Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-02-11
THEN AND NOW !.
Robert NJ. Hughes on love Max
ing in Ye 0lden Times"
He Tolls Tho People OF Richmond OF
Our Ance.tors wooinr = whon
Hoopshiris scrved a. Armor-
Modern Ways are Dinercn'. How.
ever.

The Richmond papers publish very
fiatterlng notices of the lecture of our
fellow townsman. Mr.. Robert NJ. HUI
ghes, in that cisy Friday night. The
Times says:
Hon. Robert NJ. Hughes, of Norfolk,
lectured last night on Love Making in
Ye Olden Time" The lecture was de-
livered under the auspices Of the Asso-
citation for the Preservation of Virginia
Antiquities. and the Y. NJ. c. a. Audito-
rum was we'll filled with an apprecia-
tive audience. The distinguished lee
turer was introduced by Mr.. John p.
Mcclure.
Mr. Hughes stated at the opening of
his lecture thnt 1t was first read before
the Woman's Club of Richmond. 1t
was not intended to point Il moral or
adorn q tale. He disclaimed any pur-
pose of appearing learned or profound,
but would deem his object attained if
entertainment was afforded. In one re-
spect, he claimed to be an authority on
the subject, as he had attended us a
student William and Mary College
when the ancient capital was unpro-
famed by the Shrek of the locomotive
or the hand Of modern progress, and at
time when among the college bellies
was one who though foremost In the
dance, yet remembered the day of La
fayette and other Revolutionary mag
mates. SO by observation and experience
he could learn the love-making of other
days.
He referred to the sending of women
to this country as wives OF the colon
lists, and to the fact that our ancestors
had peculiar ideas of matrlmony. in
asmuch us the House of Burgesses fixed
the marriage fee at 20 shillings, while
that allowed for the preaching of a
funeral was 40 shillings, and the only
way he could explain this was that n
man would pay most any price to be
buried after he was married.
WIDOWS WERE THE CHOICE.
"a noticeable feature of our ances-
tors tastes was their prediction for
Widows" said the speaker, land some
fascinating widow usually carried off
the prize; as instances. / might men
ton Washington and the widow Custis.
Jefferson and the widow Shelton, Madi-
son and the widow Todd Well could
n Southern poet say of the widow:
She is modest, but not bashful,
Free and easy, but not bold,
Like an apple ripe and mellow,
Not too young and not too old.
Half inviting. half repulsIng,
Now advancing and now shy,
There is mischief in her dimple,
There is danger in her eye"
He also referred to the petition OF the
young women of Charleston, S. c.. to
Governor Johnson, In 1888. when they
asked that he order that mo widow
presume to marry a young man until
the maids were provided for, or else
pay each Of them fine"
Ancient love letters. Mr.. Hughes said,
were always interesting, and he quoted
quite literally from these epistles of
olden times. referring especially to the
affairs" of Washing ton and Jeffer-
son.
HOOPSIIRTS AS ARMOR
The gallants of olden times were at
one striking disadvantage" said the
speaker. You may remember the
paper in the Spectator which describes
the hoopskirt as so many lines of cir
cumvallation to keep the besieger at
n respectful distance. Hence descrip.
tions, of early courtships represent the
loXer=kneeling and kissing the tips If
his lady's fingers. while the chaperone
conveniently takes a nap.
How we have changed this institu-
ton of the chaperone, until to-day she
is forcible instance of modern i'm
provement. Formerly a duenna. whose
watchful eyes followed her youthful