Volcano weekly ledger., 1856-12-06
Replv to MIR. Quill on Ball Room Etiquette.
Volcano, Nov. oath, 1856.

Volcano, Nov. oath, 1856
Messrs. Editors Having noticed in the
last number of your paper, the complaint OF
poor Mr. G. Quill, / take this occasion, with
your permission, to make few remarks for
the benefit of Mr.. G., and certain other gen.
tlemen of the same class, accustomed to at
tend parties in our town. As to neighbor-
ing places cannot say, not being in the hab-
it of attending dancing parties outside of our
own village.
The complaint of Mr. Goose--oh, ! beg
pardon, indeed dol meant to say Mr.. u.
Quill-that's all; hiscomplaint is the alledged
"impropriety of ladies at parties engaging
themselves for five or six dances in prospect" !"
and asks if it is the law Of etiquette? The
law of etiquettel If it is not the law, then
has the law been violated; but how, and by
whom? Let us examine and see.
Pshawl Mr.. Quill, I'm already getting out
of patience amt bit sorry that | was
going to call you Mr.. Goose, for the more l
think of your letter the more / think you are
veritable goose But I'll try and be rea-
sonable. Let's see. At the conclusion of
every set the gentlemen gather round us and
ask "the pleasure of our company for the
next" You always do, Quill, and if you
happen to be the first, you are in luck; but
more Gee-I mean Quills-fock around and
ask for the "next" and the next set and so
on, as though you expected the occasion to
be the last one you would ever have of
spreading your wings. Do you call this eti-
uuette, or even common politeness? If you
Go, you should never complain of us, but ra-
ther fly quickly, be at the head of the flock,
and the first to offer your wing.
The whole truth is this An unbecoming
practice of the gentlemen has caused the to
us unpleasant custom of engaging ahead You
ask us to engage ahead-nay, you even insist
and we dislike to refuse. Yet you censure
us for that which you have brought about
yourselves, and which you yourselves keep in
vogue We never ask yon to engage in pros
pect; you ask Ns-and we, just to please
you, consent, with sort Of Eyes, sir"
Now Mr.. Coo, there it is again,
meant Mr.. Quill-don't you feel that your
letter does us injustice9 Don't you feel that
all your quack5ng is ungallant and out of
place? If you desire reform, set about ma
king ball room rules and regulations, accord
ing to the rules of etiquette and common po-
lteness, and then see that they are properly
enforced
Pray Mr.. Goose O., don't spread those
wings of yours and fly off in a tangent at
what have written; you know very well
that pe are "angels," even if we have no
wings, while you, according to your own sig
nature, are only goose. But be a right
good 'fellerr after this--now do-and at the
very next ball, some good angel will place
herself under your wing for the "nexp set
as often as you like.
Yours to engage" Eva.
p S.-Do you write your letters with a
quill from one Of your wings? or with a crow
bar, dipped in aquefortisy I'm inclined to
think the latter-they are SO savage. Say,
amt you some confirmed old bachelor-some
cross old patch--or maybe grass widder,
with wife and various responsibilities" OF
the 'tother side of the country? Oh, you
great booby--if / could be right sure that
you are either, I'd very soon scratch out the
pretty things said about you in the last
paragraph. No matter Mr.. Goo-oh, Mr.
Feath-Mr Quill; I'll pluck no more feath
ers from you this time. L.