Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-10-22
OLD : TINE SOCIETY.
GIrNpsEs or SOCIAL LIFE HERE
BEFORE THE WAN.
THE FGATURES OF ENTERTAINING
visitors Attracted 20 the h"ces-'"o
nails and Some of Those """
,.naea Tbem-Thc Changes ih"'
Came with the War.

Came With the War
Perhaps no city in the United SUI
has been more famous for It's oriil""'
soc,aI life than Richmond. Situated ."
,.,,er hills. above the turbulent, amber
rapjds OF the James river the CITY ~ p'o-
,,re.opo and beautiful, and was IN we
olden time" as It IS now. the ceh'io -
Fashion of tho state OF Virginia a ''",o
knowu widely for It's magnihcence' cou''-
illness. and hospitality
About half a century before 'he war
Virginia was in its prime. and Rchinono
was at the height Of It's social ordnance
In the winter many OF the opnlent pi"n'-
.rs would leave their stately homes III
the counties OF Virginia, and prins 'H'i
families 10 Richmond for month OF
marc thus swelling the ranks Of society
with beauty and wealth Many o'S"i-
euished strangers. also. visited Ricnmohu
then. In 1873 Tom Moore came ana spent
his time IN singing sweety his own
songs. and pennins sweet lines to eyes
and ljps and hair" Jerome Bonaparte,
ofeo visited The city about that time anu
us much fcted AT that period morse
rooing was the srort of gentlemen ana
All The beauty and fashion Of Richmond
.ttop5cs the races. The gentlemen OF
town and country formed jockey ciuD,
sod the spring and fan races were htiu
tn Richmond and Petersburg. ON race,
sav the country gentry focked % Town
In coaches-and-fOur. phaetons' cHaIlo'9'
and gigs. The field presented 4 hIlil"n'
aopcarance with its multitude or spIeh-
al equiUages. filled with beauuIui "oin-
en- and astir with thoir cavaliers WIZ
rode from carriage 10 carriage on 'N''i
blooded horses. ,.., ODD
Race-wook was always carnival anu
ono ~ fs most brilliant features was the
,eco-hsu This ball was opened by one
OF the managers and the lady he most
desired 10 honor. with a. stately minuel
n, IN cour. Tho gentlemen wore snorls
ana silks" pumps. and powdered halr'
phile the ladies'. in the glory OF multi
.olorea brocades and satns. looked Ike
a gorgeous tulip-bed swaying IN the
wind. After the profound stateliness OF
,be minuet the more lively reel was
danced and. after that. the contra
dances Probably the ban would end
with q JIG. or hornpipe.
The Barbecue Club. TO which great
MANY OF the first gentlemen or the city
belonged. was exceedingly popular rms
club would meet at buchanan spring
where a fine dinner would be laid under
the great oaks. This dinner, with Us
cheerful accompaniment of teddy, punch
snd rnint-ule ops. would be all the more
enioved for being eaten I'm the open air.
Before dinner tho gentlemen amused
themselves by pitching quolls' WHICH ""'
their favorite game.
A prominent member Of the Barbecue
Club was Judge Marshall, and Parsons
buchanan and Blair were honorary
members.
4 favorite evening pastime was the
game Of Loo which was played by
both sexes. but especially loved by the
ladies. After "dish Of tea" the card
table was brought out. and in the eX-
ictement Of winning and losing the fair
zones were often brought TO tears. This
amusement became so unpleasant that
Ceorce Tucker under the name Of Hick-
ory Cornhill, made such an attack on II
that IL gradually disappeared.
In 1s24. when Lafayette came TO Rich
mond, all tho city surged in one trium-
phal procession 10 do him honor.
Every window was filled with the lovely
smiling faces Of mothers and daughters
who threw many q kiss 10 the courtly
old man as he passed That night q
magnificent ball was given the great
general IN the quadrangle formed by the
surrounding buildings and galleries or
ths Eagle Hotel, q space OF 500 feet.
This was foored over and covered with
awning anC handsomely decorated.
a. 80 though the space was it was
CROW ~d with tho wit, beauty, and ele-
sance vi the city.
A conspicuous figure at the gay as
eembies was the old negro fiddler, 81
Gilliat He always wore an embroidered
silk coat and vest of faded lilac. and
q brown curled wig with long queue.
Oils manners were az cOurtly as his dress,
md as his fiddle and bow were
in constant 'reQuisiticn, he was q popular
adjunct Of society.
From the opulent society Of ante
bollum times 10 that Of Richmond du-
ring the war was a great step, change
from wealth to poverty. But although
the gay beaux and bellies often suffered
FOR the very necessities OF life, and the
shadow of terrible uncertainty hung over
the city society threw of 'carking
care" and YVES very merry.
During the war the population of Rich
mond was tripled. An inilUX OF hand
some and gallant soldiers from Mary
land. Virginia, and further South, could
not fail. with the hundreds OF beautiful
refugees, TO make the gathering very
brilliant.
starvation parties" were the most
popular forms Of entertainment, and at
them the wartime bellies danced as mer-
rily in their calico as they had be-
fore in purple and fine linen.
Though no refreshments were offered,
indeed, there were none available, these
parties were brilliant with the greatest
men and the most beautiful women of
tho South. The costumes were varied.
Gentlemen came in civilian evening
dress. in fatigue jackets, just from camp