The Sun.
London, England, 1858-11-06 00:00:00

BEHAVIOUR IN THE BALL-ROOM.

(Prom Punch's PTket-Book for 1859.)
-The subjoined remarks are addressed excluiively
to young gentlemen. All young ladies know how
to behave :

An invitation to a ball should be sent in an en-
velope, with a sky-blue border, containing a card
perforated with a loop of silver twist. Use a blank
border for fun.

Upon entering the drawing•room, that is th.e
dancing-room, walk right up to the lady of the
house, and ask if she is convalescent.

Then accost the master of the establishment and
inquire how he finds himself, slapping him on the
back or giving him a poke in the side.
Take your hat up with you, and, having nodded
to all the persons present who have the honour of
your acquaintance, and winked at the general corn-,
pany, stick it upon your head diagonally, and
knock it hard on with a slap on the crown. Then
turn your back to the , party, and your face to the
nearest looking-glass ; pull up your collars, set
your legs astride, bend your elbows, clench your
fists, set them on your hips, and whistle.
Appear in shepherd's plaid.
Wear dogskin gloves and gaiters.
Ask the oldest lady in the room to dance with
you, addressing her as Old Girl, if you don't know
her name, regardless of ceremony, and without
waitidg for the formality of an introduction. If
there are no very old ladies present, invite the
ugliest girl you can see, and on leading off with
her, say, " INI;) w, then, Venus !" Pay her the most
marked attentions that you possibly can, which
will be both delightful to her and diverting to the
lookers-on.
Keep asking her if you shall fetch her something
warm, or, if you mean an ice, something cold.
When your hostess introduces you to a partner,
lay your hand upon your heart, and bow as low as
you are able. with a smile extending as nearly as
possible from ear to ear. When she gives you her
arm, take her hand as well, and hold it up until
she insists on your letting it go.
Avoid stupid solemnity in dancing. When
opportunity offers, as occasionally in a quadrille,
turn your toes in and make faces, or cut a caper,
and toe and heel it, nautical fashion.
Bear in mind that you have not been invited for
your own mere selfish gratification, but also in
order that you may contribute to the general
amusement. In the intervals between the dances,
therefore, you may sing a comic song, volunteering
the performance. You may unexpectedly pull out
a jew's harp, with which you have provided your-
self for the purpose, and play a tune upon it. If
there is present any lady of middle age, who looks
particularly stately and dignified, you may approach
her with respectful gravity, and opening your
cigar case, offer her a chocolate cigar, or if you
like, a real cigarette. Or you may, seizing your
chance at a moment when all eyee are upon you,
draw forth a pocket-pistol as it is called—a travel-
ling. brandy-flask—and take a pull at it ; which
having done, with a due regard for politeness, tender
the vessel to the nearest lady, saying," Have some!"
Do not indulge in common-place remarks, trivial
compliments, and anecdotes. All these every
young lady you dance with will be accustomed to,
and tired of. Tell her something new. Ask if she
swims ? Whether she saw the man hanged the
other morning? Whether she likes bull-dogs?
Inform her whose short pipes are the best, where
you can get a first-rate chop ; where you go for
boots ; what figure the funds were at that morning.
The mind of woman is fond of novelty.
If a question arises about the priority of the en-
gagement of a partner, propose to toss up for her.
Be attentive at supper—especially to the viands.
Advise the girls about you to pitch into the chicken,
lobster-sallad, and other good things. Ask them if
they are peckish, and if they refuse any plate which
you may offer them, observe that they seem off
their feed. Invite them to take wine, and in drink-
ing
towards anyone, say " My love to you."
In taking your departure, say to the person
nearest
.you in an under tone, " I shall cut," and
then, raising your voice, "Good night, ladies and
gents.," with which make your exit, removing all
obstructions with your elbows, and crying as you
go, " By leave!" or " Now, then, out of the way."
In summer, when dancing has been kept up till
three or four in the morning, you may say, " Out
of the daylight."
Wherever we are, we should always strive to
make ourselves agreeable.

The Countess de Chanaleilles, wife of the lieu-
tenant-colonel who mortally wounded General do Salles, is
a dauhter of Count de Las Cases, the companion of Napo-
leon f in his exile at St. Helena.
M. Carrel, the French agent who was on board
the Charles Georges, when seized by the Portuguese, has
arrived in Paris.
NICE JURYMEN,— " Have you found a verdict ?"
said a judge to the foreman of a jury. "No, your honour,
we have hunted through every nook and corner of the room
You sent us to, and we can't find nary ono."—American
Paper.
NEW LIGHTHOUSE AT THE SMALLS.—The 17th
C 01.11•88 of masonry of the new lighthouse at the Smalls, off
Milford Haven, is now nearly completed, and will be the
last of the work at the rocks for this season, the weather
being henceforward too precarious to attempt another
course until the spring. It is now visible from Solve on the
.
mainland, having attained a height of 35 feet.
ARTIFICIAL LIGHT.—The highly interesting
lecture now' in course of delivery at the Polytechnic Insti-
tution,sr by Mr. E. V. Gardner, the professor of chemistry
attachd to the establishment, bids fair to eelipsei _
and popularity all its predecessors. The lecture.,efrreuntg
with much valuable information, which placed
thetalented lecturer completely
hour devoted to its delivery,
audience in a form so lucid and entertaining that, forth e
rivets the attention of his auditory. His description of
for his experiments,
colour is highly interesting, an
magnificence anything heretofore
they rival in beauty and n,
produced at this celebrated rnstlitution. We have .very fre-'
tqlliezeslteciotnureMs rd. eCiliavrderender'astntehwe
que tl
Polytechnic,ybeen bdueltigbehteydwciitahini
theght is
p PHOTOGRAPHY.--The
owGcite.st'epruhyea.
IN r—c-1-. The
disAcounNeEuwpo
artificial light has just been satisfactorily
problem of the possibilityof takingi,giouie prehsoitdom.grgapahtiHe pictures
and portraits by
nDag fiOeVoEnilti
solved by a gentleman named
by a light by the aid of which pictures can
ght. Strange as this announcement may
appear, it is nevertheless true, as we have had Submitted to
bwhotahkasen
at
night.
our inspection some of the most charming specimens of tha
art, taken by Mr. Moule:s night process, we ever looked'
upon. - The pictures are remarkable for a beauty of shade
seldom if ever seen in those taken in the ordinary way. The
light, which is of amazing brilliancy, is produced by burn-
ing a compound called photogenit composition;" and,
from the cheapness of its cost, there can be no doubt that,
in a very short time, photographing by night will become
as popular as it now is by day