The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1857-05-13
The Masquerade.

snow before. The sleet was perfectly blindin!
and nothing, [ am convinced, but the din Q
the postillion S horn saved US from being over
run hundred times. -. -
bordered the coachman to stop at Myhnee
Zamolski's, a restaurateur to which [ had beel
recommended as a comfortable abode 70
bachelors, where the dinner was furnished il
minute, where the napkins were of respect
able whiteness and the attendants ready ant
civil. was deceived, miserably deceived, bu
as it is not my object to dilate upon the mum
berless nuisances which at this time aboundet
in a great inn of a great continental capitol,
pass it over. Myhneer's possessed one advan
tage, for which, however, | may have felt then
| now feel that ought to have overlooked al
its Inconvenience. 1t was situated on the
Strasse, one of the finest streets in the world
Its chateau, opera, palaces, academies of design
and science, college and arsenal, all built o
the costlest stone, and of the most elaborate
design, its gaiety and animation, its constan
glitter of splendid equipages and dazzling uni
FORMS united in rendering it the most attrac
tive picture that my eyes have ever witnessed
and induced me to remain in the town much
longer than | had originally intended.
VI St l. ldu d Nttltb uC jldCc. " hat Il
a stranger in a strange town in a foreign land
without one ? An excellent one he was, too,
denizen of the place, and thoroughly initia
ted in It's localities, intrigues, and amusements
1t was the time of the carnival; and balls,
routs, plays, professions, punch, and masque-
rades were the order Of both day and night
The king and prince of the blood attended
some of these amusements, and it was rare in
deed that you did not see at least one Of the
royal family at the opera during the evening.
Frequently they all attended and remained
through the performance. | was pleased to
see it. 1t endeared the king to the people, and
did more to firmly seat him upon his throne,
by implanting his image in the baasts of his
subjects, than the secluded grandeur Of hun
dreds of riotous private entertainments to the
nobility could ever have effected.
entered the grand opera at ten, just as the
prince royal and his wife, with crowd of
starred mobiles, were quitting the royal box
They had just finished one Of Spontni's grand
operas, and the night was to be ended with d
The pit had been boarded over,
and when | entered the whole immense area
was crowded with a grotesque assembly Of har-
lequins, columbines, actors from the recent
opera, Cossacks, bears, tumbers, fools, Indians
monkeys, demons, and angels. A splendid
band was in attendance discourSing such mu-
sic as one only hears when among the most
musical people in the world. | came for amuse-
ment, and bade fare to have plenty of it.
had scarcely crossed the threshold, and was OBJ
my handkerchief an involuntary
smile, sWhen | Nas seized and whirled around
in fearful waltz with what, TO my confused
senses, seemed counterpart Of Btelzebub-
The next moment a bear had me in his clutches,
and drove me down in a galopade with a rush
which nearly annihilated my senses. AS we
came down upon the stage, my hirsute part
ner turned shortly, and letting me go, sent me
by the irresistible centrifugal impulse into a
side scene, which gave way and deposited me
upon the boards, not much hurt, but consider
ably relieved. 1t was while raised on my arm
gazing leisureIy at the teetotum twrlers, that
my attention was riveted by a beautiful figure
hanging on the arm of black domino-I was
up instantly.
'Strange," said [, "that I should discover
he finest shape | ever saw in this incongruous
Of sweet music and sourkrout
I walked by them she observed me. As
I turned around I saw her speak to her COM
0anion, and as lived thought saw her mouth
which was the only feature of her face Wis
ole smile. Now, thoug gh l have since seen
enough to convince me that travellers speak too
lightly of German manners, was then not so
,redulous, which will account for my proceed
ngs in the sequel, that might otherwise seem
strange and inexpcable.
The walters and dancers were now in their
highest twir so was my heart at the small
waist and those delicate feet. kept constant
V near the abiect of my solictude, constantly
ooking at her, and constantly bushing as
lid so. 1t may have been conceit but l
hought her altered looks assumed the shape
and expression of an interrogation point. ''Why
lon't you ask me to dance?'' seemed to me
his inquiry. The customs of a German ball
Dom, thanked heavens, dispensed with for
nal presentation, and enabled a bashful young
stranger to approach the object of his adora-
ion with some confidence. So, making hasty
calculation of the probable result ola personal
combat with her father, or brother, cor lover,
II whichever he was accompanying her, |
boldly made up to the fascinating mask and
hammered out as elegant request in German
IS my knowledge Of that language allowed.
With an air of stoical indifference her com
)anion released her to me. | was glad Of it,
or dislike trouble, and l knew that in the
vent of it the Germans phlegm would have
he advantage overmy mercurial temperament
AS | gazed on the animated countenance of
ny partner, and wbirled her in the dizzy mazes
If the waltz, the most romantic fances filed
ny imagination. | concocted in my brain the
whole plan of an elopement; pictureda a lovely
cottage on the banks Of Maggoire, and be-
ieve devoted the rest Of my existence to the
noon, the muses. and a Cremona fiddle or a
guitar. But my heart sank again as | looked
1t the smooth and nice y rounded chin and the
ips of my partner, which would have enticed
he most attic of bees from the fairest, sweetest
lower in the world. And then the little taper
vast upon which my hand rested lightly! I
ad great misgivings if I could PERSUADE the
ossessor Of all these attractions to go with
1e and besides, there was the phlematic man
1 the black domino. 1t occurred to me that
e might object too but decided that if she
7ould consent he would have to waive his OBJ
ection. .
Ny head, filled with these poetic magma
ons, the waltz was finished much sooner than
wished. l felt that | must relinquish her,
nd with sigh passed her over to the pbleg
,,t;o ruhCno T ,-or,, ,,,, - |