The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-07-01

stantly pounced upon by their respective, and,
it is to be hoped, respectful, admirers, and
whirled end twisted themselves. up into the
seventh heaven, like Eastern dervishes. They
enjoyed themselves very much. The plain or
shy fed from the feet of the. polka like chat
| from, the hands of the winnower, and were
speedily,swe would not be uncourtly enough to
say tiohed, but danced into corners where, as
the air gradually heated, they bloomed like
blossoms believed with hot tears from the can.
dies above them, or were driven by sudden
sorties and sallies of the dancers upon the
orchestra; and while it blew Lulitzsky into
their ears, or fddled him into their tresses and
berthes, famed themselves industriously, and
smiled hard. They enjoyed themselves as much
ss they could. The handful of elderly gentle.
men got chairs for the handful of elderly ladies
when it was possible, but were duly admonished
BY the younger beaux that they must not pre-
sumo to NEEDLE with those destined for the sup
port of the younger bellies in the painting pauses
of the waltz. They gazsd benignly around, re.
marked how delightful it was " to see the young
people 30 happy" and, if their benevolence was
tempered with prudence, took good care to keep
their venerable toes out of the way of the hap.
py young people. If it was not, and they did
moi, they had them soundly trodden on ; their be.
nightly proved as fleeing as their youth, and
their age was wrapped in deeper gloom. As
the night wore on, the matrons politely clapped
their fans upon their gaping mouths, like covers
on boxes. They patiently took mental notes
of the dresses present, that they might be able
to tell their absent friends "about the party, or
treasure up few useful hints for their own fu.
ture costumes" The old married men now and
then attempted a little wit; but the younger
ladies would not smile upon them, and the elder
could not. So, after isundry furtive peeps at
their watches, the feeling among them PERSIA
ded some of the hapless old wives and widows TO
60 to the csrd.tables with them, to make the
time 8 sem shorter, and then took them to their
coaches, unless they had dancing daughters
present, when they left them to their fate, and
to the dawn of the coming day. The unfeeling
forsook them at once, and forgot their own woes
together in talking politics--invaluable topic
omnipresent like the weather, and so much
more exciting.
At midnight, in the srmisice which precedes
the German in the dancing while the
mass of the company we're contending in the
supper.room below, or endeavorng still to force
an entrance, the pure moonlight sweetness of
Schubert's Serenade was playing through the
halfemptied apartments, and several music
loving couples, as if waited by it, like flowers
waved by soft south wind, were gently passing
to and fro there, to enjoy it, Two young men
of the world, however, Tor, IS truth compels me
to own, boys of the world, for The Oldest of the
pair could not have been out of his teens, we're
disturbing the listeners very much by their chat.
tering, as, with their eyes full Of eye glasses,
they lounged near one of the folding doors, lam
guidly reviewing the slow procession, whica
passed and repassed before them. 1t consisted,
for the most part, of sallow, puny, unsimely.
blighted looking youths, and pretty, bot pale and
p;gmy, girls, complaining, by their Insignificant
physiques, (so, at least, some psychologists say,
of want Of limestone under the soil they
grew-or rather did not grow, but ought to
have grown-on; or, as others would have it
accusing the hysienic sins of fathers, whose
manly exercises, through the winter, which
makes half our year, coneist of two walks
through three or four streets to their counting
rooms, and back over the same monotonous
way, daily, six days in the week, and from their
houses to their churches and back one day; and
mothers, who, during the same time, scarcely
open their lungs to full, free breath of air
untainted by furnaces except in the brief transi,
from shop to shop and reception.room to recep
tion.room and, further, testifying to the cakes
pastry, and confectionery, with which they filed
their own poor little stomachs in their nursery
and school days, instead of the plain, hearty
fare, which might have given little muscle
nerve, blood, and bone, to them, as we'll as to
their cousins over the water. 1t is very plain
that human existence, in this intellectual re-
gon, is destined soon to resolve itself into pure
mind. =.
"Who comes here 2" said Mr.. Robert Jones
as rather pinched featured but handsomely
dressed lady approached them, with an ex
preston of shrivelled ecstasy run to seed.
"a granny, dear /" rel joined Mr.. John Rob
inson. "Whst did you look at her for? Som.
horrid old maid /"
"No it wasn't. Twas Mrs. Jonathan How
ard. l ogled her as hard as l could, on pur
pose to make her think I'm nice young man
who can appreciate moral and intellectual ex
cellence, even after beauty may be-just lit
tle-on the wane. Too much mind but he
husband has. lovely place down on Clan
mer, and wan. to make her invite me mex
July or August"
Has husband and place at the sea-shore
has she? That's some apology for her
don't see what business women of her age hav
to 60 out, though--only meandering about, an,
getting in the way Of the people the party wa
made for, and trying to shipper you into fndip,
their carriages for them. just as your partne
gets desperate, and goes eff with somebod
else. They ought to be stayers at home.' q
the good book says"
Here's an old maid for you now ;f 70,
want one"
don't, thank you but know her. an,
she knows me too, I'm afraid for she woul
stand winking and blinking, with her eve.plas
up at Mrs. Eben Clfford's, the other night
when was manager, right in the way of ever,
: body in the all round, till at last in the conse
entious discharge of the duties of my Office,
really had to daece right into her. 1 had tina
Miss Andrews, you know-two yards in th
girth, and weighs stone Twas no fault Z
mine. l never asked her; but she would ke6.