The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-12-28
J by Mcbride. MIST & Co.

/ the purchase of tho Houdon statue
Tho matter of price was not definitely
fixed. France, in the spendthrift
Glorios OF the second empire. WAS will
ms to pay high for q new toy for her
great gallery.
Poor Virginia. She was hard pressed
those days for the necessities of lite
10 say nothing of its ordinary COM
forts. Her pockets were empty. She
was bankrupt. Her mouth must have
watcred bit at thought of those
hundreds OF thousands of French
francs Rnt she stood firm, and if you
know Virginia at all, you will saw "of
course sho stood firm Southern
gentleman would almost rcpudiate his
financial obligations before he would
sell one of the choice possessions of
his families. There arc great planta-
ton housrs still standing in the Old
Dominion which We're spared the torch
of wa! by tn" mercy of God and whose
walls hold aloft the handiwork Of the
finest painters OF England. in the sew
enteenth and eighteenth centuries:
rare portraits of Tho masters and mis-
uesses Of those old houses. In them
too. are furniture and silver whose
real value is hardly TO be computed.
not even by the screw OF a dealer ia
antiques. Tie folk in these old houses
may hc poor-if they como of the old.
are They stand braveiy, though. to
The traditions Of their hospitality, even
though they wonder If the bacon is
going 10 last and II II Is safe for tho
brood TO luii another chicken But
they would close their Kitchen and
live on berries ana on herbs before
they would part with even the humblest
piece OF silver OF of furniture; while
II dealor should come down from
Washington or Sew York and make an
oder no matter how generous. for one
OF the paintings. he would probably be
PUT of the place.
Family means much to these Vir-
e!nlana. II you do not believe this go
10 Richmond. stop In ono OF It's fine
houses and make your host take Won
To one OF the dances for which tho city
Is famed. Almost any dance will do
ana from tho beginning you will he
charmed. The minor appointments vii!
approach perfection. and you Will find
the linen and women OF the city wor
thy or It's best traditions. Some places
may disappoint in their we'll advertised
charm but the Eiiis of Richmond never
disappotnt Here Ia one Of them She
gets you In quiet corner OF the place,
meets Ii friend over there. and 3 CON
Versation somewhat after this fashion
gets under way:
Miss Rhott. allow NE 70 Introduce
X.
iou bow low and ask Mas Rhett If
by any chance she Is related TO the
Rhctts OF Charleston
Only distantly Ny people nre all
Nirginians. The Charleston Rhetts are
quite another branch. My grand
iather's brother married Miss Morris
from Savannah. and tho Charleston
hhctts oil come from thorn. If nv
papa we're only here he would explain
You say that you understand and
iuurmur romethinG about having met
u Richard Henry Rhott nj tho old
Colonial town OF williamsburg few
years ago when YOU were down for
the Jamestown exposition
He was Petersburg Rhett," tho
young lady explains. son OF cousin
OF my father Ho married Mis-, Vir-
Ginia Tr.dcgnr last year"
You remember hearing Of Mis-,
Virginia Tredegar. OF Roanoke and YOU
slip out that fact But this is Miss
Nugini, Ttedeear, OF Weldon. and n
Poanoke Miss Virginia Tredcgar OF
eidon-now Mrs Richard Henry
Rhett. OF course. is delightful girl.
The young LADY who has YOU In the
corner assures you that-and she, her
self. is not lacking IN charms Mrs
lIhett was sponsor FOR the State for
several years. and you vaguely won
~ Jus W thN tI4dl may 'Ht8ll. as you
have visions Of large floats numbering
along IN street parades, with really
lovely girls In white standing upon
them. And you also have visions OF
Tho Miss Virginia TredcIar, of Wei
dom sitting in the other days upon the
door steps OF an old red and white Co
ionial house. which faces n hot little
open square. visions OF her accomplish
ments and her beauty; Of her ability
10 ride the toughest horse In the couu-
y, 10 dance seven hours without seem
ing fatigue. Of the Jealous beaux who
come mockinE 70 her feet You IND
yourself IDLY speaking OF these visions
10 your companion. She laughs
I've Just the right girl for YOU.
she says. and che - hero in this ball
room. She Is all these things--and
come more; the rightcst. smartest