Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-26
HOSPITALITY AT CAMP LEE.
An Account of an Evening spent
There by Richmond Ladies.

There by
A party of ladies. each with relatives
near and dear amongst the soldier boys
in the Second Regiment, went out last
evening to Camp Lee for parting home
talk and "good-by the order had come
for their loved ones to leave the next
morning for Tampa, on their way to
Cuba.
Although some hours had gone in talk,
and time enough passed for the an
nouncement to the public In camp thAt
the order for the. morrow's moving had
been revoked, the ladies were all aston
ishment at the rapid flight OF time, marx
ed by the military call to supper.
They were urged by officers OF the Sc
cond to come and partake with them OF
soldier fare, but to this the ladies, feeling
themselves altogether unfamiliar with
camp etiquette and limitations, objected
that acceptance would be-well-too much
of an imposition upon the hospitality OF
their entertainers All objection, however,
was soon removed by the soldiers quick
Appreciation and timely remark that IL
was no uncommon thing at Camp Lee Tor
the ladies to do them this honor Thus
dehcately they made these ladies feel the
present acceptance of their invitation to
Ibe CONNIE ii faut.
Upon being CALAMITY escorted TO taDle'
neatly set with knives, forks, spoons,
plates. cups-of the regulation camp sill
| YER" of coursei-salt and pepper cruets
| and all else needful, the ladies laughingly
I)exclaimed over a table set in regular
style. At which exclamation the soldiers
! reproachfully asked If they were expect
| ed to eat out of their fingers on the
groundl To this the gay reply was that
| "According to a report in town, at the
| sound of a war cry from sergeant,
| hungry soldiers rushed madly to seize
| and deyour the first old loaf to be grab
bed anywhere out of a great, uncovered
dray, that would dry up, filled with
loaves upon top of loaves of bread, thrown
in like so much provender! These
loayes would be eagerly bitten off Of and
washed down by gulps of coffee in great
tin cups"
A handsome young officer, with the
most open countenance and complexion
like q girl of 16, the latter showing evil
IDENTIFY this is his first campaign, answers
this sally with quick flush. and in an
earnest tone, says that in his company
at least he can answer for his table
they always act as they would at home
for one thing they never sit down 10 q
meal without first asking a blessing
Though this is not further remarked
upon, it made its impression, and left
with the ladies a feeling of regret fal
from the speakers intention-that then
lively presence should this time have
caused the omission of the usual blessing
Their novel experience of supper II
camp, with stalwart soldiers for COOKS
gracious soldier boys for walters, gailan
soldier officers for hosts, made them Tor
get for the time that each passing even
arf Of "A o.
mic How could they feel otherwise amlds
hannv. smiling faces, peals of merr,
laughter. flashes of wit i'm lieu of sabres
salljes of repartee instead of sallies o
war crowds of ladies full Of ease ant
vivacity, fitting here and there, any
where. everywhere, all over the camp
grounds. without let or hindrance, ant
with perfect propTiety, receiving on al
| sides always that respectful courtesy ant
attention. which our Virginia men know
/. so well how to give, and our soldier boy
now at Camp Lee never fail to extend,
. did their fathers before them, 10 all lac
visitors.
? II was hard TO realize that all this ga
: scene was the prelude TO grim war! Atte
the serving of hot hash and cold bread
accompanied by liberal cups OF steamih
, coffee. came a special treat Of the mos
: luscious of strawberries, and the riches
: and best of ice-creams-as the mouse
2 keeper amongst these ladies afterward
! remarked. made of the pure cream
) girls: not milk and cream-half and half!
When the polite soldier waiter, with
, bow, handed each of the party NAPKIN
: freshly washed and pressed. but not iror
4 ed. he smilingly apologized for the lac
| of fat-irons in camp.
At the close of the feast on the taoi
: ACCOMPANIED by the proverbial feast
= reason and flow of soul from hosts, II
! Guiding those coporeal and also accies
= astic-tbere was one OF the latter beloni
ing 10 this soldier party. who announce
himself to the ladies as retired ONCE
y still lingering with his company as the
l. .sniritual adviserr'-at the close OF
ali the ladies took their departure. Z
Z the way home they voted this, OF u
l. many teas they had attended Mort
y south, East. and West. the most move
i and one OF the most enjoyable, and u
i unanimous wish OF the party Is that OF
d OF these days they may have the pleasul
q M returning the hospitality OF this ey
= ming. bh oNN Of iiiHni'
a May 25. 1885,