The Hawaiian gazette., 1870-01-25

A PROVINCIAL BALI IN FRAscEeIt was a Gu
rious sight, this ball room in the provinces. On
| the two long sides of the saloon were two rows
of seats. in front of the other, those against
the wall being raised fauteuils, rising above the
chairs in 'front.' On this back row of raised fau-
teus sat in all their majesty the aristocratic and
wealthy dowagers of r. So naughty and
starched did they look. with their satIn-ined ope-
ra cloaks, their bejeweled eyeglasses. their gray
hair arranged Ia mode and their rich lace caps
disposed with matron.y dignity, that they remind
ed one Of the Senate scene in "Othello,r and
seemed bench of stern feminine Judges. consid-
ering the pros and cons of holy matrimony-
There they sat, the long line of shrewd old schem
ers, deeply intent on their game, acting the Cor
gon to one young man and the would-be mother
in-law to another. according to circumstances.
| On the seat below each sat her blooming (Datu-
raj and arti6cial) daughter or daughters, watched
over by mamma with too anxious care, exhibited in
the matrimonial mart. and looking each her sweet
est and nfodestest with all her little might Now
the reason why the carriages had been in such
haste to reach the prefecture was clear. The old
doWagers were running a race for the best seats.
just as the ambitious gardener or fruiterer will
strain every nerve to secure the most prominent
and accessible stall in the market where to dis
play his carefully and tastefully
stock. so did these 'old campaigners' Of the pro-
vince have their carriages at the door exactly at
the stated moment, calculate to the nicely of q
second how to arrive at the prefecture lust long
enough before the honr of invitation to enter the
saloon as the clock strikes and to loose no time
in approprating the most eligible seats for self
and daughters, those most eligible seats being the
ones most conspicuous and easiest of approach
for messieurs les messieurs. This great point
gained and everybody knows how important it
10 for ala
to have the choice of his grounds, s,-madame
would enthrone herself aloft, and her daughters
would take the seats below her and mamma
would fix ribbon here and curl there STOPPING
from her eminence for the purpose, and would
then lie back, and with her eyegass take delib-
crate survey of the general effect with an exhaus-
tive coup d9a
Thus the ladies' old and young ensconced in a
double row of seats, extending on either side the
length of the room. The gentlemen are grouped
together in thick Kaleidoscope bunch near the
door, kaleidoscope because of the variety and
gorgeousness of their apparel. They are absorb
ed in diligently ogling the double line of fair ones
in making out mental list of partners, remark
ing to each other things complimentary and other
wise of the dear ladies'. The orchestra strikes
up and the bunch of the sterner sex breaks up
and spreads along the row of seats, carte des dan
ces in hand. Every gentleman has the right to
ask any lady whom be chooses to dance, whether
he knows her or not. introductions are not
CONNIE IL fdA. The prudent man, however be
who is well versed in the manners of society, will
first take the precaution to conciliate madame by
asking her permission to ask mademoselle for her
hand in the next quadrille. Madam runs her eye
rapidly over him. glances keenly at his face and
then if the scrutiny is satisfactory grants his pc
titiOh Ten to one she knows all about him.
though his eyes may never have rested upon her
before is well up in bis antecedents ; knows his
fortune within thousand and could tell him off
hand who his great-grandfather was. AS he takes
his place on the floor with mademoisee, madame
keeps a neyer-w wavering watch upon the couple. |
Every smile he gives her, every time he keeps
lingering grasp on her band at the conclusion of |
a figure. every glance of one or other which may
betray growing fancy or be the accompaniment
Of delicate compliment all is noted by the "old
who sits and calculates. and hopes
for a happy denouement and marriage bells. If
she is pleased with monsieur, he may safely linger
Dy his partners side after she has resumed her
seat and then madame listens with vast content
10 his gracefully murmured speeches. and builds
ier csdteduc en- Espagne higher and more beau.
eous than ever. Still, she never suffers them
rom her sight. If monsieur invites mademoiselIe
o take refreshment, he must include madame al
10, and he presses through the throng with man.
ma and daughter on eithter arm. Nor will be
laTe to ask TO be permitted to call on mademoi-
ellie the day succeeding the ball to inquire af-
er her health after so mnch excitement. His
nly chance to speak with her is at the ball itself
even if he is really smtten. the charming teted-
stes of lover are denied him he must hie him
o a notary. and send him as ambassador to plead
Or him at the paterna hearthstone. Such is the
ishion regarding courtship and marriage in pro-
incial France London Society.