Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-11-13

N. Woodbury. Ave. Baltimore, Nd.
The above letter from Mrs. Foreman
70 only one of thousands.
different light, but just at present ask
70 be excused from throwing bouquets at
the people who took the only hog we had
on our place in 1863.
or course. / haven't got anything to
say against Colonel Watterson-a con-
cesslon which will greatly relieve the anx-
iety II this good man-but, If it's just
the same to him, ! would rather he talk
ed about something else the next time
he drops in on US. He's a peculiar kind
Of orator. anyhow, and, at times, he talks
in a growly way, which is very forcible.
Indeed, he is a wonderful speaker, and
when he remarked that Lincoln's ances-
tors were Virginians i thought him posi-
lively eloquent There wasn't anything
particularly original in this remark, how
ever. for most everybody who Is great
had ancestors from this State. The trou-
bic Is we appear to have sent so many
great men away from here, and 1t makes
me feel very lonesome at times. When
these fits of lonesomeness come on me l
hunt up Justice Crutchfield.
When Colonel Watterson first came on
the stage to lecture / concluded that his
dress-suit didn't fit him, and that, as
his figure was inclined to suggest bay
window. he felt some uneasiness as TO
whether his vest buttons would hold
through the evening. but later / discover
ed that the trouble was not due to de-
feet in raiment. His arms are abnor-
mally short. and 1t as much as he can
do TO get his hands In his pants pockets.
This deprivation alone is enough to
crush the spirit out OF him, but he bears
up bravely under 1t. and when he be-
comes warmed up nobody gets chance
10 drop off to sleep. His mastery or the
English language, which generally runs
away with most people, is marvellous,
and he flatters his audiences by using
some very big words. which they. of
course, pretend to understand If Colonel
Watterson were to think up some plea
SAINT things to say about us Confederate
veterans / would cheerfully accord him
seven nights out of my week, especially
as three Of the children at home are
teething.
This is the season when waxen-faced
young men, with trembling knees and
chattering teeth, prepare for matrimony,
and discuss arrangements for their COM
ing weddings with brides-eect. And
this. too. is the melancholy time Of the
year when these same young men begin
to duly appreciate the strength OF wo-
mans will, and to realize the utter hope
lessness Of avoiding a church marriage.
A woman may be so modest and timid
that she would blush If you saw her
foot but when it comes to hymeneal
courage her pluck equals that of Teddy
Roosevelt. You have yet TO find one
who can satisfy herself with quiet,
homo wedding, and "only the most init
mate friends and relatives" as witness
es to the subjugation of her prospective
consort
Now. men hate church weddings like
poison-in fact, they hate any kind Of
wedding in which they themselves figure
and If you listen TO them you will be-
lieVe that they would all like to go on
i'm the woods and have the nuptial knot
tied in a bowling wilderness. They do
not hesitate to express their preferences
to their fancees but these same fan
Gees. on the other hand, do not hesitate
to say that they propose 10 be welded
with all the pomp glory, and conspicu-
BUSINESS which law and limited finances
allow.
The woman invariably wins, and, as
a proof Of his devotion, the man always
consents to undergo the most excrucia-
ting ordeal Of his life. He would give
worlds TO escape the misery which
awaits him-yea would almost be willing
TO forego the whole business, but he
knows It is too late TO recede. And so
the event come off, amid buzz of fem
mime whisperings and female curiosity.
and the groom, presenting the face Of
an embalmed corpse struggles through
the situation as best a panic-stricken In
dividual may To my mind, there is
something unspeakably pathetic in it all.
The pallor of the helpless man, the meek
submissiveness into which he has been
driven. the husky voice with which he
responds at the wrong time, and the gem
eral wish-I-were-dead air, which marks
his every quivering movement, touch my
heart. and make me shudder. l have
been through with it, and / know what
follows.
And the bride-why, she treads on air,
end is as complacent as an iced cucum-
Der. and trips up, or down, the aisle with
an air Of proprietorship which shows who
Is going TO be boss from that time forth
| and evermore. Mark the expression of
| triumph with which she cuts her eye
! around at the bunch of old maids who
| have witnessed the ceremony, and
who are going back home TO criti-
! else tho details. Observe the smile
on this same brides face, and see
how protectingly she drags along the
limp mass OF humanity whom she has
chosen for her helpmeet. The gaze of
every one is on her, and she is 6lad of
e. and would be mad II people didn't
look at her. Note these things, gentle
reader. and draw your deductions there
from. Can any doubt, after beholdng
such a picture that the man Of the pre-
sent day is right In making an effort for
emancipatlon-that the new man is
not pessimistic. dissatisfied creature,
but simply a citizen who feels that he has
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