Well-Oiled Bearings

I can only aspire to be the Mary Boykin Chesnut of my era.

Her detailings of Richmond's social scene during the Civil War are a window into another period and the way people spent their free time.

Kind of like what I do every day, except without the hoop skirts and muddy streets.

I learned about Mary at today's Brown Bag Lunch talk, "Social Life in the Confederacy," given by Kelly Hancock at the Museum of the Confederacy.

That's where I heard how President Jefferson Davis, known as somewhat of a tightass, allowed himself to become "unbent" at White House socials.

How he continued the tradition of New Year's Day Levees, a tradition borrowed from the British, with the public invited to share in the festivities and the Armory band playing.

I loved hearing about Varina Davis' 19-year old sister, described as "having a keen sense of humor and being exceedingly clever."

No doubt those attributes contributed to her two broken engagements and the out-of-wedlock child she had by the age of 28.

And the man who finally corralled her? He was described as moving "into and through the most elegant or simplest assemblages on natural rubber tires and well-oiled bearings."

If I had any intention of being buried, I'd want that on my tombstone.

Mrs. Standard, a local 40-something, was known to have a home which came nearer to the salons of Paris than any home in Richmond (or America, for that matter), according to a gentleman who visited there many times.

She was also known to collect the best and brainiest men and was considered to be a "she who must be obeyed."

She, along with other affluent Richmonders, lived on Franklin Street (she near 8th), a grand place where soldiers would parade themselves when they got new uniforms.

Mrs. Randolph (a dark-eyed brunette) held "democratic suppers," which had nothing to do with politics and everything to do with everyone bringing a dish.

So, yes, that would be a Major General walking into the party clutching a jar of brandied peaches.

The Mosaic Club flourished despite no officers and no rules; it was all about music, talk and improv, described at the time as "the clashing of bright minds in hospitable and cultural homes."

And parlor games were apparently very popular.

Hancock described one as starting with two hats, one filled with slips of paper with unusual words and another with questions written on them.

Guests drew one of each and then had to create a story, poem or song using both the question and the word.

Call me shallow, but I was fascinated by the stories of the fun and frivolity that went on in this town against the backdrop of war.

And I was impressed by Mary Chesnut's devotion to her diary-keeping.

She was lucky, though, she didn't have to get home from a show at 2 a.m. and sit down and write it up right then.

Even so, I hope my stories of Richmond's social life are half as interesting to people a hundred years from now.

And if not, hey, this dark-eyed brunette did her cleverest.