The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-03-29
{ Not knowing, can't saw

'Courtenay you are tllt1lng with me- SAID
Brandon with tone and look not over cour-
teous; explain yourself, SIR
Softly, softly my dear fellow, keep down
your irascible muscles, and learn that person
may be acquainted with another, without know
ing her name.'
Brandon looked at him with vexed astonish.
ment; and his friend continued, IF you wish
to know the name she goes by, | can inform
you."
Then for mercys sake, let us have it at
once or shall certainly go crazy
Curb your temper sir, and learn that the la
dy bears the name of Emma Sewell.'
Then why is she unnoticed"
4 know, but do not like to say: but nllons'
The friends now moved towards the subject
of their discourse, and Courtenay after introdu.
cling his friend, LETT the',. DO You dance this
evening" sld Brandon not thinking at the mo.
ment of anything else to say.
She smiled as she answered, NO, and for n
very simple reason, have not been asked
This is very singular, returned he, 4 cannot
imagine the reason
Il can though she replied while a smile of
bitter scom curled her lip; i am not one Of
the elite, and know not i; should be allowed
to dance in this enlightened assembly, and here
she drew herself up, with an air of lofty pride,
while fiery flash of indignation, shooting from
her dark disdainful eyes, gave an almost unpea-
SAINT expression to her singularly perfect fea-
tures Brandon. surprised at her candor, and
charmed at her originality, asked, May re-
quest, Miss Sewell, the honor Of your hand for
the next quadrillev
She laughed, You may request it without
much presumption on your part, and il it will
really oblige you, | will dance
You are not then fond of dancingr
Not at ALL
That is surprising said he, casting an eye
ofadmiration over the elegant portions Of her
figure, for to Judge from appearances you must
be graceful dancer!'
you have guessed correctly she returned
with look of real or mock gravity, am in ev.
cry sense of the term a good dancer
Edward not being able to determine whether
she was testing or in earnest, merely smiled.
Z" You smile" she said, Z" at what you think
selfcommendation, which is generally equiva.
lent to no praise at all; or perhaps, you are
amused at my rustic simplicities, or lack of
knowledge of the common usage of society;
bat speak only of what | do know; not be-
cause have.frequently been told so, but from
comparison and MS she glanced at the dancers
before her, smile of playful ridicule again
changed the expression Of her countenance.-
Brandon more and more charmed with char.
acter of such freshness, and with that lofty in.
dependence which shOne out in every word,
look, and action, and which seemed to disdain
the lishtest shade Of concealment, said, $50 you
really are not fond Of daucing!--pray may
enquire your reasons =
"Simply because | think it an irrational
amusement. What can be more stupid than to
see human beings, who were created to glorify
their Creator, sliding or gliding or swimming
through the mazes Of the figure; bowling and
curtscying, and practising all sorts of laugh
abb. plntonines and maneuvering. | speak
only of the present style of dancing; if all
practical use af the muscles were not forbidden
by fashion, there would be more sense in it."
But YOU must allow, Miss Sewell, that it
breaks up the stiffness and formality of party.
Why should there be any stiffness! Why
should one not be as much at home in the So
lor!
every one docs not possess the high iade.
pendence which seems ito characterize Miss
Scwell. But you must allow that in the pauses
of the dance we converse more freelyp
"Then you Think she said, as a smile of
xquisite archness irradated her countenance,
that in order to brighten the intellect it is first
necessary to shuttle the feet" She then con-
tipued more seriously, ooh lamentable dearth
of all that is calculated to make society what it
was originally designed for, the communion of
intelligent minds, the interchange of happy
thoughts"
Am to understand, Miss Sewell, that you
totally disapprove of all kinds of balls'
"No. think well got up fancy ball,
where the characters are supported, amusing
and even edifying. One may fancy themselves
in every quarter of the world at once. There
is room to exercise the mind, the imagination
is called Into play; it is no longer mere shuf
fling of the feet; you are introduced to every
voricty of character, from the cannibal of the
South Sea Isles, to the refined Partisan belle;
the Swiss peasant and the hardy mountaneer
of the Scottish Highlands; the Spanish monk,
whose black eyes, pecping from beneath his
cow at every pretty woman he meets, expects
confession of sins, which he has previously
made up his mind to absolve her from, &c. &c.
"But how many, Miss Sewel, would you
find capable of supporting the characters they