New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-11-01
my VISIT TO AN OPERA MASQUERADE
AND WHAT HAPPENED TO NE.

LnsFIes Hotel.
MY VISIT TO AN OPERA MASQUERADE
.. AND WHAT HAPPENED TO NE.
If the reader will promise not to laugh, I will
give him the story of my first visit to an opera
masquerade. had come up to London from
Manchester by coach, having several orders to
take, and wishing personally to see after our
agents, besides having about two thousand
pounds to receive on account of our firm Well,
you must know that We had only one inside pas
senger beside myself, who appeared a discreet,
proper behaved man, and rather gave me to
understand that he Was clergyman. Some
how or other, 1 don't know why, the converse.
ton turned on my affairs, when told him ex
actiy what was coming up about; and indeed
produced one or two of the bills had in nv
pocket book as he offered to tell me whether the
drawers and aeceptors we're good where they
lived and all other information relative to them
we had very pleasant journey, and | was
quite disappointed when my friend got out just
before we entered London, as was much de-
lighted with him, and anxious to renew our
acquaintance. | unfortunately agreed-not
that approve of such things, but merely as a
matter of business-to meet him that evening at
the opera masquerade. Nay, don't .start-I
merely consented to go there to receive con.
siderable order the gentleman offered to procure
for me, and give me there. I accordingly got
up about II o'clock at night, for I went TO bed
directly arrived in Charing Cross, and walked
from my hotel to the opera house. Oh such a
scene, such confusion, such hurley hurley,
never beheld shop-b boys aping the leading
tashionahles of the day married men in domi
nos seeking intrigues, or looking after suspected
wives; ballet girls dressed up: courtezans al
most undressed, pushing. squeezing, jostling
along
All, in short. seemed to have forgotten their
natural decency, and nothing but my desire to
meet my new friend, could have tempted me to
remain. Presently, a very elegant looking fe-
male came up to me, She was very closely
masked, but from the delicaey of her hands l
saw she was lady; and the head of her dom
| ino, once falling back, gave me an idea that she
was young and pretty. To my astonishment,
she addressed me by name, and told me several
| things, for which l am even yet at a loss to &C.
count, She took my arm, and must confess
spent the time very pleasantly in her company
so much 30, as almost to mako me forget the
| person came to seek.
| About o'clock she proposed that we should
sup; but as she said it would be impossible for
q lady OF her rank to unmask in the public the
alter, we drove to very highly respectable
eotfee-house hard by, where we enjoyed an ex-
eelent supper, Filled with admiration at her
| exceeding beauty, drank but little The lit
| tie, however, she helped me to, and confess,
enjoyed my champagne doubly, coming from so
fair hand. All of a sudden felt myself fall
ing off into most delicious slumber. | vanly
| strove to fight against it, The lovely creature,
before whom could not do SO rude thing as
sleep, far from being annoyed at my failing fac
ulties. actually came around, and the last thing
that can reeollect was her gently placing a
pillow beneath my head From that moment
| till the next morning, I have no recollection of
what had passed.
| 1t was about IL o'clock the following day
when awoke. | found myself in very hand
some room, my head still confused from my
orgies of the preceding night, and my left arm
bound up. | rang the bell and learned to my
great surprise, that | was still in the hotel
where had stopped; and just as I had appa-
rently concluded that meal, had been taken
with a fit or somniferous attack of such deter
mined obstinacy, that though surgeon had
been sent for and bled me, it had been deemed
advisable to have me removed instantly to bed
| The waiter congratulated me on my recovery
"And the LADY," demanded l, remembering
my companion of the last evening
\ "Oh, sir, she was in great distress she told
US she was your niece; and said she would call
before 9 o'clock this morning, to ask after your
health"
| "Did abe do so, !"
"oh, Lord, yes sir; she was here by O'Clock,
and took away bundle with her; and then she
came again about an hour ago, and broueh,
something back with her. She said it was your
| linen, and as she was go nearly related to you
we allowed her to do so''
My first thought was that had been robbed
| | jumped up directly, but found my things Just
as | had left them the night before My pocket
book still remained in my b, east pocket; my
purse was untouched in my waistcoat Sol dis
missed the waiter and began to dress myself,
sorely puzzled at the conduct of this charming
4 InI 8. 4.
me.
now descended, paid my bill and leaving my
address in case she should call. repaired to my
hotel in Charing Cross. Arrived at the bar,
though felt foolish at having slept out, I bold
ly asked for my key.
.s Your key, sir ,"
q Yes, the key of my room, No. 16"
Ha, sir said the landlady, We have given
it to a family since you left, this morning"
I started with astonishment, and began to
think every one in London out of their senses.
"What, then, have you done with my port
manteau and my luggage'''
The woman seemed surprised in turn. a You
took 'em with you, didn't you I"
:" Not l."
"Here, john" cried the landlady, didn'i
this gentleman take his luggage away with hin
this morning, when he left the house."
The husband came forward, and elancpg sus.
/
claim for goods I already possessed, replied
rather angrily in the affirmative
8" What do you mean, my good man , /" said
l. "fve not been in your house since last
night"
"Ah, ha. sir, that's good 'un, however Jon
are joking, SIR
ssNotI I.''
"Well that passes ALL Why. Jim," turning
to q waiter, ..you called q coach for this gem
| obnn4 nta1nak fbia ~
you' And you, Sally, received this. Why
sir, what short memory you must have. Dom
you remember you told me your name wa.
Smith, and that you were going down to Man
chester by the Highfyer
my name is certainly Smith, but you are
dreaming when you say conyersed with you
this morning"
!" Deuce . bit; its you that are dreaming
Why I'd know the cut of your coat out of 1
thousand You showed me your pocket book
it's an old morocco one. You carried 1t in youl