Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-12-25

generous OF hosts. Descended OF "Old
John, OF Caroline" he worthily repre-
scented the dignified hospitality Of that
broad and generous country gentleman.
For a week We held high carnival In the
county.
Fredericksburg was represented by
Charles Herndon George Scott. William
Little. and this old writer. We had Miss
II. Lyons, from Richmond. The gentle
Old Judge Butler, of South Carolina-the
most genial and charming man | have
ever known-was there For more than
ten years he. II. NJ. T. Hunter. and
James NJ Mason. senator's. lived together
In their mess in Washington In most
charming social and political accord.
We had n round OF gayety that Christ
mas-a succession Of dinners and dances
al "Hazlewood"; Gairmont. the charm
ing home OF the Demands, at Port
Royal: at old John Lightfoots. There
were dinners and dances every day OF
the week.
But one Of the most memorable OF
my later experience was when. after the
Mexican war Simon Buckner. William
Franklin. George b. Mcclellan. Rudy
Clarke, Neighbour Jones, Kirby Smith,
c. w. Smith, Badly Smith. and this old
man had bee assembled as assistant
professors at the academy. We had
high links" there for three or four
years.
one Christmas (of 1880 believe), Mac.
and I took It into our heads to ride up
TO Newburg and back. We rode our
own horses. Mac. had a handsome.
black Maria mare. from his fathers
stable. / had brought from Virginia a
bay fllly-sred by Roanoke. j believe.
Sho ran away with me almost every
time / rode her. We were the only Of
fcors who rode our own horses. and, 20
escape the wassail of Chrstmas-Day at
the point. we decided 10 ride up 20 New
burg. about fourteen miles up the river.
The snGw Was deep and crisp. the air
stin and cold, but we were warmly cl2d
and our blood was hot. and we went
bravely over the mountain Coming
down the north side. the road was frozen
hard. so we dismounte1 ana led our
horses. rough-shod though they were.
Soon after reaching the plains We came
upon handsome country church. Many
sieiehs were about It Of stylish equip
mant. showing that the owners there
at service in the church were Of 1.-The
0o." end we decided TO so in and at
tend the Christmas service with them.
We seated ourselves in an empty pew
upon a side aisle, half way up the church.
and had not been seated many minutes
when the sexton came for us and TOOK
US to the pauper pew, where we humbiy
remained through the service. The good
clergyman stopped in his service, as If
TO check the jealous preserver Of the
dignity OF the church, for 1t was very
high-toned congregation, and that sex
ton did not intend that any rough soldier
boys from West Point should degrade
his sanctuary.
N.srH sfa4
tice Of us. ! told Mac. that. in my opin-
ION. If we had been in Virginia. we
would have been invited to take Christ
mas dinner with some Of those aristo-
Gratis. SO we went on our way 10 New
burg where we rested and fed our
horses. and solaced our dignity with
something hot several times. We got
back 10 the genial light Of our mess
house just as dinner was announced-a
great, Christmas dinner-and l threw
open the dining-room door. with my
beard frightened with icicles and shout
cd to the steward: "Norvel bring me
a bottle OF champagne There was
warming welcome from old George
Thomas our president; Franklin. and
Badly. and all the rest Of about thirty,
who have now had their last Christmas
I'm this world, save Franklin and Badly
and Simon Buckner and /.
As II was then a rule Of the mess
that when the table was set for dinner.
every mans decanter Of port. Madeira. or
sherry should be at his place, it did not
take US long to feel Christmas that
night, and 10 adjourn from the mess
over TO Franklin's and Rudy Clarke's
tower rooms in the new barracks,
where we finished Christmas in becoming
style by the mornings light.
DABNEY II. MAURY.