The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-04-30
A Fortune For
a Dance
Spirited Bidding For a Partner
at a Charity Ball
By HENRIETTA DEERlNc

During the first half of the nine
teenth century, when the patriarchal
or plantation system existed in the
southern states, there were three dis
tinct classes-the planters, the poor
whites and the negro slaves. 1t Is
questionable IL the negroes condition
was not preferable to that OF the poor
white
Colonel Richard Runlet OF Virginia
was kind to his slaves, and both he and
all his family were greatly interested
in charity.
| A neighborlng planter, Oliver Des-
borough. having had bad luck for
several years in succession with his
tobacco crop. found himself in pecuni-
airy difficulties Colonel Runlet assist
ed him, and when DesborouGh was
sold out under foreclosure OF mort
gage the colonel bought his plantation
and his negroes. paying for them a
higher price than he was compelled
to pay. But when he discovered that
there was love affair between Des-
borough's only son, Lawrence, and his
own daughter, Constance. he gave the
young girl to understand that no union
could take place between the two
families on account of the Desbor-
oughs' impoverished condition.
Constance was but seventeen and
Lawrence twenty. She was too young
TO defy her father, and her lover had
little on which TO live, to say moth
ing of taking care Of wife. Besides,
he was an ambitious young man and
scorned the idea Of remaining in a re-
gion where the wealth was inherited,
not made, and where he must inevi-
tably be always considered n poor
white" 1t nearly broke his and the
girls hearts to part, but part they did.
he going north TO carve out a career.
Lawrence Desborough disappeared
from the south in the middle of the
century. Out of the wreck OF the fam
fly fortune his father gave him $1,000,
saying: my boy. you are young and
strong and smart. Use this money to
advantage, and some day when you
have succeeded come back here and
buy back the plantation and those ne
groes who may not have left it." Law
renee babe his parents goodby. and it
was long while before he saw his
home again.
Colonel Runlet was one of the few
planters who emerged from the war
with their plantations intact, though a
number Of his slaves had drifted else.
where. The majority. however, re-
manned TO work for him for what he
could afford to give them. The old
plantation life had passed away. and
even th' colonel, though better Off than
most Of his neighbors, found 1t difficult
to maintain himself. His former gifts
to charity could not be continued. but
the women of his family worked for
the benefit OF the poor in those ways
10 which their sex is peculiarly adapt
cd, getting up fairs and amusements
stance, now twenty-seven years old
and very attractive, was foremost in
all such efforts and was worshiped
not only by those whom she assisted.
but by those who worked with her.
During the winter after the close OF
the war there was so much misery not
only among the lower classes, but
among many who lived in affiuence,
that Constance asked her fathers per-
mission to give n masked ball for char
ity. He consented at once, and every
was made to give eclat TO
the occasion. Since the work to be
done was far beyond Constance's sin.
gle powers she invited a number OF
her friends to become her assistants.
The staff was divided into committees,
one Of which was to search for unique
customs which might be introduced
at the ball.
Among the recommendations made
by this committee was one that one OF
the members had read of in Spanish
book. In Granada there was or had
been custom at balls. given for the
purpose of raising money wherein the
privilege of the first dance with any
lady was sold to the man who would
pay the highest price for 1t. The com.
mittee arranged that those ladies who /
would permit the privilege OF this
dance with them to be sold should be
Off before the dancing be- |
gan. About dozen prominent young
ladies consented, among them the host
ess. Constance Runlet.
The costumes were OF home manu-
facture, for there was no money with
which to buy them. But such labor
tends to make the object for which it
Is undertaken the more enjoyable.
Antebellum wardrobes were ransacked.
and every available bit of finery that
had been slowed away in the south's
halcyon period was brought out TO be
turned into dresses for queens, prin-
cesses and other historical characters
for the women, and kings and noble
men for the men. When the influx OF
guests had ceased there was a flourish
by the orchestra dmprovised negro mu.
sicians). aud the throng made its way
to the dancing hall, where the auction
for partners was TO take. place. Colo
mel Runlets house was one OF those
colonial Virginia mansions in which a
ballroom was indispensable. In this
case the whole Of the top story was