The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-01-18
BIRTH AND BEAUTY
AT THE MANSION
Banquet and Reception
of Colonial Danes.
WIT AND ELOQUENCE
Story of Virginia Told in Beautiful
Language.
OLD THINGS BROUGHT TO LIFE
Realistic Picture, OF Colonial Virginia Painted
In softly Ladeuced Sentences and Glow
ing s-Scntiments Responded
to by Eminent 0ralors-Dis.
ungu shed Gathering at
the Manson.
OLD THINGS BROUGHT TO LIFE

IN the stately halls of the Governors
Mansion there gathered last night the
descendants Of those who crossed an IN
knogn sea and builded upon strange
shore a nation new and great, TO q"
1.anor TO their memory and 20 listen to
The story of the building,
1t was the annual banquet and reception
Of the Colonial Danes, and not in years
3are the portraits that line the walls OF
The handsome salon looked down upon
80 gar. scene. The faircst of EiTginia's
fair were gathered and the CLINT of gems
upon bear shoulders WED with the CLAM
cur from bright eyes and the glow from
waxcn tapicrs in shining eandelahra Men
3n evening dress afforded the needed con-
trast that softenei the picture over the
doors were draped The flags OF Ii s4liia
and the Union, throwing IN a. oash oL
brilliant color while, between tllS9e 49,
historic penants. which have ever wave"
over a free people, were the simple arms
of the Society of Colonial Danes.
Mrs. Montague. the mistress Of the
mansion, and the president ol the society
assisted by the other iadies of the ReceI'-
zion Committee receiver the guests IN
The long salon, Willie the mellowed notes
of the orchestra made the haI reSouhd
with strains OF soft music
When the guests had been seated Colo
mel W Gordon McCabe arose and IN ms
ssyrnpathet4c and musical voice, announced
that he would read The Story OF Nlr-
Einia. written by Mrs. w. I. Eobblns'
STORY. OF VIRGINIA.
rr-,,.ro- ,,,.ss dead silence Whda Colonel
ATcCabe began TO read the beautiful, yce
dramatic story of the founding OF the
infant republic upon the western heinlS-
lJherc, and the sentences tell upon the
cars of his listeners as softly as the plue
waters lapped the shores Of the virgin
forest, whore in the year l65f the White
I1rows OF the little vessels pressed the va
gin bosom Of the James.
Growing. in beauty and interest as IL
advanced the story was told OF the SUI
..Ies of the first doughty colonfsts, thelt
,a,,erses and despair, their victory over
the savage forest anG its more savage IN
llaf,itsnts; of the sickness lhat con'elh
in the darkness and tho famine uls'
-tal,,fth abroad by day. John smith,
+bn nrond Cavalier Berkeley, Nathaniel
Bacon and George Washington were
.r.ai,7 living. and the audience saw the
dainty 1n.idens in stiff stays, IN poWder
and i'm matches, step from thelr State1S
coaches and enter the big, square PG"S
~ file staid old churches They saw her
come forth attended by band OF sai-
Iaats. with buckles at knee ana on Tue
shoes. aud they saw the whole caFaicaoe
sweep saily off TO the mansion neStiea
among the trees, Whef@ Tue ouliu'S va
1er was enjoyed
But gold lace and pcwdcr were o''1
The surface of this generation, Tor "tsn
,he time came. they showed that lhe l'i:s,i ma
who treaded the stately mlnret' co"'a
march also to the music of a drum an"
tI,a. the ewes that could Meet the Glahcss
nC tlfa ulaidens did not qtonch before IL
7nIizzles of an enemy. The Eaper "1e
I,cartif1,iiN- written and told in chaste ahd
cIoauent English the romantic and ora
,natic story OF the Mother of States IRON
i,1,. birth TO her Independence. A stefe-
on;con threw views of The actors in the
drama into view. and the mansions ana
churches where our grandfatAers ana
..randmotlers danced and worshipped
,ysr, brought yividly before the the au-
dience.
AN ELEGANT SUPPER.
Al the conclusion of the reading Of Mrs.
Robbins paper collation. was se:Ncc
from buffets In the end of the salon was
a long table decorated IN blue and yellow
and bright with lights from candles IN
,,rass ,andelabra. The center vas OF
uarcissus and asparagus fcrns, while d u
cd here and there We're tiny yellow can
dles and sprays of smilaX.
Colonel McCabe in eloquent language
gave the first sentiment, Colonial Nlr-
r.i,7ia-', and presented the venerable
president of the Constitltionai Conyen-
lion, John Goode OF Bedford, TO respond
20 it, He paid a glowing tribute to Col
onei Goode. whose shield he said. though
bearing the dent OF mary a blew. was
still horne ably in defense OF Virginia
Air. Goode said he was proud of Vir-
rinia. of her name and Of her history.
lie had been deeply affected by the paper
which he hau just heard read. 1t told q
story that should he taught in the nur-
series and in the schools TO our children
and our chitdren's children. lie told a
storv OF a parson of whose parishon-
e,s had told him he had enjoyed his SER
mon very much, but he felt quite sure
ff his text had been suffering with the
smallpox his sermon would never nave
contracted the disease. Mr. Goode said
be had no intention of leaving his text
no FAR hut 10 take the audience into his
confidence. his speech had been made
The excellent paper that had been
heard with so much pleasure had covered
tbe ground OF his speech Ire speaker
was however. d no less. and III glowing
language he culogized the iouh"ers OF
Jamestown. who had laid broad ana
daen ,hc foundation OF clv...za.on and
Christianity in new world.
In closing lie paid a tribute 10 the
Danes who hao SO materially aided IN
the building of the Empire and OF their
lfneai descendants who graceG this occa-
sion by theiI, radiant presence.
Tqgis ITrI1RE VIRGINIA..
Mr. Preston Campbell OF The Constr
t,it!onai conventions. spoke OF virginia
Of the Future. lie loved the Virginia