Evening star., 1934-10-28
COLONIAL CAPITAL
DAYS RECAPTURED
Rare Paper Describes Life
at Williamsburg, Now Be.
ing Restored to Glory.
BY THOMAS r. HENRY.

IhoN1Ao N.
The ways Of life at old Williams
burg, virginia's Colonial capital, which
now Is being restored to its approx
mate appearance before the Ameri-
can Revolution, are illustrated by
curious old paper which has survived
only in a reprint now in the rare
book section of the Library Of Con-
gress.
1t was a letter from Williamsburg
to a Lynchburg newspaper, dated Oc-
tober 7. 1877, which afterward was
furnished by a Lynchburg editor to
sporting magazine. the files Of which
are preserved here.
It reads as follows:
I'VE have advises from Hanover
County that on st. Andrews day, be-
ing the 30th Of November next,
there are to be horse rasses and sew
eral other diversions for the enter
tainment of gentlemen and ladies at
the old field near Capt. John Bicker-
toms in that county (if permitted by
Col. William Byrd, Esq, proprietor
of said land), the substance OF which
are as follows, viz:
Prize Of Five Pounds.
/. "It is proposed that 20 horses or
mares do run a three miles course
for a prize of the value Of five pounds,
according to the usual rules of racing,
and that every horse that runs shall
be first entered with Mr. Joseph Fox.
and that no person have the liberty
of putting in a horse unless he Is a
subscriber towards defraying the ex-
pense of this entertainment, and pay
to Mr.. Fox half pistole of it at en-
tering his horse.
2. That a hat Of the value Of 20
shillings be cudgelled for and that
after the first challenge made the
drums are to beat, once every three
quarters Of an hour, for three chal-
lenges around the ring: on no answer
being made the person challenging to
be entitled to the prize-and none to
play with the left hand.
Fiddlers Mix 20 Tunes.
3. That a violin be played for by 20
fiddlers, to be given to him that shall
be adjudged the best to play. No per-
son shall have the liberty of playing
unless he brings a fiddle with him.
After the prize is won, they are all
to play together and each a different
tune, and be treated by the company.
4. That II boys of IL years of age
do run 1l2 yards for hat of the value
of IL shillings.
S. That flag be flying on said day
20 feet high.
6. That handsome entertainment
be provided for the subscribers and
their wives and such of them who are
not so happy as to have wives may
treat any other lady, and that con-
venient booths be erected for that
purpose.
z. That drums. trumpets, haut boys,
ETC., will be provided to play at said
entertainment.
8. That after dinner the royal
healths and the health of his honor
the Governor, ETC., are to be drunk.
Liquor for windpipes.
9. That quire of ballads be sung
for by number of songsters, the best
songster to have the prize, and all of
them to have liquor sufficient to clear
their windpipes.
10. That pair Of silver buckles be
wrestled for by certain number of
brisk young men.
IL. That pair Of handsome shoes
be danced for.
u. That pair Of silk stockings of
one pistole value to be given to the
handsomest young country maid that
appears In the field, and many other
whimsical and comical diversions, too
tedious to be mentioned here.
The horse race is to be run that day
fair or foul, but If foul, the other di-
versions are to be continued the next
day. Subscription money to be paid
said day in the field, and notice will
be there given who is to receive it. And
as this meeting Is designed to be pure
ly innocent and void of offense, all
persons resorting there are desired to
behave themselves with decency and
sobriety, the subscribers being resolved
to discounenance all immortality with
the utmost rigor."