Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-03-28
THE GAZETTE.
THE PROGRESSION ON PARTIES.
MORNING, MARCH IS, 1860


THE PROFESSOR ON PARTIES.
In the April number of the Atlantic,
Monthly, DIR. Holmes, in his Professors
Story" gives charming and elaborate &C
count Of ''party" given by one OF the rich
citizens of Rockland-the type OF the mo
dern New England village. The Professor
descriptions and observations are too gooo
for us to pass by without extracting. heze-
kiel Sprowle. the host, it should be known,
is retired country merchant, who IS aignin-
ed with the title Of the Colonel ana the par
ty is given on the occasion OF MISS ma'iioa
Sprowle looming out
WAITING FOR COMPANY.
At halfpast seven o'clock, the Colonel, In
costume. came into the front parlor, and pro-
eeeded to light the lamps. Some were good
bumored enough and took the hint of a light
cd match at once. Others were rs vicious as
they could be-would not light on any terms
any more than if they were filled with water,
or lighted and smoked on one side OF the
chimney, or sputtered few sparks and sulk-
ed themselves out, or kept up a faint show
of burning, so that their ground glasses look
as feebly phosphorescent as so many invalid
fre-hies With much coaxing and screwing
and pricking, a tolerable illumination was at
last achieved. At eight there was grand
rustling of silks, aud Mrs and Miss Sprowle
descended from their respective bowers or
boudoirs Ofcourse they were pretty well
tired by this time, and were glad 10 sit down
having the prospect before them OF being
obliged to stand for hours. The Colonel
walked about the parlor, inspecting his regI-
ment oflamps
'Hush?" said Mrs. Sprowle, there's the
bellp'
Everybody took position at once, and be-
gan to look very smiling and altogether at
ease. False alarm. Only parcel of spoons
loaned" as the inland folks says when they
mean lent by neighbor.
Better late than neyer." said the Colonel,
"let me heft them spoons"
Mrs. Sprowle came down into her chair
again as if all her bones had been bewitched
out Of her.
Pm pretty nigh beat out Already" said
she, before any of the folks has come"
They sat silent awhile, waiting for the first
arrival How nervous they got! and how
their senses were sharpened.
"Hark!" said Miss Matilda" what's that
rumblin."
1t was cart going over bridge more
than mile off, which at any other time they
would not have heard After this there was
a lull, and poor Mrs. Sprowle's head nodded
once or twice. Presently a cracking and
grinding of gravel. How much that means
when we are waiting for those whom we long
or dread to see! Then change in the tone
of the grayel-cracking.
"Yes, they have turned in at our gate they
re comm. Mother! mother?"
Everybody in position smiling and at ease
Bell rings Enter the first set of visitors
The Event of the Season has begun.
WHAT FASHIONABLE PARTIES ARE FOR.
There was tribunal once in France, as
You may remember, called the Chambre Ar
dente, the Burning Chamber. 1t was hung
all around with lamps. and hence its name
The burning chamber for the trial of young
maidens, is the blazing bail room. What
have they full dressed you. or rather half
dressed you for, do you think! To make you
look pretty of course Why have they hung
chandelier above you Pickering all over
with flames, so that it scorches you like the
MONDAY sun, and your deepest dimples can
not hold a shadow? To give brillancy to the
gay scene no Doubt No, my dear Society
is inspecting you, and it finds undisguised
surfaces and strong lights a convenience in
the process The dance answers the purpose
of the revolving pedestal upon which the
"White Captive" turns, TO show us the soft,
kneaded marble, which looks as fit had ne
yer been hard in all its manifold aspects of
living loneliness. No mercy for you, my
love, Justice, strict justice, you shall GER
tainly have-neither more nor less. For,
look you, there are dozens, scores, hundreds,
with whom you must be weighed in the bal
ance; and you have got to learn that the
struggle for life" Mr.. Charles Darwin
talks about, reaches to vertebraes clad In
crinoline, as we'll as to molusks in shells, or
articulates in iointed scales, or anything that
fights for breathing room and food and love
in any coat of fur or feather! Happy they
who can flash defiance from bright eyes and
snowy shoulders back into the pendants Of
the insolent lustres.
HOW GENTEEL FOLKS EAT CAKE.
The elder Miss Spinney, to whom Widow
Leech made remark, assented to it, at the
same time ogling piece of frosted cake,
which she presently appropriated with great
refinement of manner, taking it between her
thumb and forefnger, keeping the others
we'll spread and the little finger in extreme
divergence, with graceful unduation Of
the neck, and queer little sound in her
throat. as Of an M that wanted to get out
and perish in the attempt.
ICE CREAM IN THE COUNTRY.
There is something so audacous III the
conception of ice-cream, that it is not strange
that population undebauched by the lux
ury of great cities, looks upon it with q kind
of awe, and speaks of it with a certain emo
ton. This defanee of the seasons forcing Ma
ture to do her work of congelation, in the face
of her sul.riest noon, might well inspire a
timid mind with tear, lest human art were
revolving against the High Powers, and
raise the same scruples which resisted the
use Of ether and chloroform in certain con
tingencies. Whatever may be the cause it
Is we'll known that the announcement at
any private rural entertainment that there
is to be ice-cream, produces an immediate
and profound impression. 1t may be re-
marked, as aiding this impression, that ex-
aggerated ideas are entertained as TO the
dangerous effects this CONCEALED food may
produce on persons not in the most robust
health.
There was silence as the pyramids of ice
were placed on the table, everybody look
ing on in admiration. The Colonel took a
knife and assailed the one at the head OF the
table. When he tried to cut OF a slice. it