Daily Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1854-1855, 1855-08-13

were succeeded by the gentlemen OF the
party. The tables were calculated to seat
i,ur Lundr, d people At once. The mum
her of guests ~ss almcst double thatex-
pected. There were At least eleven hun
bred.
AFTER dinner the following toasts were
offered:
The 7ss~ Of chmtsr--Iike its namesake, De VIII
Ciuicl. ma. IL become aud commune Inc iostStsro'
Internal Improvements.
Jhs projected tewa Of Ch.tsm--Thc projectors
are but assisting Nature Ia carrying oa her original
desigas.
rae Ststesf Iere-Unsurpassedb by any State in The
Unlon in mineral aud agricultural wealth, she but
nc eds the aid Of Iron arteries 10 develops her re-
sources and make her more than rvsifo an! othef
elder sisters.
Tar Mississippi osa Iera Cestrsi Raiiread Csm-
pG.s-1he huve undertlkehs giant work, but hav-
irg he mosi din eet most popular route oesweeh
the las, nd West, with eAre,iei.ed oHsens, eorl,
o. Enginee :, aud Contractors, the! are iaS equA'
10 the TASK The. Lave assumed
IA. Ladies-They show by their presence thcir
interest ia the advancement Of aii faohe ihPtoNe-
meEt
Orr sister Cffv, ZyoRs-1heir Interests ard ours
are The s.aie. In building up The waste places pc
tween US, We pro- osv 10 mcetth hall "ss.
osrss,s hbsr. Fahea City, arsr erer .rdsr-Me
hope eyentusll. 10 demonstrate ey er,ase ana !s's
Supper over, the lamps were lighted and
the floor cleared for dancing. An orches-
ira tastefully covered with plain Calico
was provided for the band, who laid aside
their field instruments, and took up those
delights of Terpsichore, the cernet, flute
piccolo and violin. Their per ormance was
sweet and Characteristic. The ladies ap'
peared in such numbers, freshness and
beauty, aud in such variety of light and
gay attire, that their appearance, intermn-
gled with gentlemen. reminded US OF
wre ath ofthe various and surprisingly beau
tiful wild flowers ofan Iowa prairie, mingled
with sober colors, such as we had seen
woven with exquisite taste by western
girl beyond the Waubesipinecon. The
lady was present. Nature of herself teach
es the fair every lesson OF beauty and ma
tive worth,
Among the guests who rem aimed in the
dancing hall was the Hon. Judge Williams
the late Chief Justice of Iowa, whose Pc
ouliar hun or and admirable social qualities,
as well as his numerous accomplishments,
make him universally welcome in all COM
panies, irrespective Of age or sex. Being
proposed 10 beautiful young lady as her
partner in the dance, he declined, but gal
lantly stated that he had four sons, either of
whom would feel himself highly honored by
the proposition. Soon afterwards the Judge
stole seat in the orchestra, on the right
of the perfor mers, and taking up piccolo
or octave flute, commenced playing with
that dry expression of humor and quiet en-
je. me ut which is SO Characteristic OF the
man. A, first his part was scarcely distin-
gushable for its smooth unison with the
band, but growing warm with his favorite
art, note after note gradually came out in
clear relief, until the witchery OF his
flute became the inspiration OF the perform :
ers and the ruling spirit of the dance. In
this m amer he continued to play for more
than an hour, following the music through
al its various moods of grave and gay,
from the smooth waltz to the quick CO.
tillion and spirited contra dance, bring
ing out t he most sweet and surprising or
namentA passages, whose shrll notes rang
above the refrain Tx tn. cry OF a sea new
above the storm. Some of his falsetto
notes were surprisingly beau .iiul, parlicu-
larly in the waltzes. A recess being taken
he laid down the piccolo and took up the
elarionet. Posing from the gay music OF
the last reel to the plaintiye notes of that
immortal air "SSeet Home" ne chained the
audience at once with an electric intlu-
ence which only su oh music can inspire
His variations OF this subject combined eve-
ry expires sion of soul with the highest style
of the art. 1t was wonderful. Throwing
aside the claronet he took up another in
strument, with change ofsentiment. Fl.
nalIy, catching up the violin, with irressta-
bic humor, he played short, spirited, and
utterly unexpected stave of Jordan" and
lef, the stand in the midst of hearty burst
of laughter from all his listeners. The
Judges whole performance was as airy as
the dip Of bird on the wing, and would
have graced the stage Of the Italian opera.
The dance was continued till after mit-
night, and although some confusion pie
vailed upon the floor. owing to the num-
bers Of both dcncers and spectators, yet en-
tire good feeling prevailed, and nothing Of
an unpleasant nature was noted
A5out three in the IN orning the boat re-
turned with the guests from Lyons and Full
ton, and soon afterwards with those from
the neighbour ng towns below. Three cheers
were given by each com any to the Cap
tain OF the boat, Captain Allen. In this
IN amer the rational enjoyment of the &C.
ca sion ended, and we are persuaded that
the common expression Of heart and good
wall which appeared to animate all present,
W i'll continue to inspire both them and all
our friends along the line of the Iowa Cen
tral Railroad, until the completion of tn
great enterprise, in the midst of the increas-
ing prosperity Of the people Of Iowa, shall