Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-09-04
DOWNRIGHT. 1881

AFTER the war of 1912 there used to
come here, in regular troops, children,
"grOwn ups" and colored servants.
Then came the war that devastated
the South and made it, like a phenix,
60 rise again from its ashes, and for
swhile, when the ashes were still
warm, this old fashioned place had but
Jew visitors. Its time was to come.
There were too many memories about
it for it to be neglected.
Life seems one great round of love-
making. These Springs were never
meant for fast matrons or elderly spin
sters, but they were dedicated to the
beauty of youth, and it is supreme.
The position of the mother Of the aver
age 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
because her own mother is an invalid
who cannct endure life at the White
sulphur. Ia short, it is the position
of matronly hen over very lively
brood. If there is one dominant in
fdustry il the South, one would have
to admit-that is, if one wished to be
honest-that it is the Infant" one, for
the average Southern family has from
four to fourteen children. At a we'd
ding given near this place not so very
long ago the great desire of the bride
was to keep an old darby, commonly
called Aunt LiZZy," as far from her
as possible, since it was believed that
she possessed the mystic power, known
as 1.-The laying on Of hands, which in
sured to the happy couple handsome,
healthy pair of twins before the year
was over.
Girls used to buy Aunt LZZy How
erd to stay away, but she was inclined
IL be something of a-well, she was
inclined to tell what wasn't quite true.
So she would accept the present and
then appear at the wedding and stand,
ghoul-like, at the dor, ready TO put
her horrible black fingers, long and
mystical looking, upon the white gown
O. veil of the unfortunate bride. Every
Southern girl for miles around knows
sbout her, and every one OF them
breads her. Not that they don't want
70 have a tribe of children-that seems
30 be their greatest happiness-but as
young matron put it to me, If Aunt
LiZZie Howard does manage TO 'hoodOo
iyou, it is not so much yourself that
iyou care about, but for some reason
Fhe gentlemen seem to be guyed lit
fle bit about twins, and yet why should
obey?
Just look at the doctor that attend
Eed gallant and religious Stonewall
4Jackson! Why, he had two or three
isets of twins! And then think of poor
General Hood with numerous pairs Of
twins! | do believe they were beauti-
full. | can't remember, but mamma
says that when the Hood babies all
came out with their nanny everybody
used to laugh and say, There goes
Hoods battalion But you know we
Southerners like babies nightly, and
] never can think that house is really
we'll furnished unless there are plenty
of little folks and two or three well
bred dogs"
There is always at the White Sui
phur one girl who is the belle. While
there may be hundreds of pretty girls,
still there is enc each season who is
triumphant, and to have been the
belle at the White Sulphur and not TO
be engaged at its end and counted as
matron during the next means that
the beauty was d failure The present
enc comes from close to the line that
divides the North from the South. She
is dressed simply, for the best reason
IN the world. Her people have very
little money to spend, and she has been
brought here by a rich cousin. She
fixes over her frocks, and when one
or two more handsomely dressed girls
have pitied or sc0ffed at her she al
ways says with a laugh: 'Oh, l don't
mind it as long as | look nice and it is
quite fun fixing over your things. You
never know how they are going to turn
out"
The white muslin dress is washed.
fresh ribbons put on it, and the belle of
the ball dances not Cnly all through the
night, but half the morning and the
greater part Of the afternoon, for at
the Ok White everybody dances.
sometimes think that is one reason
why Southern children are so graceful
Taken off for the summer, an awkward
boy will be hauled in to fill up a
stuare dance, and before he knows
ahything about anything he is getting
compliments all around, and the pref
test girl there is saying to him, Why,
Tommy, | didn't know you could dance
so WE'LL" And tomorrow morning
Tommy has the courage to ask some
one to dance with him, and soon his
awkwardness goes away, while happy
mother says to Toms mother, "Why,
Mrs Gordon, your Tom is getting to
be real man." and Toms mother
smiles and looks lovingly at the au-
thor of Toms being and says. well,
he certainly don't get his good man
ners and his fine dancing from strang-
ers," and the little jest is made much
of, and so life goes on in very inno-
ceclt manner.
The belle of the ball is saying: But
] don't think our men would like it,
The two soft brown eyes are lookin g
up into yours, and these words are
coming from two rosy, red lips. She
is giving you her opinion as TO what
"our men like" From her youth up
her brother has been trained to walt
on her but also from her youth up she
has been trained to give the pretty lit
tie THANK you,'' the affectionate nod,
the caressing word that is so delight
full 70 the heart Of man and which