The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-01-02
FAMOUS BARN PARTY In '59
A Most Notable BSSsmblase Of Wealth,
Beauty and Fashion in NOttOTay.
TIE HOST And SOME OF The GUESTS
Brief Reference TO Some of the Handsome
Women Who Graced the Occasion.
Historic Welverton--Negro Melody
I'm Calling Dancing Figures.

| NOTTAWAY COUNTY, VA. Dec. Co
| Heap up the fire, for the north wind nips
| the nose and bites the toes, and the ici-
clCs glitter like long rows of spears along
l the caves OF the houses The year Is
| growing old and Father Winter. with his
/ frosty beard and the snow falling from
| his robe is coming. How crisp and in
! Vigorating is the air. 10 turns the end
| of the farmers nose TO a cerulean blue
| and caresses the cheeks Of the milk maid
| tlll they flush as the rose of June. Then
/ too. 10 brings Christmas in its train with
| the ivy and the holly the punch bowl
and the egg nOg and all good things
| from the work shop OF Santa Claus and
! over an the peace and JOY of the Saw
/ iOurs birth time
and then come the delights Of the first
! big snow fail. for there is nothing more
! beautiful than when the earth has put
/ on i.s winter robe Of white and CLEANS
/ s,ll ana placid in the cold sunshine.
| What is pleasantar than the long winter
/ evenings? Neither May with its buds.
nor June with its flowers has More I'D
/ oner Let the wind blow and the sleet
rattle on the roof. Who cares when We
I are safe within doors. Hark how old
/ Bore1s bowls with appointment be-
| bis voice adds 10 our snugness and COM
| fort. The coal is piled high 90 the CRATE.
Tho window shutters are closed, and the
biggest and sOftcst arm chair is pulled
up in front OF the fire. We lean back
and prepare for pleasant evening with
old friends What shall It beg Shal
we make @ pilgrimage TO the sunny lands
with some sxiiful traveller and coniure
back the Southern brcozcs and the flow
cre? or shall we laugh with that dear
obi gentleman. Mr. Pickwick, or shed
sympathetic tear over the woes or
Florence Dombey or at the death OF
colonel Newcome2 What better night
can there De 10 fight with Iyanhoe ut the
tournament again. or 20 Follow Jennie
Deans 10 the feet Of tire King2
Ilark. tho wind is rafting again and
tho sicet is still falling on the roof. But
we hear not. for We are young again
and are borne FAR away on the printed
pages Oh o. land where there are heroes
and herones and virtue has lbs reward
and vice COS punishment and the voices OF
the winter night are nothing 20 us.
\ FAMOUS BARN PARTY.
II seems but step backward from the
present % the past. and I well remcm-
ber the famous barn party here in the
winter OF 1889 which recorded one Of the
most unique entertainments IN the annals
of old Virginia. and called together
notable ass mblage of tie wealth, beauty
and fashion Of this section. The moon
beams glanced and CLEANED through the
lovely grounds. and DC was a brilliant
pageant that marked the transfer of the
stream OF gay dancers that poured from
the pariors of the residence % tobacco
barn tastcfully decorated with flags and
gariands OF cvererccns. The pretty
f0or Of dancers under the brilliant lights
presented 2 scene OF simple splendor and
well did it recall some brilliant carnival
rccae under tho fnoonlit skies OF the
queen of the Adriatic Tho band was led
by Josh the celebrated negro fiddler
.ni the ballroom leader. and through
thr lauccrs and the figures Of the old
cotiil'ons. the happy dancers iioated un-
t'l the hour for supper arrived when
with appeti,es whcttel with the Joyous
exercise OF the evening, they moved 10
another barn -o partake % a champa srTe
supper chat cost over % thousand dollars
and riyalled o. Delmonico banquet. A
special train over the old Richmond
and Danvlila road conveyed the Rlcn-
m0ud guests hither and many of the
readers ~ the Times Will recall some OF
tac "la.r women and brave meu' VINO
graccI the occasion. There was the
genial and ioiy DICK Wood. OF Amelia;
and Or. joe s0u;hall Professor steven
o. SJutlaI and VIII and Frank Soutlall
OF the same county. Judge Nbuch Farrar,
OF Amelia with ready w.t ana himor.
tte life and soul OF many AN elegant
crowd Among other guests were Polk
miller and his father the late Or Giles
A. Miller who was n brother of Anderson
T. Miller our host on that occasion and
Ga virginia Gentleman of the old school