The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-08-27
Beaux and Bellies
of Earlier DAYS

OF 1854 when General George Washing
ton. of Mount Vernon. on the Potomac.
came to visit the city and discuss with
the municipal government plan for
! connecting the James and Potomac
| Rivers with tho Ohio
| The City Fathers celebrated the pres.
ence of the former comman der in chief
OF the Continental! forces, during the
| war for American Independence in
Richmond by ball. given at the City
| Tavern, on the northwest corner OF
| Main and Nineteenth Streets
| Population in 1852.
a census taken two years previous
placed the population of the capitar
! city at i.o3l. The corner stone of the
| Capitol building had not yet been laid
| But the Virginia Gazette or American
| Advertiser. weekly newspaper, had
| already been esoa biisfied By James
Hays. the order for the Houdon statue
had been given, and the Mayor Of Rich
mond, DR.. William Foushee. aided and
abetted BY the handsome matrons and
their daughters. made up in quality
what might be lacking in numbers at
the ball. For those were the days In
which the Mayos. Marshalls Wythes
Blairs, Adamses and many Others had
already begun to lay the social founda-
lions which caused Thackeray. when
he came later to describe Richmond ae
the cheeriest and most agreeable town
in America.
| Constitutional Convention of 15Ss.
The discussion aroused by the pro.
posed adoption of the Federal Constf-
tuition brought together in the Acade.
my of Fine Arts. the first building of
It's kind in the United States, on the
east side of Twelfth. between Broad
and Marshall Streets, Il memorable
convention, June 2. 17Ss. The adoption
of the Constitution was favored by
Madison. Marshall and Wythe and OBJ
posed by Henry. Mason and Monroe.
There were many diners given during
the time of the convention. The house,
wives did great credit to themselves
on this occasion and the charming
younger members of families listened
! with becoming Difference to the wit
with which repasts were favored
There was no dscernible lack OF in
terest on the part of the fair sex when
the Rev. James Madison was chosen
first Bishop OF Virginia in the capitol
building, on May Z. 1890. BY this there
We're about three hundred residences in
tho town and a fashionable prone made.
terraced and elm shaded. extended
along the elevated bank of the river
from Nineteenth Street. some distance
down stream.
Trial of Aaron Burr.
The poet Moore visited Richmond In
1903 and Washington Irving came to
the trial OF Aaron Burr held in the
|
presiding and John Randolph, OF Roa-
noge, Va. foreman of the jury. Burr's
daughter, the beautiful Theodosia, was
with her father during his trial and
was most kindly looked after by Rich
mond women.
The flower of Richmond's beauty and
ohivalry We're gathered in the new
theatre on Broad Street below twelfth.
where the Monumental Church now
stands. on December 26. 1911. when
seventy OF the audience. including the
Governor OF the State and other promi-
nent people persisted in fire which
consumed the building.
Miss Mnyo's Marriage.
March IL, 1917. was brilliantly cele-
brated in social way by the wedding
at Bellville. the Mayo home In tho
western part of the city. OF Miss Mn ria
Mayo TO General Winfield Scott. OF the
United States army. a miniature OF
Miss Mayo bears testimony to the beau
~ which caused hundred suitors to
offer their homage, before General Scott
was accepted.
Notwithstanding the fact that Rich
mond and Virginia bellies are said to
have been so devoted to home affairs
and so entirely OF the same opinion az
their husbands, those who look into
Richmond history during the year 1870
VIII find that there was then great ex-
element over n presidential cam
VI.
and William Henry Harrison were fav-
ored nominees, An immense log cabin
was built on the site of the Eagle Hotel
Main Street. between Twelfth and
Thirteenth. by the Wings. Daniel
Webster came TO Richmond and made
an address from the Capitol portco.
The next day he spoke to the ladies'
IN the log cabin and pleased them
by what he said that they ordered his
speech printed on satin. as souvenirs
First Wedding In Saint Pnurs.
The first wedding in Saint. Paurs
Church was celebrated in 1s45. when
Miss Sally Bruce was married to the
Hon. James Seldom The Rev. VIII
liam Norwood WAS rector of the church
and the wedding was an event long
to be remembered BIS those present.
Beloved Mrs. Morris,
The year 1866 saw Robert Norris In
MS hrst public once-a membtr OF the
Board OF Port Wardens About this
time no fell in love. The lady was
e Mary White, the 'languishingly sweet
S Mary OF the Assemblies and one OF the
most charming bellies of the period
" She was not beautiful, but she had an
e old fashioned virtue called "sensi
4, biltty." and through long life from
the day she made her first bow at a
Philadelphia ball in 1859 as Mrs Nor
a ris. to the year 1924, when the old
n. Marquis de Lafayette took her with
d him to the ball given In his honor.
Y, she was universally beloved. During
Ia, the Washington administration, both In
New York or Philadelphia Mrs. Robar,3
Morris was always considered the
II second lady in the land AL the ievees
! she stood al Mrs Washingtons right
=, hand. and her Kindness seems to have
r. killed all envy. John Jay. writing
3 from Madrid to her husband. says:
| The HI.Ia