Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1843-06-17

see whether tnat Oeauty winch so fasclna-
ted them amid the glare of gas, the crash
of music, and the flutter of drapery, would
bear the test of day; or others, who by
various schemes and affectations, endeavor-
ed TO draw upon themselves one of those
looks of love which she lavished in such
profusion on her little companion.
But if she bore toward her daughter
such affection, the child seemed to return il
with a devotion scarcely less ardent. 1t
was never happy but when fondlng and
fondled by her, and was always pining and
moping bad Ito use a technical term,)
when her avocation led her from its society.
On this account it never was that favorite
among us which its beauty and intelligence
might otherwise have rendered it,
| may state that she was a woman of
very low moral character-an abandoned
and utterly prohigate person, indeed-ap-
parenty without any one redeeming fea-
ture, save the engrossing attachment to her
infant / shall say no more on this point,
but leave you, considering her station in
life, to guess the rest.
Her name was Clara Benattar, as was
also that of her daughter. She was said
to be an Italian Jewess, though we could
only surmise her origin, as she never
talked of any of the past events of her
life. At all events she had played for a
considerable time at Fraconi's in Paris,
where son of Mr., Codoni's engaged her.
We'll, our Seasonal perfectly successful
one, though prolonged to the utmost, at
length was over, and the benefit nights
came on.
1t was Claras benefit, and she had ad-
vertised some Of her most beautiful and
attractive performances. The great build
ing, as might be expected, was crowded to
the utmost in every part, but especially the
gallery, the low rate of admission to which,
made il to be frequen,ed chiefly by the
inferior and more juvenile portion of the
community.
A gorgeous spectacle commenced the
entertainments, and when it was over
Madame Clara and her child were an.
nounced amid continued rounds of ap.
plause. The black mare was first intro
duced, and led round the ring by two of
the servants of the establishment, who ran
at its head, for as yet it had not become so
habituated to its occupation as not to be
startled by the glare Of gas, the shouting
of the audience, and the ear-piercing music
of our band.
Then Clara bounded lightly into the
arena, attired in drapery that set off her
unrivalled symmetry of person to an ad.
mirable degree. 1t was intended to picture
her as Ariadne, and round her loose short
black curls, was bound garland of roses
lilies, and vine .blossoms--al artificial, Of
course, but perhaps better calculated than
real for scenic display.
When withon Of her strange enchant.
ing smiles she had courtesied lowly to the
house, in jumped her lovely child, attired
in close, fitting, skin-colored dress, with
two tiny butterfy-wings like a little cupid
bearing in one hand thyrsus or bunch OF
grapes, and in the other small gilded
chalice.
In a twinkIing this little Bacchus had
sprung with clear cry of joyous laughter
into her arms, and kissing the creature with
an appearance of the utmost fondness on
the lips and brow, she took a few quick
steps, and with a bound, seated herself on
the unsaddled back of the black mare
Upon the instant the groom let 60 its head
and away it dartcd, galoping furiOusIy
round the circle, while the band struck up
a most fairy-lke and beautiful strain, one
of the dance airs in the opera La Favor,
ite,' of Donizetti, and the two men re-
treated to the centre alongside of the riding
master and myself.
For time nothing was to be heard save
the muffled sounding, rapid tread of the
horses feet among the sawdust, and the
fitful rise and fall of the wild melody from
the lighter instruments of the band, with
perhaps now and then an insuppressblt
exclamation of delight from scattered mem
bers of the audience. With these excep
tons. all was breathess silence and admi
ration, as the fair equestrian and her chile
went on with their daring and graceful
revolutions.