The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-03-07
A New York Fashionable Ball.

And stood within the lighted hall.
Far ladies' smiled, beaux grinnh and DO wed,
And begged their pardons in the crowd,
For interfering with their dresses,
And breaking through such brilliant messes,
To lead their partners to the dance
Just brought, directly out of France
How many lovely girls one sees,
or rich and ancient families
And such host of modern beaux,
That where they come FROM heaven kno We
And as a stranger in the town,
l feel just like some country clown;
But, knowing one or two fair DANES,
went to them to ask some names.
| danced with each, and asked a favor
Ozone sweet girl, who seemed TO waver
To introduce me to a fair one
Who seemed. by looks, almost to dare one!
My damsel shpddering, looked SO frightened,
My color changed--my dark eyes lightened,
For fear OF losing one, they knew
Had some adv antages, in view.
She led me to the lovely girl
With ruby lips, and teeth Of pearl;
| asked her, ii with me she'd dance.
She looked at me, with eyes askance:
al have already on my book
hundred ! must not oerlook."
And gazing with searching glance.
She lisped a" Have you been to France 2"
answered, "No !" she looked so scornful
felt obliged to take hornful.
So sauntered to the other room,
To trive away my spirits gloom.
Again wandered all about,
To try to find the people out;
| staid in one place Tor a while,
And very hard tried to smile.
| searched my damsels every where,
To ask about some ladies' there.
found them in corner seated:
They said they'd danced till they were heated
But didn't look SO warm thought,
And any how, wasn't caught.
Nice girls they were, with pretty faces
And poor papas, and o, no graces!
But stood quite straight, and very easy,
ApIJ itp,k hort traa had
But all the girls who danced SO much
l feared would almost want a crutch.
They stopped, or seemed to stsop SO low,
Their backs were bent just like bow,
And then to keep the pain away,
They wear a bunch by night and day.
Poor things, wonder how they pack
So great a load upon their back.
Iasked my girls ifthey could tell
Who were those beauties My how well
They looked and seemed SO fat and healthy,
do not think they can be wealthy
But never mind, such bellies they are,
The beaux all say they do not care.
Some girls were dressed so very light,
They flew just like paper kite
And if they hadn't taken care
To ask the beaux to hold them there,
They must have flown up in the air.
Their dresses were SO delicate,
They seemed like cobwebs on gate,
Flying with every jerk it gives,
The insect working while 1t lives
By trying now to catch fly,
And gazing with its little eye,
And wrapping in its gauzy folds
AS by these arts she gently holds
The pretty youth, whose rich papa
Has promised him horse, o, Ia
And oh, how sweet he speaks to her,
That lady dressed in gossamer.
What's gossamer l askd of one;
o, Ills cloth by insects spun
weaving, quite industrious bug;
But for the produce, worth, shrug.
In olden time it used to be
Entitled wisely, Tiffany )"
But now the terms so out of vogue,
Avoid it as you would rogue
o, pshaw what am saying now
The lights are cleaning on my brow,
And as they dance and glimmer 80,
feel so sleepy that know
cannot write another line,
Except to tell you what fine,
Nice gentleman was there saw
Him walk the planks without flaw
A perfect gentleman, and that
ought to know by his cravat
think he is foreign king
He waltzed, and looked the very thing.
And then another, fat and pleasant,
And rudy as Yorkshire peasant
His grandpa fought long time ago,
And ever since, to make show,
His progeny do nothing more
Than tell folks what they knew before
And all the family feel so great
They always of their honors pirate:
Ashamed to work, end not too rich,
fear their yarn has dropped a stitch.
Isaw some people there knew
They wouldn't speak so withdrew.
reckon they were mad with me;
don't know why; they seemed to be;
But | will tell you what think,
And don't you hint it by a wink
They owe me money. and feel bad,
Because they think that am mad.
wonder why they do not pay,
Or from such places keep away
They'd better save their money now,
And even learn to drive plough
Thar look like fools, and frisK about
While honest people feel "put out"
But must fnish-so, good bye;
You never write; don't know why.
I'll see you soon, can't tell when.
Your loving friend and cousin, BEE