The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-02-23
NO. 373.

without any ones, knowledge His satanic
majesty fairly took possession of the good old
man and be repaired to neighboring store,
where dresses were rented or sold, and selected
the most appropriate-that of friar of order
gray-placed himself in voiture, and in a few
minutes was at his destination. He entered
the scene startled him beyond messure-the
crushing roar of two hundred instruments, the
dazzling light of chandeliers and jets which
seemed to go glittering up and up into a
dizzy distance lighting tier after tier, where
thousands Of eyes from behind black dominos
reflected back the rays, as they looked down
upon the myriads Of fantastic forms which
rolled and tossed under the sway Of the deaf
ening music, like a yexed sea by moonlight
made up whole to dream OF, not to see. Mr.
Jones was startled then shocked little. very
little amused, and finally, az | shall tell you,
greatly alarmed A strange fascination pos
sessed him. After he had gratifed his euriosi-
ty, he still fingered; no wandered on through
the wild maze, and, as the hours wore on. the
fun grew fast and furious--monks and knights
jrmped higher and higher-devils twisted
gypseys, fiowergirls, dibardeurs screamed as
they fairly flew; while hideous beasts roared,
howled, and squealed The musicians seemed
possessed, and rolled out without ceasing the
wild strains, that seemed TO madden every one.
Mr.. Jones was bewildered; many times was he
seized upon by some fearful creature and
whirled through dances which made him dizzy
and sick.
At last Mr.. Jones was frightened-he was
captured by group, that, in a mad fit. seemed
determined to torture him to death He could
not get away; one of the number, girl. scan.
dalously habited, seemed the leader. Her dress
was very improper-her conduct disgusting.
She was evidently ntoxicated-smeled dread
| fully of bad cigars and brandy She would
not let him go-called him. in excellent Eng
lish, her ancient garCon ga regular
brick while the others laughed, shouted, and
danced round him. At last he tore himself
away, rushed home at daylight, tore off his
gown, thrust it into the CRATE, and by its
warmth FASTENED TO bed, fearing, every mo-
ment the arrival of his son.
Wearied to death, he soon fell into heavy
sleep. When he awaked, he was conscious
OF some one being not only on the bed, but
partially on him. He aroused himself-he
looked-could he believe his eyes! there, on
his bed, IN his room at home, was that infa-
nous female, sound asleep with cotton UNI
brella under her arm-wOrse and worse. the
mask was off, and this female was his own in
nocent boy. He sprang from the bed, falling
| over and arouslng some ore in the guise of a
devil, asleep on the flocr; another, a tall say.
age, was on the sofa-yet another, on the
table; they were all round him Did he dream
Was he yet at that infamous ball? Neither.
His son, awakened, stared stupidity at him, and
the slecpers, starting up, burst into roar, as
one Of them exclaimed, "Why Harry Jim,
here's the ancient garGon!" Mr. Jones hap
pened to glance in the mirror-he had forgot
ten, in his haste, to remove his mask. These
gentlemen had kindly brought his son home,
and, being somewhat fatigued had remained
with him. The emotions of the elder and
younger jones leave to your imagination.
Paris, January 10, 1854.