The Washington herald., 1915-01-03
NEW YEARS DAY GLOOMY in
SOUTHERN CAPITAL
January l, 1865.
JANUARY I, Poo.

Richmond observed New Years Day with
such simple hospitality as their straight
ened circumstances permitted.
The day fell on Sunday. The ground
was carpeted with newly fallen snow
several inches deep. and the air was
clear and cold. The churches were well
attended. A diarist noted that Jefferson
Davis attended the service at St PauFs
wearing "a knit woolen cap" and that
the pastor preached a sermon against
those who talked gloomily Of the future
Of the Confederate cause.
Reviewing the military situation, the
diarist concluded: Thus We begin the
new year-Heaven only knows how we
shall end it,,
There was. indeed, little to cheer the
people of Richmond on New Years Day,
1865. The city was virtually in state
OF siege. Part Of Grants army was on
the north side OF the James River, in
trenched only seven miles from the Con-
federate capitol Lees army was suffer-
ing for food and clothing at Petersburg,
twenty-five miles south, which was Rich
mond's main defense.
The observance of the old Southern
customs OF hospitality on New Years
Day was much curtailed for want OF
means.
Happy was the New Years guest Of
1855, II a man. who received an invita-
ton to take something from some care
fully guarded bottle.
In spite Of this Richmond was not with
out gayety that winter. Balls, 'tableaux
and weddings diverted the younger people.
The shortage OF staple foodstuffs-not
to mention delicacies-made il almost i'm
possible for much refreshment to be
served. At the parties, which were
styled "starvations,' IT had become a
rule that James River water should be
the only thing offered the guests.
High Cost of Clothing.
The scarcity of supplies was akin to
that OF clothes They were not only hard
to get but the depreciation in Confed-
crate money made them enormously ex-
pensive.
Mrs. SaIlie Brock Putnam, in her story
of Richmond During the War" tells of
the great expense of wOmen's dress in
the winter months of 1Ss4-5.
The simplest wardrobe Of a lady at
this time was enormously expensive. For
an ordinary calico. for which We formerly
paid l215 cents per yard, we were forced
to pay from 80 to S35.
For an English or French chintz, the
price was so per yard. A nice French
merino or mohair dress cost from $500
to 81 900. cloak OF fine cloth was worth
from 1900 to $500. A pair of balmoraI
OOOIS lot ihultb brought a-VV 10 S1JD.
French kid gloves sold at from Sla5
to $40 per pair. Irish linens commanded
from so to 800 per yard, and cotton cloth
Of inferior quality varied from $50 to $50
per yard.
I'VE hardly dare trust ourselves to give
the price Of ladies' hats, but they varied
from the difference in quality and ma
teriaI from $500 to 1850, and all things
else pertaining to a simple outfit COM
manded proportionate prices"
Though the women experienced the
greatest difficulties in getting clothes, the
men suffered, too. John s. Wise in ''The
End OF an Era" tells Of his efforts to
present a respectable appearance at the
wedding of Col. William B. Tabb, Of the
Fifty-ninth Virginia Infantry. and Miss
Emily Rutherford, both of old Virginia
families.
Search for n Wedding Garment.
81 had a pair of captured trousers
originally destined for a private in the
Union army, now converted into a Con-
federate officers best attire. Pretty fair
trousers they were, worn with a long
tailed coat. but unfit for use with a
jacket.
my boots were of fair leather:
lampblack and oil were still plentiful.
and, after half an hour of hard work,
they shone black and resplendent.
But my 1900 coat; it was only in en-
bryo. There was no hope OF its being
finished in time, What was to be done?
Coats were coats in those days, and not
to he found hanging on every bush. Vain
ly here and there sought for the we'd
ding garment Every one whose coat
might ht me was as intent as myself
upon attending that entertainment
I'VE were talking II over at the mess
when, to my great relief, Barksdale War
wick, one of my fathers aids. took me
aside and whispered TO me that he would
be on duty the day OF the wedding, and
IL ! could use Il, might wear a new
coat Now 'Barkey' was a first lieu
tenant IN the 'Canaries,' as we called the
stan. while was only a subaItern in
tho Blues as they dubbed the infantry:
arrayed in his coat with buff trimmings
with infantry stripes on my trousers. my
attire would indeed be somewhat in
ecngruous.
'"The real question was not one Of style.
but one OF it. Az. there was the rub!
For Barksdale Warwick was fully six
feet high and thin as a riding whip. while
I was short and plump as q partridge.
But gratefully accepted a note TO his
mother. and. on the day OF the wedding
marched proudly to my lodgings with
the coveted article under my arm
1T was not without grave mIsgivings
that stepped forth attired for the we'd
ding. The length OF Barksdale's waist
was such that the bottom buttons of that
coat somewhat constrained the move
ments Of my hips; the coat tails nearly
reached my ankles; as for the sleeves, I
was fortunate to get occasional glances
at my ingertips.
'"rhe whole effect was to give me the
appearance Of a giant In body, dwarf IN
legs and an unfortunate who had lost
both hands As came downstairs draw
ing on pair OF new white thread gloves,
q married sister nearly paralyzed me by
well-intended compliment upon my nice
new overcoat' and my witty wag OF
sister, whose escort was. shrieked with
merriment at my remarkable attire.
But what cared II would have gone
I'M = meal sack.
'.As for the costumes of the ladies, they
were wonderful TO behold. They seemed
TO have ransacked every old trunk in the
garrets Of Richmond, and some had ac-
tually utilized the lace and damask win
dow curtains OF peace times. Rut a jol-
lier and happler-seeuing throng was
never assembled
That youth should be gay even In the
shadow OF war was nature, and the
young people Of Richmond. on the New
Years Day of 1855 were glad to turn, as
they had at this wedding and others.
from the horrors OF war TO an hour Of
Hm~ Nmr.a aHm2 ~ ".