty-second Virginia Infantry, Army
OF Northern Virginia: was killed at Win
chester the 10th Of September. 1854, anC
lies in Stonewall Cemetery, in the same
grave with his younger brother, w 7
Patton colonel OF the Seventh Virginia
who was killed at Gettysburg.-J. Nj