Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-02-26
THE rsAs, OF puRrm.
Magnfncent Masquerade Ball at the
memphfa Club HALL Last Night.

The worlds bitterness must be larded
with drollery in order TO make life toler-
able. Shakespeare understood nature
so we'll that be introduced clowns and
sprites to relieve tiresomeness by timely
sallies of wit and humor. Hence we
have in his plays such creations as Trim
culio and Ariel, Froth and Lucio, Bar
dolph and Falstaff, Verges and Dog
berry, Costard and Tombstone, Bottom
and Puck, and similar blithesome char
acters, whose great aim is to Danish dull
ness and "hang pearl in every cow
slips ear" There must be fun and
frolic, or the world will grow sad
and sour. With feelings of delight, there
fore, we hailed the Feast of Purim, and
hastened TO witness its carnival. We
found the Memphis Club Hall in blaze
of glory, exhibiting q beautiful and pic
turesque scene, with its gay and lively
groups-the young, the fair, the lovely
! the cadence of whose love-notes
"Came Ger ones ears like the sweet south,
That breathes upon bank Of violets,
Stealing and giving odor."
II was scene of youthful mirth and
tender-hearted pleasure, where Joy and
Love and Wit met bright-eyed Hope
| and cheerful Laughter in frolic measures.
ORIGIN OF THE FEAST.
In the third year of his reign the King
Ahasuerus gave feast to his princes and
people in the garden of the palace of Shu.
shan, where white, green and blue hang
| ings we're fastened with cords of fine
linen and purple to silver rings and
pillars of marble, and where there were
beds of gold and silver upon pavement
of red, blue, white and black MARBLE "
On the seventh day of this feast, when
"the heart of the King was merry with
wine," he commanded his cham berlain to
bring Queen Vashti into his presence, in
order that he might exhibit her beauty to
the princes Of Media and Persia. But the
Queen refused to obey the Kings COM
mand, which made him very wroth, and
caused him to publish decree banishing
Vashti from his palace and giving her
estate unto another. Now it happened
Mordecai, the Bepjsminite, was in Shu-
shan at this time with his uncle's daugh-
ter Esther, who was fair and beautiful,
and lived with him as his own daughter.
Esther found grace and favor with the
King, so that he set the royal crown
upon her head, and made her queen in
stead of Vashti In the twelfth year of
Ahasuerus, when Pur H. e., the lot) was
cast, Haman, the enemy of Mordecai,
prevailed on the King to proclaim the
destruction of the Hebrews. But Esther,
having invited Ahasuerus and Haman
to q banquet, according to the promise
of the King, her request that the He
brews should be saved was granted; and
Haman was hanged on the gallows fifty
cubits high which he had prepared for
| Mordecai. To commemorate this impor-
tant event was the Feast of Purim or
dained, to be kept throughout every
generation, every family, every province,
every city," among the Hebrews until
the end of time.
HOW KEPT.
Here in Memphis the anniversary was
kept in pleasant and sociable wsy-a
grand masque, bewildering in variety
and magnifcence of costumes-series OF
new and old fashion dances, the twinkling
Of many feet to brisk time beating-and
superb supper, viands of the sweetest
taste and wines of the richest flavor-a
seasonable feast and flow of joy. Here
we're the chief elements of happiness
buoyancy, cheerfulness, gsyety, exhilara'
ting amusement. Not the slightest
shadow of mopsh gloom or dull-eyed
care could be seen. 1t was like fairy
scene, where "satyrs and sylvan boys
sported with unbeunded pleasure.
"a hundred hearts beat happily and when
Music arose with its voluptuous swell.
Soft eyes looked love TO eyes that spake again,
| And all went merry as q marriage bell"
THE BALL ROOM,
lined with handsome ladies elegantly at
tired, was strikingly brilliant and charm
ingly picturesque. In the center moved
the masquers in grand procession. Some
of the Mosques were splendid, others ex-
cellent, and all in keeping with the char
acters assumed. Gazing upon the richly
dressed and fantastic groups, the eye
became dazed by the sheen and glitter of
costumes. Shafts of light from chande-
liers we're shivered on sparkling bVou-
terie. Harlequins capered about as
demonstrative critics on various masks.
Knights in gorge6usly laced coats
bent in respectful obeisance to
stately-appareled danes of defunct
courts. Here Hamlet walked arm'in-
arm with Don Quixote; and there
Memphis policeman followed the Queen
of Sheba. The Queen of Night, glitter
ing with stars, moved in circle with
Tipperary boy on one side and Co.
manche Indian on the other; while
Morning, robed in golden gauze, stood
talking to a turbsned Turk. Warlike
Honor and smiling Peace trod together,
followed by the fragrant Hours, and
Elves who mimicked all they met
There, too, was Mercy, gentlest of the
sky-born FORMS" and Liberty, with
0To.t. d;v;nalv enreadinR