Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-05-21
LEI V.
Tng PARTNERS IN THE MINUET.

nc COuNGISublOu 4 uuNG JuSb IGluIcu OI-
Cured on Wednesday night. The follow
ing evening was dedicated to the minuet an
tadbleaux.
Toward noon, levins of young ladies. ac-
companied by their beaux, CALAMITY pran-
cling on noble steeds, began to arrive and
by sunset, every invited guest had made
his or her appearance, and the party was
complete. The fact is that Lulu was des-
p~erately popular--as we'll with the girls as
the young men. Numerous chivalric young
fellows had, throughout the summer, dis
putcd with Fitzarthur and myself the fas-
einating attention Of Miss Lulu and look
ing back now with historic and philosophic
calmness, | voudernot more than | wonder
ed then, at tho favor in which Lulu was held.
There was in her manner that delightful
frankness aud merrimcnt which putsRery
one at his ease in an instant. The rough
est and gawkiest youngster that ever blum
dered into a sitting room, or emulated the
combined glories Of the bessviol and the
Guinea pig with his voice, found in Lulu
the most pleasant companion, and went
away praising her, and being desperate.
She laughed at many persons, but, in some
way, this young lady's mirth did not seen
70 wound; and from the schoolgirl to the
matron from the boy to the finished man
of the world, al had a good word for Lulu.
and chanted her praises and her beauty.
DONE think l ever saw anything merrier.
than the scene Of that evening. AS night
drew on, the great sitting room was illumina-
ted by flood Of light and-thanks to Lulu,
whose genius had devised the idea of fixing
tapers even on the tops Of the frames of
grandma, grandpa, and grand aunts and un-
cles, shining in lace and pOwder-this light
showered down, as it were, upon the heads Of
tho company, in n silver stream Of radiant and
flashing splendor.
The amplea nte-supper having been discuss
81 with the most honorable ardor, the tab
Ieaux werO prepared, and the various actors
retired to arrange their costume. For these
costumes the family wardrobe, for three gene
~,ations, was put in requisition, and the
amount Of laces, jewels, satin dresses, and
Foadskirted coats discovered in the course of
8 lis ransacking progress, was really aston
i,hing. IL really did seem as if our respec-
I'D grandpapas and grandmas had never par
I'd with their old clothes, but left them
> ,lemnly to their descendants. With the helm
- these costumes, and the floating drapery
oftho frames, arranged in the great door. way,
aany a striking picture was produced, which,
we're it necessary, | might take up much time
in describing.
IL is unnecessary, for the purposes of nv
story or history. 1t is enough to say that
one-halCo of the guests delighted themselves
and the other half, for at least two hours !;
and then, having washed the burnt cork from
their faces, and changed the costumes of
Wareriey and Rebecca, then very popular
characters, for the ordinary dress worn in the
present century, the actors made their APP
p~eaiauce again; the frames were taken down
and the buzz Of voices and the sound of
laughter followed the silence which had reign
I'd during the progress Of the picture gallery.
lam mistaken in saying thateverybody chan.
ged his and her misunderstanding to their
everyday dgcss. Neither Lulu nor myself
made any such alteration, and that at the ur.
gent request Of our brother and sister come.
themes. You see, we were to dance the
ninuet TO old Joe's fiddle, and everybody
cried out ct theilea Of laying aside our dress
es. Would you like to know what we wore
IN the last tabloau, and the minuet? Behold
che description; Miss Lula wears a sple ndi,
salan Of ~grandma's, blue as the sky in Au
gust, and 20 stiR, that it will stand erect with
cut the assistance of q young lady's figure il
it,. TIL waist is just under the arms and i
is distrassingly slow nocked," with whicl
portion Of the person, the neck, it seems t
have no sort Of connection indeed-and pos
sesses no sleeves Of any description whatsc
ever. a little band Of blue satin only run
round each of Miss Lulu's dimplo shoulder
and her dazzling arms are bare to the dim
pies. The antique fashion being somewha
opposed to tho young lady's ideas, she ha
cnyeiapcd her neck in a cloud Of saffron colo
red lace, of<he riches quality, also the pror
orty, formerly, OF grandma, whose bracelet
and breastpins Lulu has appropriated wit
NJ little ceremony as the dress. Add q oil
Of powdered curls, n ~rustling train like a blu
cloud, and fan made Of pearl, ivory, an
cnameled paper, covered with shepherds an
shopherdess, making love by murmurir
streams, in the most picturesque dresses, mr.
you have a good idea of Lulu's costume. Z
add, that her dazzling loveliness and fres
laughing grace, more then ever enslaved
certain young man, is wholly unnecessary,
Let me pass on and only in passing say tn
the young man in question, or rather myse
to drop the third person, wore q complete st
Of tho last century, ~broadAapped coat, cove
ed with embroidery, long, fowery waistco;
silk knee-breeches, and white stockings, wi
bucklod shoes. To these shoes Lulu h
atixed r%osettes; as to my hair, she had a
piled powder, frst gathering it into a que
behind, and tying it with a great bow Of ri
bon.
These were the two young persons W
made their entree into the apartment n,
cleared for dancing ia the midst of unnni
Gus applause.
Well, WE'LL Why regret it? had
May.day merriment in May, and | wo
groan at the absence Of that sunlight of WI,
or the presensc OF these snow.dakes IN
still black moustache. look back ON 4
fair spectacle, of youth, and Joy, and beau
through two generations almost, and sal
the queen oft, and live again, in memo
thoughtful brilliant hours which are INN
tai for me in their bloom and glory. \
Lului The gray.mustachioed bows IT,
ut seventeen, that fall, that EVENING"
says that the world no longer has With
such a paragon You rise before me nov
clearly as then ] see your white hand h
ing up with delicate grace the ample fold
your blue satin, which more than once G.
near tripping up the whits-satin.slipp
feet which moved beneath it | see YOU b
ing slowly in the profound curtsey, toucl
1t must have been-how could | know
the oaken floor, with your knee | Sc,
round chin resting on your breast, the
curls rippling around your checks |
your extended hand, as the grave, Ia
music floats on in its splendid stateliness,
mince my steps, and smile with raptuI
we glide and, rs you bead again, in q
queenly curtsey, as the noble strain die
10 sllenca tna nress NV on,LoJ b,k =,