The primitive Republican. (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-1852, 1851-05-29
The Masquerade.

In Galignani's Messenger, of the 10 Feb
ruary, we find the following particulars of
the manner in which an elderly Frenchman
was taken in and sold at amasked ball in
Paris 1t was his first appearance at one of
those places, and from the treatment he re-
ceiyed it viii probably be the last. We give
the story in full:
NJ. Lardoche, a respectable tradesman, ap-
peared yesterday before Tribunal Of Correc-
tional Police to relate misadyenture which
had befallen him at the balmasque, and to
complain Of the person who had caused it.
He had he said, arrived at the age Of fifty
without ever having been at the bal masque,
and he determined to see the last which took
place at the Opera To disguise himself, so
as not to compromise the gravity of his char
aeter he put on a false nose and large pair
! of green spectacles. He was at first bewil-
dered by the noise, and when he had become
somewhat accustomed to the scene, wonder
ed greatly at the style of dancing, which
Iwasso different to that which was in fashion
in his youthful days. Whilst heWas engag-
ed in quiet contemplation, fine woman
dressed as a shepherdess, aecosted him.
! Struck by her magnificent stature, he cour-
teohsly replied, and they soon got into a
very interesting conversation. She at last
asked him to have dance, and he consented.
4 The dance concluded, he calamity offered an
!, ice or a glass of lemonade; but the lady
/ scornfully replied, .1emonadel No! Give
me bowl of punchp' They went to the
cafe, and the punch was produced, The
lady he, observed, took glass after glass with
all the soas ftleon Of trooper, and for his
. lpart he did not spare tho liquor At last
he got n such good l1rmoT that he yentur,
ed to give the lady few gentle caresses,
e which she permitted with a sort of modest
S confusion, which was inexpressibly charm
ing
E "0h! said he, "my angel! you are ex
ceedingly beautiful, 'SAh, Narcissus" she
2 answered, for he had told her his Christian
# name II feel for youa strange sympathy
your image is forever engraven hereg' anc
i with a languishing look, shesplaced her han(
on her heart II ought not, she added
= ito make such confession, but what, Mar
/ Icissus, can a poor weak woman do, whel
e fascinated by such man as you? And, a
shes spoke, she became more languislling thar
! ever, and fell into her adorers arms. AL
at once she cried, gu have damon,
a ring. Give it to me, Narcissus; I am sur
= some woman gave it to you, and [ should di
tel of jealousy if you were to wear it y AM
Il she, half playfully, half angrily, pulled
from his finger, and placed on her own. i
return, however, sho cut off a large lock Q
lel her hair, and said, ''there, Narcissus, tax
Il that-and never, never forget me." AS th
: ring was worth l 200 francs, Nareissus b
no means approved Of the exchange; but, i
2 spite Of his repeated requests, the lady d.
I'd Iclined to make restoration. Narcissus .
ID length got seriously angry, and the lad
deemed It prudent to faint in hisarms. Th
j poor man shouted for salts, or vinegar, {
- hartshorn, but no one had any, and frema
er eventually restored the patient by putin
be the smoke,of his pipe in=her face In doin
er this her mask fell of, and the unfortuna
s. Narcissus was .astounded to see a big pair
- whiskers and large moustache-the charm
ng Ell was man! Narcissus at once gave Il
ey fellow into custody, and it was subsequent
to aseertained that bis name was Lahure, al
n that he was a wellknoWn chief Not haYir
anything to say in lis defence, he was co
y demned by the Tribuifai 70 thirteen month
lor imprisonment.
81 Tyma. sitondov.f; soe Morality