The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1899-10-27

drawn In An Old Virginia Correspon
dence." and published in the Atlanti.
Monthly. The young people. wh,
should read IL. will find that with al
Of the innumerable accessions Of
modern improvements, brought to u,
In these later days by the restless in
ventors and promoters. the human
heart beats as 1t did of old. and II
finds none Of these marvellous modern
conveniences add much ecstasy to its
beatings.
These letters are occasional. and
coven long period. Daiss Willard
Smith who lives in Yorktown, Va,
and is only sixteen years of age writes
in 1850, to Miss Betsey Amber who h
only fifteen years OF age, and lives In
Richmond, Va. Miss Mildred shows In
her letters the high breeding and form
ality Of Virginia girl. and tells her
friend that the French war ships, IN
der Count Rochambeau (the time was
Just before the surrender of Cornwall
lis), are in port. and she confides to
Miss Betsey some observations on love
affairs. Miss Betsey, aged fifteen, re-
plies at length in choice and stately
language, which few of the college
bred girls Of today could excel. She
tells Miss Mildred that she had been
to ball at the Palace in Williams
burgh, and played of a thousand airs
which would have provoked lecture
from you an hour long" And then
she speaks of one Marshall who was
devoted to her sister at the ball. Miss
Betsey's father, Richard Amber, was
first treasurer OF Virginia, and with
his numerous family OF girls, is driven
from Richmond into the mountains, by
Tarleton's raid through the State.
Brave Miss Betsey writes without any
excitement to Miss Mildred, about the
pursuit by the British, the living in a
hovel, the concealment OF her father.
DO these girls Of Honolulu realize
what 1t means and how misfortune was
hammering into fine gold the metal in
the souls Of these gentle Virginia girls?
Miss Mildred, within two years, writes
again polished, stately and loving
letter, in which she wishes she could
guard her friend from juvenile extrava-
gances, to which she is prone. Then
Miss Betsey in 1885, writes of her own
love affairs, but soon after follows
with letter which describes her recent
marriage to Col. Brent, and with path
etic words tells her of his sudden death.
Then fourteen years pass. Miss Betsey
has again married and to Col. Caring
ton, a friend and army comrade OF Gen.
| Washington. She now writes to her
sister Nancy, in 1899, from Mount Yer
non. where she and her husband are
the guests Of Gen. and Mrs. Washing
ton. She gives a charming picture OF
the Washingtons' home life. She
visits Mrs. WashingtOn's room. "On
one side sits the chamber-maid with
her knitting. on the other side a little
colored pet learning to sew; a decent
old woman, with her tables and shears,
cutting out the negroes winter
clothes; while the good old lady MRS.
Washington directs them all, inces-
sanity knitting herself, and pointing
out to me several pairs OF nice colored
stockings and gloves she has just
finished. and presenting me with pair
half done, which she begs will finish
and wear for her sake" The former
Miss Betsey. now Mrs. Darlington,
visiting in the home of one of the fore
most men Of his age. continues in her
letter referring to the Washingtons.
that 1t was but one year" since they
were forced to sacrifice all these inno-
cent delights, which are so congenial
to their years and tastes. to the Parade
of the Drawing Room and Levee." The
women who are trying, with the aid
OF money. to get some small measure
Of pleasure out OF these modern days,
will notice that .-rs. Washington calls
those days Of home delights which theaf
were forced to give up for the Presl-
Dental Mansion. the lost days." This
rare letter Is fascinating. But portion,
Of it is torn of. Let us be thankful
for what remains. Aid then Mrs.
lBetsey) Darlington. on her return to
Richmond writes to her sister Nancy
OF the earlier years Of their lives, of
their iniirm mother, and o. their father;
for notwithstanding the father
held an Office Which, afforded little
leisure for such employment, every
hour from business was devoted to us. :"
And he educated tn.se courtly Vir-
ginia girls. But she writes: The Rod
at that time was an instrument never