Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1858-06-12
For the Democrat
A Mountain Ball.


Let poets love the muses. shadv bowers.
And sing Of mIssv dcls and plants and flowers
And ali that the villa n',,s Sn;r;, SaoneI.
EsaantinI IN increase onr deen 5evntion"
In the grand reliUion of the kne amotinns.
Nv sOnS shnll hs NOT of tLis nm;st fssL;"n
IN, f, ~ I;Cc ard hr;mr 10 - ,,,i, Ua..;or
The theme shall be a Cai;Gnrnis hall P~'''
Run free INV rLvme ns danrnrs Ger tho hau
We pious dwellcrs in Won mornl States
For ever guarded BY the pleasant fatcs,
lf we indulge In measures iovoms cu,,
We have M church mn0ni6rsnt and tno
Where we may meet euch other to outshine
md hAunt In ali Tho oynudincss If drnss
While virtue lies outside in trcn distress.
Few social parties have we, where we meet
Aud cach the other in warn, fricn,lshin urcst.
One means of iov hive we and thai IL ali
A"'" S'uuSe Us "o' o"' e'o'''"S "'ou"'"'" "a'''
The eve Is calm. the day has sobercd down.
Yet ali il hnstIc in the momntain town
White shirted miners hasten here and there.
With dirty clothes they've doicd awhile their care
From Rulchcs and ra vines come pouring in
A mc,ley crew. with never ending din!
They have il, view a rrvrl wild and desr -
With strong rotations they the time will keen
But see! the ladies' come in bright arrav
On horse. back tn cling DER the hills, 80 CAV:
And gallant cavaliers. in costume fine
Come riding after in n dashinv line:
They all intend tO have a iolly time.
So much the belter-.'twiil warm up my rhvme.
The bathrooms lit and opened is the scene!
Fes,oons Of wild flowers ding their pertume out
Aud now begins the merry mountain rout.
How proud the man who now Gun promenade.
Who has secured the hand of wife or maid,
Who is one Of four-scOrc men who stand
Viewing most enviously the promised luud,
Who've sought in vain n partner fair to fluid
Il
But bark! the music soundS--the dancers form,
Now swim, now slow, just as the music guides,
And all as iuyous AS are new made bridrS.
am no voiary Of Tcrpsichorc,
Yet let who will that dashny muse ndore-
A CAV dance RIndlens and the shirt cheers.
And shaketh oil the gloom and dust of Years,
Now shall make all effort to portray,
Or lime an outline Of those ladies' gay;
Well, some are danes Of fully fifty years.
And others are " fat, fair and forty" dears;
Aud more are mothers yuunE with squullinH weans,
And there are maidens Young some in their teens ;
They ell drest in rich and costly gear
Iuxuriantv radiant they appeur.
They fairly glitter with ornaments Of gold,
The Jewish maids were not 50 deck'd Of old;
Earrings, watches, bracelets, fancy fingers
Ger their many golden ringcd fingers:
Then some are fair and some are I'assable,
A very few look absolutely i'll;
but all are much indebted to the cline,
Il gives the old the vigur Of their prime,
But most il guilds the glory OF the younx
Now let us turn to where the dancers glide,
How gracefully they change from side to side,
Save when some hUmbre the wrong course doth take
Then how they I'll Skittcr ut his dull mistakel
We're DO great stiCklers here for etiquette,
No matter for il who gets in pet.
Yet must yield the ladies special praise
EN- 49,
The maids are smiling, aud the matrOns glance
SOilly on those who ask them out 10 dance.
But must sings u that u sing NJ abIes
Tue clInk and clAtter Ot the supper table,
Eor supper 10 the feature OF the ball.,
The tables laid and supper i is ready,
The ladies dash in like brilliant eddy,
Most waited ON BY gentlemen unsteady,
Leaving behind all those who have NO ladies,
Looking as torlorn as mOtherless babies!
For they must wait for table two or three
Like single rasca!s who have no degree:
But those NJ table, gracious how they pitch in
To ell the good things OF the sav'ry kitchen,
Turkies, pigs aud chckcns-hOw they disappear!
Aud venison, partride, mnuntain grouse and quail,
To dull their craving 'l"th not all avail.
And pies and fruit in fact the whole rOutne
Are merely nic.nacs for AppCtilcS So keen.
d, gentlemen, d, ladies! pray, refrain,
Nor let your excess soil my pretty strain;
>lcOut the water Law und cheer tho rmbv wine
Now goeth round the merry laugh and Jest,
Aud bright eyes beam with more than wOnted zeSt,
Aud witchinY glances pass in secrcsy-
Why should that anger either you or me?
Dripkiu0. lanrhinr. chatting and cooue,,ing.
Having cxhausted Sll these ILin0s and mor,s
They make their exit Ia the ballroom floor:
The ladies' now arc by the men bcsct
Who wish tcuRaCe them for the coming set.
some smile assenI-some politely bow it
some few are tired and refuse, vow il!
But moat seem now quite eager tor the fun,
Ths hnll Ifc life draws nr,c;""s =" it, cl"s,.
Thcre E,ilnws after hoth drcnrv Snll renoSs
'>F'O'
Nv song il tedious vet must 90 through
And SoHander out lie night us S,hers do:
some farce or burlesnue vet NAV chance appear.
Although the bright dawn in the East Is near.
Just as thOuEht see that nmOtOus pNr
Who fain would pass their dclit for China ware;
1ncy Io H. '0eS Mn .Gfy EOS SIpSt s SnG .Sy STUMBLE
40 Z. u'e E'Nu! 49, Wy! ""u! 'N"u'o'