The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-09-07
Copyright. 1851


After the war of 1872 there used L
come here. In regular troops. children
grown ups" and colored servants. Thei
came the war that devastated the south
and made 1t. like phenix, to rise agar
from its ashes. and for awhile. wher
the ashes were still warm. this old fash
Toned place had but few visitors. Its
time was to come. There were too many
memories about 1t for II to be neglected
Life seems one great round of love-
making. These Springs were never
meant for fast matrons or elderly spin
sterr. but they were dedicated to the
beauty OF youth, and II Is supreme. The
position OF the mother of the average
family here Is that OF looking after her
chickens. big and little. seeing that
Nanny's sash is tied or seeing that
some cousin has been brought along be-
cause her own mother is an invalid who
cannot endure life at the White Sui
phur. In short. II is the position of a
matronly hen over very lively brood
II there is one dominant industry in the
south, one would have to admit--that Is.
II one wished to be honest--that Ii is the
infant" one, for the average southern
family has from four to IA children. At
. wedding given near this place not SO
very long ago the great desire OF the
bride was to keep an old darky, COM
monty called Aunt Lizzy," as far from
her as possible, since IL was believed
that she possessed the mystic power.
known as "the laying on of hands,"
which insured to the happy couple a
handsome. healthy pair Of twins before
the year was over.
Girls used to buy Aunt LIzzy Howard
TO stay away. but she was inclined to
be something of a-well, she was in
clined to tell what wasn't quite true.
60 she would accept the present and
then appear at the wedding and stand.
Ssioullike. at the door, ready to nut her
horrible black fingers, long and mys-
tical looking, upon the white gown or
veil Of the unfortunate bride. Every
southern girl for miles around knows |
about her, and every one OF them breads !
her. Not that they don't want to have |
a tribe OF children--that seems to be |
their greatest thappiness-but as Young
matron put 1t to me, "If Aunt Lizzie
Howard does manage to 'hoodoo' you. 4.
Is not SO much yourself that you care
about. but for some reason the gentle
men seem to be guyed little bit abors
wins. apd yet why should they?
4 Just look at the doctor that attended
gallant and religious Stonewall Jack
son! Why. he had two or three sets of
wins: And then think OF poor General
Hood with numerous pairs OF twins,
90 believe they were beautiful III
ant remember. but mamma says that
when the Hood babies all came out
With their nanny everybody used to
augh and say. There goes Hoods bat
alion. But you know we southern
rs IKE babies nightly. and I never
an think that house is really well
urrished unless there are plenty of lit
le folks and two or three well bred
ogs."
There n always at the White Sulphur
ne girl who is the belle. While there
lay be hundreds OF pretty girls, still
here II one each season who is trium-
hapt and to have been the belle at the
White sulphur and not to be engaged at
y end and counted as a matron during.I
,e next means that the beauty was a
allure. The present one comes from
ose to the line that divides the north
om the south. She is dressed simply,
" the best reason In the world. Her
sople have very littlc money to spend.
I'D she has been brought here by a rich
,usin. She fixes over her frocks, and
hen one or two more handsomely
'essed girls have pitied or scoffed at
n she always says with q laugh: "Oh.
don't mind II as long az look nice.
ID IL Is quite fun fixing over your
ings. You never know how they are
ing to turn out"
The white muslin dress f. washed.
- eth
e ball dances not only all through the
ght' out half the morning and the
eater part OF the afternoon, for at the
d White everybody dances. 1 some
mes think that Is one reason why
uthern children ore 80 graceful. TAX
on for the summer, an awkward
y will be hauled In 10 all up a square
nee. and before ne knows anything
out anything he is getting compli-
'nts all around, and the prettiest girl
lre Is saying to him, why, Tommy.
idn't know you could dance 80 we'll"
q tomorrow morning Tommy has the
1rage to ask some one TO dance with
n. and soon his awlwardness goes
ay, while happy mother rays TO
ms mother. Why. Mrs. Gordon. your da
m Is getting 10 be q real man" and do
ms mother smiles and looks lovingly m,
the author OF Toms being and saws be
'eli, he certainly don't get his good sb
nners and his fine dancing from bin
Ansers," and the little jest 10 made sb
ch OF. and 20 life goes on In a very tn,
ocent manner. vo
ne belle Of the ball r. saying. But DO
u think our men would like H." The a
sort brown eyes ere looking up into de,
20, and these words are coming from To
rosy, red lips. She Is giving you her ine
Mon as to what our men like" tbs
m her youth up her brother has been ON,
ned 10 wait on her, but also from her ING
IN up she has been trained 20 give G
pretty, little Thank YOU" the affec- Are
ste nod. he caresslrs word that IL Iv
lelisitful 10 The heart Of man .,d