Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1845-10-22
THE OPAL SET

England, that had ba,,lcd to tho LOST with ihe
stern energy OF Il bulldog, was now DISPOSED 10
freak ond slmbol with the wanton nyelincss
Q: pet puppy. Ihs who'll. nation. obivi-
ous OF enormous taxes and war pt!ges, WAS
agog Tor kind Of national merry making. and
grouped round an ideal transparency represent
ms britannia tossing away her trident aud
dancing hands four round, with Russia, rrus.
sla, amt Austria.
As Nigh, be expected, the -i;li'aiy were
made special object OF popular enthusiasm
Real bronSct ac:Js who had been through
the Peninsula were diliicult "a ,stch, and
received more invitations 10 dan ,cs and sol.
rees than by any possibility they had time to
answer I'm attendant, many II 5,lrileSs en-
sign VINO had been at Ws,cTluu, aud taken
his small share OF that day Of enormous mis-.
takes became elevated into q sort Of author.
NY upon military g,,atteIs; and was listened 10
deicren,ially while he explained the pcculi-
aTitics oil the Dukes position, and traced up.
on the tacc, With iI's finger dipped in Claret,
| the exact spot where GrouChy debouchet or
where the Imperial guard made their last
stand, and where Csmbro me Is supposed TO
have uttered that immortal apothcrm now
happily classed among the myths of apocryp.
hal history.
Ii was, however, for foreigners that the
highest Distinctions were reserved; upon for
eigners was lavished the en%y OF the male sex.
and the admiring glances of the fair, Then.
as new, and probably ever since the days of
the Norman invasion, tie stranger received
me non share OF popular ttention and regard.
we have here no space TO bcstow beyond that
OF passing remark upon the phenomenon
mat, with all our Wanted nationality, and
John Bulhshness, and such like undoubted
characteristics, we always run madly after
every seinb!ance, shade, and shadow Of ga
foreigner who may condcscend TO drink our
wine, ride our horses, ilirt with our daughters,
and show US up in three volumes ct the end OF
the season.-Such is the fact. Let others
philosophize upon il; we arc content 10 blush
over II, and TO continue our narrative.
Among all the countless swarm that at this
precise period alighted upon our coasts. none.
no, not Baron, nor Prince could com
pare with Count Alexis Obrcnow. Cuirassicr
OF the Imperial Guard Knight Grand Gordon
oil the order OF the Black Eagle. aAd last. but
by no means least, c. d. y. M !. LIE. d. {. |.
Il. These cabalistic signs, which MIGHT be
discovered by the curious among the elaborate
tracery OF the Counts visiting-cards imported
that ne held the rank of Chamberlain TO His
Imperial Majesty the Emperor of all the Rus
sias. Ii, in addition 70 these extrinsic ousI
iicat!ons, we add that the perscn OF this dis
ungushcd Russian was uncXceptionably tero.
cious, and that whether, judging from his hair,
, his head was placed above or below his chin.
was a matter (among the LADIES' Of delicious
doubt and uncertainty, we have said enough
TO account Tor lis elevation 10 the topnSs,
round Of tha, gddy ladder which is supported
ny the tickle hand Of Fashion
Letus be just to Count Alexis Obr,row. If
not exactly talented in It's better sense. assur
redly ne possessed 10 an astonishing degree
me talent OF soclety-the small currency OF
saloons and clubs. lie could dance miliact
gracefully, could sing a chaESoH admirably,
had the art OF anecdote in Perfection. ana
above all these minor gifts, the Count could
assume certain vain of dangerous sentiment
tallty dashed by a sombye tone which rather
inferred than alluded 10 a rGys,cry whcse depths
had never yet been tathomed though thev
possibly might be by those tender blue ewes
which at the moment dissolved between pity
and curiosity, as they gazed upon the saiiow
cheek OF the handsome Cuirassier.
Thus, gifted, thus doubly armed by the as
pect oil what he was, aud the thought of what
he might be, was il wonderful that the success
OF the Imperial chamberlain was the theme Of
every tongue IN London?
Just at this time, indeed if London gossip
was 10 be credited, the copinustone Of the
Count good fortune was about 10 be laid by
his intended marriage with the Lady Anne
Calllngion,so child and hcifess Of The wealthy
Earl de urs,on, as it pleased the Earl TO pro-
nounce his very ancient family name. BY
what ar.s the Count had won the haurht,
peers consent TO tits match, il is 10 thie aay
among certain circles matter of marvel. for
the head OF the De UTstons. 80 t,r from, .bar.
ing his coun'rymen's prediction Co, I,rSiCo.
eFs, held them all in undiseuised and indis.
crlnlnatc contempt, remaTking that The. last
real Counts wcie the FOresters, or Counts of
Low CoAnules, and they became extinct when
i.allp OF Burgundy placed himselfa the head
Of Ute seventeen Provinces By what arts
Alexis obtained the consent of the Ladg Anne
mas never. we believe, been mad. the subject
OF marve! nupy society whatsoever.
IL was towards midnight when Ddll gwen
at De Urston Hbuse attained its hcisbt Of
superb lehcty. Country dances, and cotil!ion.
ana lhe mPortedFTenchc country dance,
or quadTii!e, had been executed 10 repletion'
when few select couples stood up to exhibit.
IN minuet, the perfection of dignity and
ease so essential TO this courtly measure.
Most conspicuous IN the group wer, LADY
Anne and Count Alexis, and a murmur Of
applause forced itself on the car "a the disiin.
guished foreigner and his stately partner alter.
nalely advanced and retired according 10 Nh.
eXIss nci.s o the figure. SO absorbed. indeed
was the general attention, that the entrance
OF Consi IeTdEli accession Of guests. which
Wouli oinerwis- hardly have escaped remark
passed unno'ic,d. They consisted Of tali
and very Handsome man in the PRIME Of lie
apparently attended BY Ave or six officers Of
high rank, and one or Two civilians some
announcement was about TO take place when
th2 chiei parsonage Of the party imposed 81
lcnce by a sudden and somewhat naughty pcs.
tuTe, and, taking his station as spectator Of
OF the dance, quietly surveyed The circle which
surrounded the performers, while his attcn.
donisr at slight distance, conversed among
themselves.
lie momen; was decisive Of that crisis Ia
ths dance where the slow and stately minuet
blends after short introduction with tho
llveiier gavottc. The music bad pfeluded
few quick bars, and the dancers stool mo.
nonless, but ready az the proper time 10
sPhng Toward into graceful action. Count
hl"&is drew hinI5clfup nd pre- cared oecIinse