Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1855-04-11

=
mentals and some almost bowed down by the
weight of decorations attached to their button,
holes, or suspended from their necks. Many
showed, in addition to these fattering testI-
monials, other tokens of hard fought fields
and breadth escapes; and manned limbs
and Scared faces told of other and ruder
sports than those for which they were at pres
ent assembled But all went merrily now,
and as the military bands, which had lately
marshalled them In
Battles magnifcently stern array
announced the hero of the pageant, . grim
visaged war; would hardly have recognised,
in countenances glowing with anticipatiops of
festivity. and smoothed to smiles of gentler
gallantry, features SO lately compressed IN
sternness. or distorted with cain on the blood
stained fields where for years he had been ac-'
customed TO encounter them. On came the
Car, accompanied by the King of Holland,
the Prince of Orange, and brilliant staff,
himself the cynosure of wondering eyes-as
well he might be, for seldom had nature and
art combined to produce finer specimen OF
humanity Somewhat exceeding the common
height, of fair complexion. with just enough
of ersJon- point to Indicate perfect, but not
rude -health-his appearance, apart from his
half-military costume, was rather that of the
well-bred gentleman than of the hero, or the
prandee His face-round smooth, and
somewhat florid with light whiskers, but no
moustache-had neither martial nor very
intellectual expression: but was not wanting
in animation, and bespoke amiability and
fellowship, rather than disposition or ca
pacity to command An approach to bald
ness was perhaps no disadvantage to him, as
it gave elevation aud expansion to his fore
oh o.fa 10 tha baads
which. well-placed on his manly shoulders,
seemed better adapted to this emblem of peace
full sovereignty than to the warriors helmet.
or the conauerer's wealth. His dress was
faultless. A scarlet coat, fitting SO tightly to
his person, as, but for the color, to seem part
of it, was crossed by the broad ribbon of ST..
Andrew, and bore no other insignia; while
his weiI-forned limbs, in white knee breeches,
as they were called, and silk stockings of the
same color, terminated in feet of proper pro-
portions, encased in pumpss fastened by large
buckles of gold. Moving gracefully to the
middle of tue room, he took his stand ID front
of the line of assembled beauties really
! all were lovely wemen-and lift{ lorg-
nette to his eye, and directing it ght to
left, and then from left toeright, oI y<1e daz-
zling array with as much sang yfrUsd IS Il be
had been inspecting file of soldiers, he fixed
at last on one Of the expectant and agitated
bevy, let fall his glass, stepped forward, and
putting his arm daintily around her waist,
without uttering word, led her out In a
polonaise-a dance between walk and a
waltz-in which he was followed by the prin-
cipal personages of the assembly, each of
whom had provided himself with partner
though with less of the Grand .Seiqneur III
making his selection. a very few turns round
the room snfficed for his qualification, when
restoring the fair, exultant, and doubtless en-
We'd favored one, to the rank from which he
had withdrawn her, be stood in the middle of
the room, apart from all others, complacently
looking down on his own fine limbs, with the
air of one well satisfied with their symmetry
and their achievement Their was rather more
of dandyism than of dignity in this self-adu-
| lation--more of the petit naaitre than of the
Emperor; but then an Emperor is but man.
and few men, SO favored by fortune, position
and personal endowment, would have been
less desirous to display them. After a few
moments repose, the same ceremony of Sc
lecting and lea ling oet fair partner was
repeated, and this, at intervals, three or four
times during the evening, after which he con-
yersed for an hour or two with his royal asso-
ciate, and then withdrew, that his august pre-
sence might be no longer restraint on fes-
tivities which proeeednd more gayly, and
more naturally without him.
Would you think, gentle reader, that in
this identical hall, but three short months
prior to this festal evening, and on an ocea-
sion like this. was held that bright assembly
Byron has immortalized, when
:. Belgiunn's capital had gathered there,
Her beauty, and her chivalry,'
that the cannon's rude throat might disturb
its joyousness, and turn to mourning its sounds
of revelry ? Yet so it was !; and as Emperor,
princes, heroes and beauties glided past me
in the dance, obtrusive fancy led me back to
the fatal night which had blanched with ter
ror, checks that, but moment before, had
been sufused with pleasure, and changed to
stern and, in many instances, eternal adieus,
the lovers VOW and the gallanfs adulation.
Alas how many brave spirit did that sol
emn and unexpected sound summon to the
deadly battlefield, never to return how many
a bereayed far one retired from that gay
chamber. to hide her blighted hopes in seclu-
sion, or the grave The spectres of that bricf
past mingled with the living who now throng-
ed the animated hall, and mirth and festive
music. though countenanced on this occasion
by Rassia's imperial autocrat, appeared in
harmonious and out of place in precincts SO
/ lately invaded by the trumpet-call of war, aud
the awful summons of that still greater po-
/ tie ntate-Death. w. b.. b.
+, AN Long speeches, before a jury that have
become FESTIVE and jaded by long trial, like
long sermons on summer afternoon be-
iore sleepy congregation, don't set a cause