Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-02-14

ty his sense of duty, recoiled he sternly bade
his son be silent on that vile subject. But, TO
tell the truth, the old gentleman had lurking
curiosity and on this evening it became fright
fully strong What could possess him He
attempted his usual French studies but Ollen-
dorff seemed donbly stupid One or two SEN
fences in that valuable work took possession of
his brain /" COmptes vous alisr au bal masque
&c soir? do you intend to 20 to the masque
ball this eyeningi "Je compile y alier.o Il
intend to 60 The opportunity was so favor
able-he could 90 and return without his sons
without any ones knowledge His satanic
majesty fairly took possession Of the good old
man and he repaired to neighboring store,
where dresses were rented or sold, and selected
the most appropriatc---that of q friar of order
gray--placed himself in voiture and in few
minutes was at his destination. He entered
the scene startled him beyond measure the
crushing roar of two hundred instruments, the
dazzling light Of chandeliers and jets which
seemed TO 90 gittering 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 deal
ening music, like yexed sea by moonlight
Jones was startled, then shocked little, very
little amused, and finally, a. shall tell you,
greatly alarmed A strange fascination pos
sessed him. After he had gratified his curiosi-
ty, he still fingered; he wandered on through
the wild maze, and, as the hours wore on, the
fun grew fast and furious--monks and knights
jumped higher and higher-deyils twisted--
gypseys, fower-g girls, dibardeurs, screamed as
they fairly few while hideous beasts roared,
howled and sqnealed. 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 mad fit seemed
determined to torture him to death He could
not get away; one Of the number, a girl, scan
dalously habited, seemed the leader. Her drees
was very improper-her conduct disgusting.
She was evidently intoxicated dread
fully Of bad cigars and brandy. She would
not let him go-called him, in excellent Eng
lish, her ancient garGon TIA 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 tho 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-couli he believe his eyes! there, on
his bed, in his room ct home, was that infa-
nous female, sound ssleep 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 arousing some one in the g,lise of
devil asleep ON the floor; another, q tall saw.
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 sleepers, starting up, burst into q roar, as
one Of them exclaimed, @Why Harry, Jim,
here's the ancient garcon" 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 sen 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.