The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1871-09-28
Saratoga by Dip, Candle Light.

! - s'.. -- fE-S4I = ~ -,
"Taw," the correspondent of the
New York Advertiser, gets off capi-
tai thing on the gas failure at Sara
toga: y.
n:Friday night, while the Commit
tee on pedigree, income, and old maids
were sittings in the parlor, the gas
suddenly went out. 1t was Egyptian
darkness. "Thc Sun" had only one
candle. The Saratogian lighted up
tho old "Wide Awake" lamps. The
Chesterfcldian Hathorn, with one
candle in bottle, went around, like
Diogenes with his lantern, looking fer
an honest man. Mr.. Hamilton's
chief bass singer gave ont, and DR..
Strong adjourned his prayer meeting.
II was just in this darkness that light
came o me all at once at the Clarcn-.
don. 1t was ten O'Clock. The stage
drove up from the depot. Almost
every lady expected her husband on
the train. Many young ladies expect
ed their sweethearts; neither the stage;
the driver, nor the horses wero visible.
From force of habit the passengers
felt their way to the reception room.
l got mixed up with the crowd
twenty-five married ladies, seven old
maids, and four young ladies com
menced greeting the passengers in
the darkness. "My dear William
why did you stay so long% exclaimed
o sweet wife, and then she threw her
arms around my peclS-.our lips met, ]
wasn't going to be darned fool.
Far different. - f'.''
Now dear, sweet, liquid-eyod bru>
nctte threw her arms wildly around
me-. 20 Eugene, why did you not
write oftencr ?" she sobbed, and then
she sank sweetly: on my bosom I
said, sweep not Julia" and then I
kissed her sweetly twonty-two times.
1t was delicious. 1t made me think
Of my first wife and my college days
at Yalo. A ponderoug matron now:
approached, dressed decollette, hair
o Ia pompadour. She: took me in her
arms and whispered, 20 Charles, did
you bring my beautiful dog-did
you?"
Madame, my name is not Charles,
and hato dogs. I'd kill every id
d., but she fell fainting at my feet.
A sweet, goldeb-baired blonde now
took my hand. She pressed it gently,
saying: "Dear A lbert, I know it is
you, and ani so glad to sec you!
Now, do promise me l"#EI said I
wouldn't. Then she hold her check
close to mine. Itwas hot with loves
young hope and pure, sweet affection.
We were very. happy. None but
wicked man would have brought sad
ness to that sweet, pure young
heart-full of confidence, warm with
virgin affection, and beautiful with
splendid girlishncss. ~. 49,.
"Do you. still love me, Albert ?" she
whispered. .
"Undoubtedly," remarked.
"How much, darling2" ae,...
"a heap" ~. ... +.
"Oh, I am too happyw she murmur-
cd, as she twisted her fingers in my
auburn hair and held me in u sw eet en-
brace. '.'a.... ......- -... & .-..s
This sort Of thing went on for sew
teen minutes, when c. Leland ap-
peared in the distance with tallow
candle. 1 quietly withdrew and min
'gled with the crowd. AS the candle
appeared, TWEEN, y-seven young gentle
men were seen shaking hands with as
many young ladies in tho different
corners. l have seldom seen such af-
fective scenes. 1t was great display
Of affection. One married gentleman
was holding tho hands of two ladies.
The hair of the ladies was generally
crimploss, while the young gentlemen
did not display parting place. l re-
fecied, "hsw kin such things be, and
overcome us like summer shower?"
I consulted with J. Billings. He says
they kant. So I resolved to leave
the place. ! came back to Congress
Hall and found tho young ladies and
gentlemen having grand ball by
candle light. Each young lady held
in her hand q penny dip. They few
through tho IIancers like ghosts in
"Macbeth." Eight streaks Of light
made terrible crisscross as the dance
went on. When the grand change
came, the lights rcvolvcd like a gigan-
tic fourth Of July pin wheel. 1t was.
a great night for Saratoga. The
young people liked it. Some prefer
darkness to light. Eight young peo-
pie became engaged at Congress Hall
that night. g: =
When people came TO 60 to bed
there was q great demand for candles.
There were twelve hundred people ut
Congress uall-two hundred candles
and three hundred bottlcs-fve hun
dred lights in oil. Young gentlemen
stood outside Of tho doors while
swecthearts .undrcssed and handed
the candles over the transoms. Old
men slept with their boots on, be-
cause they-could not find the boot;jack.
Married men got into tho wrong
rooms, and only found out their mis-
take the next morning. An old lady
bathed her face with Harrison's
Columbian ink to cure the toothache.
She thought it was pain-killer. She
discovered her mistake just before
coming to breakfast.
MIR, Sake borrowed candle of
beautiful young lady. Che next
morning she found under. her door,
these beautiful lines: .. 4....-
You gave me candle: I give you my