The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-07-01

Till the thin form appears
As impaseiye and cold
As the long, frozen night
Atthe pole, still the head
Never yet was 80 white
That the heart was quite dead.
THE DREAM OF LOVE.
CONCLUDED.
On my entrance, he advanced and
welcomed me in tones of the most bland
politeness; then, after q few common
places, he said he would be delighted to
hear me play. Ibowed, and commenced
piece of my own composition, founded
song. I had purposely selected this for
what dramatists call le leuer du rideau,
from the fact of its possessing certain
degree of sprightfulness calculated to
arrest the litener's ear, and thus produce
favorable reception for my more elabo-
rate performance. 1t also gave me time
to study my audience and the acoustic
qualities OF the room, which was of con-
siderable size, but so dilnly lighted that
its proportions were not easily defnable
A few wax candles, burning in silver
stands, interspersed up and down, shed
SO feeble an illumination on the sur
rounding objects, that served but to in
crease the gloom.
The company consisted of some twen-
ty or thirty individuals, who preserved
the most 10y frigidity of manner. One
lady, dressed in blue satin, with jasmin
flower in her hair, was beautiful as o
Grecian statue, but, alasl as cold. An
other of the guests seemed plunged in
deep thought, for his head never once
moved from its recumbent position dur
ing my performance. Two or three of
tho gentlemen we're dressed in uniform,
and to Judge from the stars and ribbons
which adorned their breasts, must have
been men of considerable distinction.
Among the gentle sex, I remarked few
pretty girls clustered together in one
corner, while an elderly lady, in black
velvet and ostrich plumes, seated near
them, surveyed the group with smile
of benevolent approval. One couple,
consisting of an old gentleman and lady,
who, to jndge by their silver locks and
the term of life allotted by the Psalmist,
sat in close proximity to their host, and
were evidently the patriarchs of the
party. The rest could not see, with
the exception of O dark complexioned
man of about thirty five, who fixed upon
me steady CLASSY eye. There was a
wild. haggard expression about that
mans face did not like; and whenever
looked in his direction, I met the same
fixed stare, until it became an insult;
but, as if to make amends for this, o
comely-looking dame, seated by his side
rewarded my exertions with very kind
ly, good-humored smile.
There was an air of bienseauce pervad-
ing the assembly; but, at the same time,
I had never in my whole experience
found the Horatian axiom of nil
admirari pushed to the same extent; and
when brought my solo to close, not a
single expression of satisfaction greeted
my labors. I ought, by the way. to ex-
cept the Prince, who was pleased to
express himself in fattering terms of my
artistic endowments. Two footmen now
brought on silver trays slight refec-
tion, composed of ices, orgeat and Vene-
tian confectionery. While this part of
the ceremony was being enacted, and I
was duly refreshing myself with an ice
such as Italy alone can produce, Prince
Paul came up and began to chat about
the rival schools of music in Germany
and Italy, in way that showed consider
able knowledge of the subject There
was in the old gentleman's manner q
beneyolence and regard to the feelings
of others, combined with q general
warmth of expression, strangely opposed
to the chilling indifference displayed by
his guests.
After sufficient pause, resumed my
instrument. and this time selected
Prume's delicious pastorale, "La Melan-
collie" thinking that this might be more
in harmony with the feelings of my
audience. But it was all one; not an
emotion was stirred by the touching
notes of that expressive melody, or the
admirable variations which succeed it.
The dark eyes still glared at me wildly
the comely dowager smiled good-humor-
edly as before-the generals evinced no
symptoms OF surrender of their atoieism
tho group of fair girls, with their
chaperone, preserved the utmost compo-