Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1854-08-09
laughing reply, as Mr.. Blanchard bowed ,I,

Laughing reply, as Mr.. Blanchard bowed
to her.
AT twelve O'Clock the supper-room was
thrown open, and the guests, many of
whom pride themselves upon the elegance
of their manners. rushed in pell n.el. yery
much as some four-footed animals, that
we know of, rushto trough. The poor.
starved beggars of the .: Five Points
would not have scrambled harder for a
missionary dinner, than did these we'll fed,
well dressed members of the '' upper
ten."
The decorations of tho table were SUI
IPerb. a pyramid of the choicest flowers
IN the centre reached from the table to
the chandelier, with tiers of tiny moss
baskets filled with flowers depending from
it; whilst half dozen other bouquets,
each superb, were scattered about. The
candy temples, which decorated each cor
ner of the table, cost over hundred
dollars piece. Luxuries, which you and
l never even knew the name of, in our
quiet country home, were put on here in
wasteful extravagance; and the fifteen hum
dred dollars spent on this supper, dear
Maggie, is but type Of the s1ppers at
fashionable parties, and not by any means
rare example. Champagne flowed
plentifuIIy, and the few wits that most of
the gentlemen had before. seemed to de-
sert them after supper.
heard person near mel judge a
retired merchant, who has made his mo-
ney by close calculations say that the bou-
Quets and flowers for this party must have
cost three hundred dollars, as they were
of the choicest kind, aud from the quanti-
ties Gf csmillas, which at the season arc
seventy five cents piece. Just imagined
seventy-fve cents for one flower The
peacocks' brains, which graced the feasts
of the Roman Emperor, were inexpensive
compared with us.
The wine seemed 10 have effected the
feet as we'll as the heads of both ladies
and gentlemen for after the supper, the
waltzing was really furious !; and without
being at all what they would call intoxi-
Gated, there were many ladies whose loud
laugh would have shocked them, could
they have heard it from another, in the
quiet of morning drawing.room.
Mr.. Blanchard is universally courted
wherever he goes, but much more for
his fine person, position, and wealth, l
suspect, than for his noble heart and cul-
tivatcd mind.
After supper the company thinned off
so much that the drawing rooms were on
Iy comfortably filled, and the dancing
was much more agreeable than earlier in
the evening. l waltzed with Louise aud
Ella and went through plain quadriIlo
with Mr.. Blanchard, the latter Of which
annoyed me, as l think he was disclined
for dancing, and only did it out Of kind
ness to me, for he didn't dance with any
one else during the evening.
His attentions, Maggie, are absolutely
womanly in their kindness, he would not
permit us to leave till we were entirely
cool after dancing; and as was getting in
to the carriage he doubled my cloak over
my breast to prevent me from taking cold.
1t was three o'clock when We reached
home. and though l am quite accustomed
to New York hours, somehow my rest
was broken with dreams nll night, and in
them little Anna Richards, and the gay
party. and Mr.. Blanchard. were iumbled
together in strange confusion.
am ashamed Of the length Of this let
ter, Maggie. but you wanted me to tell
you about the party, and l have only half
done it, SO what would a fuller description
have been? You say that have scarce
~ mentioned party to you since lave
been here, but have told mamma all
about them, and knew that you saw all
OF my letters TO her. Don't forget to re.
mind them at home that am alive.
Yours ever, ADA LESTER.