Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1836-11-23
WEDDING FETE.

Some days after the dinner at the Baron
LIS was invited to wedding fete by the
MARQUIS of P, on occasion Of the mar
riagc of his sister. The entertainment was
splendid, and the palace fitted up in sumptu-
Gus style. We assembled the staircase
through file of servants, at least fifty in
number, many Of them, suspect hired or
borrowed for the occasion, but they were all
in the same gay livery. and impressed one
with suitable idea Of the importance of
the proprietor of the mansion.
!. On being ushered into magnificent
saloon, with rich crimson hangings, we found
the bride superbly attired and adorned with
a profusion of Jewels, surrounded by her
female relatives in attendance to receive the
homage and congratulations of the com.
pany. The ball was led off by the newlymar.
ried couple. After dancing some time,
supper was announced, and here joking
seemed the order of the evening.
The supper was elegant and inviting in
appearance but what in English would be
termed hoax. Not dish but what had
its trick; one exploded on the application
of the knife, another suddenly took fire as
we were about to help ourselves; whilst a
lady, who was laughing heartily at the sight,
stretching out her hand to take fine peach,
suddenly changed her note on disturbing
lizard, which had been nesting among the
leaves. In the middle of the table was an
immense pastry which appeared smoking
hot and diffuscd so inviting smell, that
there was no suspecting deceit; the crust
was lifted up in order to commence the at
tack, when flight of small birds burst
forth at once to the astonishment of the
carver.
was sorry to observe some of the tricks
were far from humane. At the top and
bottom was fine fowl properly served with
suitable sauce, all apparently as it ought to
have been; some one requested to be help
ed to a part, but no sooner was the fork
thrust in than the poor animal uttering
cry, leapt off the dish, and in its struggles to
escape, literally bestowed q portion of the
sauce on those in its way the same took
place at the other end. The cruelty here
practised deserves the severest censure,
and cannot fail to alloy the pleasures which
a sensible mind might otherwise have de-
rived from the festivities of the evening"
The unfortunate bird is first plucked, then
Supplied with opium, whilst the highly
colored sauce, poured over, gives it the ap-
pearance of being dressed. When the diff
ferent Jokes, if they all may be termed so,
had been played of, the pseudo eatables
were taken away, and real and excellent
supper brought in to replace them.
But the deception did not end here. AT.
ter supper we were shown into another
apartment. We had scarcely entered it,
when surprise and CONSERVATION seized the
whole company. Every one was alarmed
to see his neighbours face assume yellow
cadaverous aspect, so that we all looked
like so many walking corpses. The ladies,
lately so gay and blooming, were particu-
larly shocked at their transformation, and
each anxiously inquired if she looked so i'll
and ugly as her companions.
The bride and bridegroom had Fortunate
ly escaped this trial, having retired after
supper; but our laughter loving host had
not yet finished his operations. From this
room he led us in another, the walls and
ceiling of which appeared covered with
reptiles and insects of various descriptions.
Vipers. toads, centipedes, tarantulas, and
scorpions, seemed crawling about in every
direction, forming spectacle so revolving
and alarming that could not bear shud-
dering. 1t was too much for the ladies',
who, without waiting to be squirrel, instant
ly made the best of their way back to the
ballroom, where they soon forgot their
fears, and continued to divert themselves
until a late hour.
The two latter receptions are uncom-
monty ingenious, and believe very little
known. The last is mentioned by Smollet,
in Peregrinc Pickle, as having alarmed the
honest Morgan, and made him take the
operator for conuror. The marquis pro.
missed to procure for me the secret of these
spells, but as never got them, presume
the professor was unwilling to communicate
them.
The first was evidently in great degree
affected by the preparation of the candles,
which emitted thick smoke, and gave
dull heavy light. On our entering the room
where the latter appearances took place,
servant preceded US with a large braciere,
or pan of burning charcoal, which also
threw up dense smoke, and spread
strong and rather unpleasant odour through
the apartment. The forms of the reptiles
must of course, in some manner, be thrown
on the walls; and | suppose the compost
ton burnt in the braciere effects and disor.
ders the senses in such manner as to give
the appearance of life and motion.