Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1856-03-15
MISCELLANY.
BUTTERFIELD AT BALL.
a CALIFORNIA SKETCH.

by John PHOENIX.
You have not heard from me for some time
! have been 'round, - however, which is pleas
ant metaphorieal way ofexpressine the fact that
] have been about, and is not intended as an al
fusion to my figure, though weigh two hun
dred and torty-ihree net, as it may appear ap-
propria,e 10 scofiers. have been attending
closely to my legitimate business, and do not
mind saying that | have been tolerably SUCCESS
fnl. ! did little in butter last week, not az
ter the manner Of the celebrated sculptor, Can
ova-who, am told, used 10 carve horses aud
other animals out Of that olcaginous substance,
which looked well bat became unpleasant to the
smell in a short time-bui in the way Of spec
ulaiion, which increased my satisfaction and my
balance at Dooliule, Walker & Legge,,'s, my
bankers, IN no small degree.
] was sitting in my counting room few days
since, in an amiable frame of mind, thinking Of
that butter which had sold 10 a manufacturer
To grease the wheels of his mandatory, and
wonder whether its strength increased the pow
er of the machinery, when Podgers of Gawk &
Podgsrs, Battery street, dropped in.
"Buuerfeld," said he, don you want To
go TO i balli'
A vision Of Mrs. Buuerseld, Respondent in
new dress, which, though Of late Importation,
she called more antique" passed before my
mind. Thought Of the dance Al Dooliule's and
in my usual prompt and decided manner repll-
ed -
well, don't know"
''lt's complimentary ball, said Podgers,
''given for the benefit of the officers of the ar
my and navy, and to come of at Madame Pike 5
on Friday" ['rhe name is Pique, and Is pro-
nounced Pi-quee, but Podgers don't understand
French
Now, ! always like the officers, poor fellows,
they looked prettily in their brass mounted
clothes, and walk around with such melan-
choly air, as though they were wondering how
they managed TO support existence on their pay
and allowance and how the deuce they do,
puzzles me. So after few words more with
PodgeTs, we started OF 10 purchase the neces-
sary pastebOard. ] suppose il was because the
ball was a national affair that we went to the
United States Mint for thar purpose. Here we
were introduced to a singnlarly handsome young
fellow, who gszed rather obviously on Podger.
and myself when we preferred our request.
"The ball is to be very select" said he.
"Ah," replied /, ''thats exactly the reason
we wish to paironize IT,"
The young gentleman could no, Withstand
the smile will which these words were accom-
panied.
"What name - said he.
''Buiierheld," ! replied
TF'lour and pork, p" said he with kindly ex
preston.
Corner of Battery and Front" answerel
and the thing done.
Podgers got his ticket also, and we lell th
Mint, arm and arm, wondering if the lovely de
sign for head on the new three dollar piece
was intended for likeness off the United State
Treasurer, Of whose agreeable eountenance vi
caught at glance as we retired.
Mrs. Buuerfield was delighted, so was Aus
tin, fancy he sent me note, day or twi
AFTER, very PreltilY conceived, with Honiton
valenclennes, point, edging, and other harl
words In 1t, which must have given great graf
Thcaiion to compose. ] purchased Of Keye
lnot that keyes, hut the other firm, / new blu,
dress coat with brazen buttons, military vo,
know; pair Of cinnamon colored leg scab
bards, and very tasty thing in the way Of ,
vest garnet coored velvet with green plush erus
bars, in which fancied should create some
thing Of a sensation. / also dropped in a
fuckers, and seeing pretty breast-pin in tn
form of figure 2, which he said, was taste
fnL eoneei for married men, show ing that Their
was two in the family. bought that also, an
hereby acknowledge that it has given me grea
qualification.
Friday evening al las, arrived. Podger
was to come for US in carriage at eight o'clock
and we commenced dressing at three, immedi
ately after dinner. Ny friends have sometime
battered me by remarklng somelhing in my al
and personal appearance resembling the lat
sloiu'nt Daniel Webster, formerly Seeretai
af Stale under Tyler's administration. Ate
dressing and going through the operation whie
Mrs Butierfeld unpleasan,ly terms drinking
walked into the room Of our next n-igbbpr,-
we boarded at the corner OF Sloekion and Pow
ell,--under The pretenee Of borrowing 4 capdls
He was sitting by the ERE, smoking cigar AM
reading rennysons Poems, which take mi