The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1848-05-18
For the Crescent.
A Night at the Terpsichore Ball
BY "You KNOW VVun

| old, handsome or ugly, rich poor will leave
| your readers to guess | am, however, like all ba.
chelors, one from inclination, not necessity As all
philosophers have acknowledged that every one car
be suited to their minds as regards the selection
| a wife, why should be exception to the genera
| rule, arises no doubt from the fact of my being
1 resident of this city of epdemics, and she some
mhere else, with no likelihood of her ever getting
here, so have settled down as comfortable as cir
cumstance will admit, joined the Old Bachelor
Society,"" intending to prove my constancy towards
her by marrying nobody. If this amt satisfactory
and self:sacrifcing on my part, and sufficient to
| mmortalize me- will keel over and expire
Japhet in search of his father never had more diff
ficulties to surmount, obstacles to contend against
and incidents to befal him, than have had in nv
efforts tic find her. did not cease my labors night
nor day, my portfolio will prove, but all in vain
my supplications were useless, my efforts frutess.
my dreams and fances of no avail The following
incident befel me in one of my exploring expedi-
| tons after her.
| Twas Saturday evening, cool and pleasant, just
| the kind of night for dance, as l found myself
with few friends, comfortably seated in the La
fayette car. ''Who knows,'' so ran my mind s but
what | may see her this EVENING" Nature may
repay my ltDofS slloWllS tlic OIle Sic
intended to share ma lot'' And thousand other
fanciful thoughts fitted through my mind, when
Gentlemen will please make room for ladies' as
sailed my ears from two or three stentoran voices.
| My gallantry would not allow me to remain one
second after this appeal got up deck best
could, amidst the yelling of crowd of the b'hoys
trying to sing Old Dan Tucker was about
| taking seat, but finding some three inches of the
thickest kind of dew on the bench, stood it the
balance of the distance.
AT length we arrived at the end of our journey
The Trojan horse could scarcely contain more per-
sons than that car; they pouring out from all
sides and in every direction. followed the crowd.
Arriving at the ballroom Imagined all trouble and
inconvenience ceased, for that night. Poor deluded
being! | forgot had hat and that should pro-
vide place for it. | did so, but / suffered some.
The postofce on advertising days was nothing to
it. When | was clear of the crowd, | requested
one of my friends to squeeze into shape again
felt as flat as pancake. Did you ever put white
kid gloves the delicate little creatures without
wishing they were never knoWn9 If you did not,
| did, that night. In the hurry of the moment
bong hit sevens instead of mines. pulled pressed
and pulled again. No go. l was determined to
have them on or burst After while did both.
Although my hands did look like cracked dumplngs,
| didn't care; so | put my hands behind my back
and made my first debut amidst the chivalry, beauty,
loveliness and exquisite grace congregrated in that
social hall.
The room was overlooking with the beauty of
Lafayette, with sprnklng from New Orleans and
Carrollton. A promenade was in order when | en-
tered, and watched each graceful form and lovely
face; as they approached like syphs of some fairy
tale, in plain, fancy, and mask dresses. Each one,
methought was more lovely than the other; but
no, the object of my heart, she who has caused
me so many seepless nights and restless days,-she
whom have seen so often in my dreams and ina
ginings, was not among the unmasked. rose from
my seat with a heavy heart, walked into the -
and took drink oflemonade wuhout any brandy in
it. On my return, a cotillion was in motion.
looked upon it with stole indf1erence-she was not
there, and not being there, the place or persons had
no charms for me.
While musing to myself that would emigrate to
Europe or China-get wrecked, perhaps-fnd her
on some barren isle, etc.-I caught a glimpse of
what considered the very pink of perfection, in
form, grace and movement, in fancy dress. Dr.
Collyer would give the world for such figure.
My eye was rivetted to the spot My head began
10 SWIRL SAW HONE Dub ltT II lulst sufIuuIlueu
all the Others while she moved about in bold relief
She turned. ! saw her face, radiant with smiles,
ecstasy. delight '''Tis she - calculated, if
tossed by pitchfork, and caught the arm OF a
manager, to introduce He did mt know her.
1t was her first appearance In the ballroom. l
imaginedi it suspicious coincidence. 1t was also
my first appearance. Seeing gentleman convers-
ing with her, watched my opportunity, and seeing
him alone, requested him to introduce me. Never
saw him before in my life; but what cared my
case was getting desperate. He willingly con-
scented and off we started towards her. To describe
my feelings while approaching her, is impossible.
was blind to all but her.
The agony was over ; she spoke and the deed
was done. | found that she was every thing |
imagined mplished, pleasing in her manners,
agreeable in her conversation, we'll versed in the
authors, from Dryden down to James-ncluding all
the intermediate landings passionaely fond of
music, she said and by her musical voice l knep
she could sing. was happy in every sense of the
word-deighted beyond measure. She kindly
consented to promenade-would carry me through
a coton if d go-but, knowing nothing about
the poetry of motion, had to decline; and She
noble, generous creature as she was preferred
rather to talk and walk than dance. | admired her.
nay, will confess, for the first time in my life
felt the tender passion" creeping all over me.
Was IN lore! could not restrain myself. Candor |
compelled me to speak openly told her | had
been looking for her since was Is years of age.
I" Looking for - she exclaimed with astonish- |
ment. g If not you" answered, some one very |
much like YOU She guessed my object, saw and |
understood ALL and invited me to call and see her
was, in my own opinion, as good as married
length my tolls and troubles were to cease
i was about to be repaid for my constancy, by
having the one for my wife that nature intended
Just at this moment where, in any other place !
would be on my knees, the gentleman m, who INTRO
duced me, came up to and said = Wye, amt 1t
time to 90 home9'' Eyes, my DEAR she responded
So taking his arm, eating peculiar kind Of look
at me- and bidding me good night, they left me like
motionIess statue on the floor. The perspiration1
flowed down my cheeks, like rain drops-the blood
rushed to nv head-my face was red as turkey
rooster's-I was insensible. Some of my friends
seeing nv situation, carried me into the -, and