Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-11-14

great bank of oysters In the shell In
one of the damp ground floor base
ment rooms. and had them served
Richmond for u supper and dance at
this hospitablc mn. for they could
rely always upon being served with
whatever they wanted. including q
string-band OF negro nddlers ana a
brightly lighted ballroom.
This was before the days Of manu-
factured Ice and rapid transit across
country. so the ice cream needed had
TO DO ordered by letter day ahead
or by messenger. This was all that
was necessary for the four or nvo
pie Ice houses belonging to the
tavern were never without Ice from
one winter to tho next. and the big
herd In the nchr-by pastures left
nothing lacking when tho richest
cream was needed.
Post-Ofice at Tavern.
Tho post Office was kept mt Good
airs and L had to 20 over there Sow
erai times during tho week for tho
mail. which was brought from Rich
In this way I became very well nc
quaintcd with tho proprietor and his
family. or ns well al ten-yeur-o.o
noy could become acquainted with
by tho stern-iooting and dignitled
old colonel. but / had tho run OF tho
house with the res, of tho family who
simply because l was pmulI boy
ana they were Rrown-ups.
In consequence u. this friendship
and intimacy with these hno people
ton to attend ball to he given in
honor OF Miss Ellen's birthday cit do
not say which birthday. could
naraiy ncneve my eyer when read
mo TO give them the pleasure of my
company on tho occasion Coming
from MISS Ellen. whom considered
man had ever scen. l OF course. fol,
most highly complimentcd. and i'm
mediatcly commenced to make in
Quiries AZ TO jus; what a hall was.
and how TO dress for one and what TO
do whet got there.
My mother after reading tho ad-
dress on the envelope said IL Was In
tended Tor me, and asked me. Il
wanted 10 &" II 1 could got liked up
In the proper Yarb and lind OUT how
70 proceed when things wore In fun
biast: l though, my mother seemed
tho matter and told me jus, what had
to be done, and began TO prepare FOR
So on the evening OF tho ball was
dressed fauitlessly Ia pa;cn, leather
pumps. white vest and broaAclo,h
surt' the GOAT being regular swallow
lapel. II was dark before Uncle
John" ono OF our most faithful col
ored men, TOOK me over 10 the tavern.
AZ the nntcroom the butler took my
met by Miss Ellen herself and ushcred
Into tho big, and brilliantly lighted
nounccd. She. then introduced mo 70 a
youn. lady about my own age. Miss
Emma C.. a niece Of hers. who made
me feel perfectly At home very soon.
:. That large ballroom Mas rs bril-
iiantiy lighted az II by Eas or cleo
i;rr bstSy' sg, !; -, was ali candle light,
ing three candles each. These were
set about wherever "A table. stand or
inantei piece could accommodate
strung around the entire room Mt
thched To tho walls using more than
100 candles. II took Two Attendants
10 keep them "snuffcd" and ropicn-
!shcd.
Tho mon were all in evening dress.
and the women, ~ we'll as ! rcncm-
Dor. wore silk dresses with big opcn
sleeves and lots OF other nncry I can
worn by the younger girls. Iremem-
her that one had to stop in the dance
from an unfortunate enlargement
whiskers OF her partner. /, was
quickly solved by. slipping the ring
from her ear and leaving the man 10
RondHIde Taveran.
The frat unusual thing 20 catch my
eye was big glass bowl on n stand
against the wall just az you entered
the room. II easily held a peck and
Vas Vas filled With a m.x;urs Of nne can
these candies were 4 number OF little
squares, wrapped In plate paper OF
many bright coIors They called
disclosed little strip OF paper anon
which was printed & sentimental verse
calculated TO be pleasing to bash.ul
lovers!
! noticed that these kisses" were
very popular among the Younger set,
AMI tha: gcn;!cman would pass
one to his partner and open on Tor
verses. which appeared 10 have very
pleading effects on many o. thcSy
couples. I; occurred TO IN. ,hat !
"ouiI be lacking gaii9nir% IL did
INC Srp%n-mp counting men. and !
stepped UP 20 the howl and got two
my partner. We opened IN, com
monccd TO chew the candy and cx-
changed verses.
Her verse 10 me- read:
II you love me as love you,
No knife can cut our love IN two.
AMI mime &as:
Loving you with all my heart.
do not see how we can part.
We both looked At each other.
turned very red and snickcrcd. do
not know how We would ever have
hecn parted. hut for the fact that
the three negro fddlcrs suddenly
broke loose with a qu!ck-stcppinE air
that brought Gs all 10 the floor
Music From "IInnds.o
AS | have said, the music NJ most
of the house parties and dances IN
those days was played by local ne
gro musicians, Tor nearly every farm
had one or more good tiddle.s, Yho
could Dlav almost ANYTHING demand
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