The Port Gibson reveille. (Port Gibson, Miss.) 185?-1857, 1854-01-18
Interesting To Ladies.

shelter, it seems to us that there might be ;
Corresponding reform in the social and con
viyial customs Of life. But here, alas every
thing is perverted and tue balls. soirees, par
ties. or by whatever other names the reunion;
Of our fashionable people are called, arc The
generators Of perversions Of human nature
which would not be tolerated even amongsi
the most savage tribes.
IL A family. protesting to move in the upper
circle. considers itself obliged, at least once
in the course Of winter, to give a party
This decided upon. cards Of invitation are
sent to very many, the presence Of whom
would DC entirely repugnant to those who is
sue the invitation, and everything upon the
face Of that invitation indicates that the wri-
ter and the invited are on the best Of terms.
But no-on the contrary. they have nothing
in common but the envious desire to outstrip
each other in the magniicence Of their enter.
+ entertainments. and in the dresses in which
they respectively array themselves.
When assembled, after an external apparent
compianc with the most recent rules Of Ell
quet.c, the guests scatter themselves around the
room and amuse themselves in theirtemporary
/ localities with the most ill-natured reflections
upon the capacities or habiliments Of others
taking care to reserve their personal opinions
Of the lady to whom they arc talking until
some other lady or gentleman becomes the
/ listener. In this manner a caustic biography
Of each individual serves, alternately repeated,
for the intellectual portion Of the banquet.
But this species Of entertainment does not
last long for the yolubility Of the guests is
soon exhausted upon these topics, and unior-
tunately, there is no other upon which they
can converse. If the party is composed Of
people calling themselves religious, this state
OF things alters with grave and oracular re-
marks upon the sad condition Of the heathen
in foreign countries, from some Of .he older
guests, to which the younger portion Of the
company unwillingly give audience. But if
sinners. instead Of saints, compose the majori-
" Of the party, whist, backgammon, and
other games concentrate the inactivity; while
imported gyrations, which are libel upon
dancing, are resortcd to BY the more agile.
After getting we'll heated by abortiyc efforts
at an exhibition Of grace, supper Is announced,
when a scrambling takes place which would
discrcdit the tables Of the most uncultivated
individuals. The most gorgeous Of contec-
tionary are hurried all over the floor in the
attempt to procure fayorite bon-bons, and the
sensitive stomachs Of our languishing bellies
are filed with a beautiful conglomerate COM
posed Of ice.crean, pickles, brandy-peaehes, I
ham, rum-cherries, and other equally digesti- I
bic viands. Meanwhile, the decorations Of
the table, the quality Of the edibles, and the
character Of the wines, are made the subject
Of criticisms which if heard By the hostess
would forever close her doors against unman- 4
nerly commentators.
The whole thing thus far is a complete farce
and, to an interesting spectator, presents
curious but lamen:able comedy. In majori
ty Of cases the party has been got up AZ a cost /
Of several hundred dollars more than the head
Of the family can afford. but then his wife tells
him that Mrs. So aud So must not eclipse her I
aud the poor d-l Of husband assents. Per-
haps halt the crockery and all the plate used
on the occasion are borrowed, and the host
ess is lucky if she does not occasionlY hear
the ownership thereof referred to and desig-
mated by her guests during the evening This.
with other equally agreeable incidents, create
an irritability on the part Of the host and host
css, who severally wish their guests at Jeri-
cho, aud mentally resolve that they will never
have another such ungrateiul set within their
doors
Meanwhile, the efforts Of the host and host
ess to please these specimens Of high ciylli-
cation and refinement have produced an cnnui
which can hardly be disguised, and at length
At very late hour Of the night, or rather at
4 very early hour Of the morning. they retire
10 their beds to try to overcome violent
attack Of cholic or dyspepsia, and to curse
lie mandates Of fashion, which compel them
o make such fools Of themselves for the Gu
ertainment Of others. The material genera
ed at the party has created fund Of bitter
iess with which the ladies' can amuse them
elves in slandering their associates for
months while the gentlemen, who were the
,reatest gourmands at the tables. ask each
,ther in the streets, whether the host is not
irving rather too expensive entertainments ,
or his income and whether it is not adyisa-
he to be rather chary Of extending business
.redit in that direction. Many a man has
zen started upon down-hill track in trade
" the guests who have apparently enjoyed
lis entertainments and who have compliment
d him upon being good fellow with re- |
incd taste, aud. at the same time that they :
we're cogitating in what manner to strike him !;
fatal blow. I
And the ladies-what is the result upon !
hem! They have either been dead with /
nnui at the stupidity of the party, or alive /
Fith the most maleyolens feelings, because /
ONE Of their rivals attracted more attention
han they. Or perhaps their daughter, upon /
rhom they have exhausted all the arts and /
evices Of man@uvring mother, to ena- [
BE her to captiyate one OF the opposite sex )
ais to secure the attentions Of the gentle- |
nan whom they had selected as the prize and |
he victim, and then lasting@eud grows up +
,etwecn the two families whose offspring we're '
ngaged in the rivalry.
Such are a few Of the effects Of the FASH /
Dnable parties Of the day. We can waste i
10 more time nor paper upon the subject '
hough we cannot leave it without thanking I
Providence that our readers do not belong to t
be soi-diSant upper classes, among whom
My could so miserable peryersions Of man i
ood and womanhood exist. Those who are f
hi;~od a. .rorI, f,r a liviu0 may consider 1.