The Man in Gray

'The Man in Gray' is a romance novel written by Jr. Thomas Dixon. The story begins at a ball in a Southern home in the 1800s. The Lee family is preparing for the event, with the two sons Custis and Phil and their classmates, Jeb Stuart, being the guests of honor. The ball is a way for friends, neighbors, and family to come together for an evening of joy, and the preparations are carried out by Sam, a young servant acting as butler. The scene is set with fireflies blinking, stars twinkling, and laughter of youth and beauty filling the air. Phil is introduced to many young women, and they are all kissing and calling him cousin, as is customary in Southern culture. Despite being dazzled by the attention, Phil realizes the superficiality of the situation and that it is all just part of the social norms.