The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1862-06-25
An Evening Party

| was speaking of the beaux, | believe. Well
there are several species of the creature such as
grumblers, bawlers, would-bewits, imitation ba-
boons, and b'hoys who some how or other get in
society;-yet some times lead Madame Bon-ton
| by her delicate nose-who are as much to be
dreaded as the cholers or small pox But Of all
the terrors | ever met with in the sociabe world,
I your monopoliser is the most cOnfounding and
killing He is at once pedant and bawler, an
/ egotist and hummer; and when he seizes q com
/ pany by the ears, he is bundle Of horrors, who
drives the circle to the sad dilemma of shutting
his mouth byrudeness, or of dying out of ciYilitv
This formidable being attacked the party which
before alluded to, and the gigglers, whisperers
and simperers were cohfounded into silence and
| felt as if had rather have another love scrape
with Mary in the printing ofiice---ink, pi broken
lye-bucket, her hard slaps, and all-than listen to
such croaking. When he began his discourse
/ there were twenty or thirty persons in the room,
and before he finished only myself and two other
poor devils were left to listen to him. yet he kept
on without apparently knowing how terribly he
| had thiuned the ranks of bis audience | will
not deny that he said some sensible things-he
/ was voluhle, and he had fine art of sliding out
\ Of one subject and opening another III 4 way
4 peculiar to himself, and if he did but know when
to stop at moderate point, he might be SET down
as an acquisition to society. But stop he could
not, and am sure he would have talked en- till
sunrise, if most luckily for the sad remnant Of his
audience, the servant had not stopped him. By
telling him that his wife had been suddenly taken
i'll, and sent for him in hurry. know not how
the poor husband was affected by the news but it
shed Joy in my bosom-to hear an end of his
! endless yarn. ! fled to the next room with mag
netic speed resolved never again to Join u party
where l may meet with so deadly subject y
as the NJ. d. say of those they are cutting for
the benefit of the public, against whose fatal at
tack neither armour nor weapon can ensure me
protection.
! peeped into the adjoining room where | dis
covered group of bellies and beauxs surrounding
the piano, at which was seated lady playing and
singing Ariels beautiful little piece Of bid me
discourse drew near to see and hear the
player-for with me music has a different effect,
according to how | am pleased with the person
who pertOrms-when she struck up Follow, fol-
low mcm ! looked at her countenance, and then
sought her eyes-oh! heavens, such orbs had She
Just what most folks term black kn-I like spark
lingj eye-ball floating in as twere, little white
lake as pure and transparent as the diamond-an
eye in which you could see your miniature when
YOU look in it-such an eve shows soul and ire
and | like, oil! how do like, the clear orb Of the
violet's hue heavens chosen blue peeping through
long dark silkcn ashes;-donJ YOU think with
me, these blue stars are holy types Of truth, mod
csty and ioaeY--E atn y6u do Bus tie aGv
was speaking of, her eyes were Of different
class such as are commonly called black, but
which in reality look exactly like two mus&adiues
swimming IN a saucer Of olive oil; (you told me
to put il the paper, ma belle. She hit the keys
of the piano with the ballsof her fingers SO hard,
Il .I Ia, -rl
instrumeuttop pieces; and hervoice was loud, harsh
and masculine | love d low sweet voice there
is always music in it, therefore could not follow
this lady, and so took French leave.
As | reached the corridor the gentleman Of the
house put his arm through mine, and told me-
there was lady and gentlemen in the drawing
room who were models OF excellence in the art
of conversation ''There is, said he among the
whole race of men only here and there an orator.
Demosthenes among the Greeks; Cicero among
the Romans; Pitt, Fox Sheridan, and Burke
among the English; Grattan, CuTan, and Emmet
of the Irish; Henry, Aimes, Clay and Webster, oI
the Americans with few others, who, perhaps
deserve to be named, MAKE up the full list O
orators among men. ! believe the French have
never produced an eminent orator; tls strange
but suppose, as the French language is incapable
of reaching blank verse, so it is too meagre and
bombastic for the higher order of oratory. Ano
a good converser is almost as much a rara avis as
: an eminent orator. 70 talk agrceably, requires
not only knowledge Of history, bclles-lettars
arts and sciences, but also an acquaintance with
the world, knowledge of human nature, an amia
BILE temper. and close observation OF the manners
Of society The book worm, the low punster the
man Of Wit cannot excel; and even he who eE-
GELS unless he exercise that judgment which eX-
perience alone can give, viii excite envy, and
therefore displease. Come and observe the lady
and gentleman mentionediu Just nov, | know youIl
ike them
We walked into our hostess drawing room,
brilliantly illuminated and filed with her most
particular friends gentleman Of plain dress
and of exteme simplicity of manners, appeared
at one end of the room, narrating some interest
ing anecdotes Of bis own travels. Hesomanaged
his narrative, as to ask Of his auditors every now
and then question; and be always put question
which he seemed to know beforehand would be
well and creditablv answered by the person to
whom he addressed it, In this way he pleased by
asking and amused and instructed BY nargating,
without once depressing or wearying any Of his
auditors who docked around, and listened with
delight to his improving conversation. But the
LADY, how can describe the manner in which she
received me, when was presented 70 her; or the
exquisite fascination with which she drew the at
ton of age and youth to her spirited conversation
to listen to-to gaze at-and admire her. Her
countenance cleaned with innocence, cheerful
ness, modesty and good nature Every sentence
which she uttered, showed that she took a kind
and feeling interest for the happiness OF those
around her She was intelligent without being
IL .l,,