The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1858-05-28

Win tue prefdlHn9 uue OF the OeCOTdlIOnS o.
the chamber into which it opened That at the
eastern extremity was hung, for example, in
bue-and wildly blue were its windows. The
second chamber was purple in lis ornaments
and tapestries, and here the panes were purple
The third was green throughout and so Were
the easements. The fourth was finished and
lighted with orange-the fifth with white-the
sixth with violet. The seventh apartment was
closely Shrouded in black velvet tapestry that
hung all over the ceiling and down the walls,
falling in heavy folds upon a carpet Of The same
material and hue. Now, in no one ofthe sew
en- apartments was there any candle or candel-
abrum, amid the profusion of golden ornaments
that lay scattered 10 and fro or depended from
the root. There was no light Of any kind en-
anating from lamp or candle within the suite OF
chambers. But in the corridors that followed
the suite, there stood, opposite to each window,
a heavy tripod, bearing a brazier OF fire, that
projected its rays through the tinted glass aud
so glaringly Illuminated the room. And thus
were produced multitude OF gaudy and fantas-
tic appearances. But in the western or back
chamber the effect the fre-light that streamed
upon the dark hanging through the blood tin
ted panes, was ghaslly in the extreme, and pro-
duced 50 wild look upon the countenances of
those who entered, that there were few OF the
company bold enough 10 set loot within its pre-
cinctS at all
1t was in this apartment, also, that there
stood against the western wall, gigantic clock
of ebony. It's pendulum swung 10 and iro with
a dull heavy mouotonous clang: and when the
minute hand made the circuit of the face, and
the hour was TO be stricken, there came from
the brazen lungs Of the clock sound which
was clear and loud and deep and exceedingly
musical, but offs peculiar note and emphasis
that, at each lapse of an hour, the musicians of
the orchestra were constrained to pause, momen-
tarily, IN their Performance, TO hearken to the
sound; and thus the walters per force ceased
their eyoiuiious; and there was brief dsconccrl
OF the whole gay company; and while the
chimes tthe clock yet rang It was observed
that the giddlesl grew pale, and the more aged
and sedate passed their hands over their browS
as if in confused revery and meditation. But
when the echoes had fully ceased, high laugh
ter at once perYadsd the assembly; the musicians
looked at each other and smiled as il at their
own NERVOUSNESS aud folfy, and made Whisper
ing vows, each TO the other, that the next chi
ming of the clock should produce in them no
similar emotion; and then after the lapse of SIX
ty minutes, (which embrace three thousand six
hundred seconds Of the Time that 1ies,) there
came yet another Ginning Of the clock, and
then were the same disconcert and tremuious-
ness and meditation as before.
But, in spite OF these things, it was gay and
magnificent revel. The tastes of the duke were
peculiar lie had fine eye for coIors and ef-
iects. He dIsregarded the decora Of mere FASH
ion His plans were bold aud fiery, and his
conceptions goved with barbarc lustre. There
are some who would have thought him mad
His followers knew that be was not. it was
necessary TO hear and see and touch him 10 be
Surc that he was not.
He had directed, in great part, the movable
OF the seven chambers, upon oc-
casion Of this great fete; and il was his own gui-
ding taste which had given character to the
masqueraders. But sure they were grotesque
There were much lare and glitter and piqnau-
cy and phautaSm much of which has since been
seen in "Hernan." There were afabesque
figures with unsuted limbs and appointments.
There Were deIirious ancies such as the mad
man fashions. There were much of the beau
titul, much of the wanton much of the bizarre.
and something Of the terrible, and not a little Of
that which might have excited disgust. To
and fto in the seven chambers there stalked, in
fact, multitude of dreams. And theSe-the
dreams-wr writhed in and about, taking hue from
the rooms, and causing the wild music of the or
cheSira TO seem as the echo of their steps And.
anon, there strikes the ebony clock which stands
in the hall Of the velvet. And then, for mo-
ment, all is still, all is silent save the voice oil
the clock. The dreams are stiff frozen as they
stand. But the echoes ofthe chime die away
they have endured but an instant and light, |
half subdued laughter floats after them as they
depart. And now again the music swells, and
The dreams live, and writhe to and fro more
nerrily than ever, taking hue from the many
tinted windows through which stream the rays
from the tripods But to the chamber which lies |
most westward Of the seven, there are now none |
1i the maskerS who venture; for the night is wa
lng away, and there flows a ruddlpr light |
through the blood coored panes; and the black
ness the sable drapery appals; and 10 him |
whose foot falls upon the sable carpet, there
comes from the near clock Of ebony muffied |
peal more solemnly emphatic than ary which |
caches their ears who indulge in the more re-
note gaities Of the other apartments.
But these other apartments were densely |
crowded, and in them beat leverishly the heart !
)flife. And the revel went whirng on, until |
II length there commenced the sounding OF
midnight upon the clock And then the music
,eased as | have told; and the evolutions of the
Hal!zers were quieted; and there was an uneasy
cessation Of al. things as before. But now there
we're twelve strokes 10 be sounded bv the bell |
If the clock; and thus it happened, perhaps
hat more Of thought crep, with more Of time,
nto the mediations OF the thoughtful among
hose who reveIed. And thus too, it happened,
perhaps, that before the last echoes of the last
chimes had utterly sunk into silence, there
we're many individuals in the crowd who had
ouHd leisure TO become aware of the presence
,fa masked figure " hich had arrested the atten-
ion Of no sngle individual before. And the