New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-07-16
ACT II.-SCENE III.
From the London Society.
CHAPTER |.


CHAPTER 1.
The Thames very different river up
here beyond Hampton, to the thick, inky
food which whirls through London Bridge
flows at the bottom OF my lawn, where,
with nv friend Charlie Gordon, l sit and
admire the marvelously varied autumn
tints on the trees. The air is pleasantly
warm, and our cigars are undeniably first
rate, which, perhaps, partly accounts for
the very pleasant aspect of the world in
general. You, dear reader, whether you
be of the enfranchised or unentranchised
sex, would like Charlie Gordon. Pray
come and join us.
"No, old fellow,"-it is Gordon who
speaks things have altered. Temporal
nlutont,tr, as penny-a-liners constantly re-
mark. l fancy that it is only in books that
fellows have such queer adventures"
"a perusal of the ewspapers-especially
some of the weekly ones-will convince you
that queer adventures do sometimes occur"
| reply. did you ever hear of the events
which preceded my MARRIAGE
"Well, | knew something rum had hap
pened Some fellow stuck you, or some
thing or other, didn't he! | was out of
England at the time, and never heard the
particulars and did not like to ask you"
And this is the story which | told:
1t was in July OF the year before last that
l rashly-as l then thought-engaged to
take the Maioribanks girls and their mother
to an amateur concert to hear a septet by
friend of theirs named BRISTOL, and some
other pieces of severe music OF what their
authors considered classical character.
| enjoy, and humbly endeavor to under
stand Beethoven and Mozart; but still, l
must confess to finding some three hours of
even their society slightly wearlsOme. How
unutterably dreary is the result when rash
young men, like BRISTOL, who have hardly
enough musical knowledge to write decent
polka, take to composing septets. Com
posing septets Anything but composing
they are, can tell you! You can't very
well read during the performance; it's rude
to talk; smoking is out of the questions; and
If you groan-as, OF course, you do-you
must only groan soto uoce
A couple of professional ladies were en-
gagged to vary the performance, one of
Whom-a Miss Blatherbury-had Just
screamed what the programme termed a
song, and the combined effects of vocal and
instrumental music q had so overcome me
that determined, should the accomplish
ments of Miss Cuthbert, who was to sing
next, at all resemble those of her predeces-
sors, Mrs. MajOribanks and her daughters
would have to find their own carriage and
take themselves home, for | could not stand
it any longer.
The last scrape of Bristoll's septet was
finished, that misguided youth bowed his
acknowledgements, and | was endeavoring
TO bring my teeth, which had been much set
on edge, to that state into which it had
pleased Providence to place them, when
Miss Cuthbert appeared on the platform.
That appearance decided my future life.
have seen beauties in town, in Paris, in
Vienna; have admired hair, and eyes, and
figures; but such attractions, anything so
lady-like as her manner-not Iady-hke, for
it was the manner of a most perfect LADY,
had ever seen before. She sang simple
German air. What shall | say of her song?
1t was as perfect as the lips from which it
proceeded. She sang twice, and when she
made her final courtesy new and powerful
interest had arisen i'll me.
took Mrs Majoribanks home, and then,
/ suppose, | went home myself. / say sup
pose" TOR / have no idea how | arrived
there; my only idea being that had seen
the most charming girl In the world, and
that, by some means l must become &C
.quainted with her The night did not cool
my resolution, and next morning wended
my way to the chambers of my friend Hard
ing, who, having a tenor voice, felt 1t neces-
sary to cultivate the society of professional
singers, and was possessed of that unknown
amount of information on musical persons
and things which was described by his
friends as being 'up TO every move"
B fiat with the greatest ease! Did you
hear itl" he asked, as entered his chambers.
'Sorry | can't sing the song for you again,
but I'm going out this afternoon and am
afraid of firing my voice"
| begged him not to tire his voice on any
account and told him where had been the
night before.
You went to BristolIs concert and live
to tell the talel Don't tell me you sat it out!
Don't endeavor to impose too much on hui
man credulity. Didn't Miss Blatherbury
sing Treat, wasn't it Those high notes of
hers would rather astonish a weakened loco
motive, eh} How any one so closely re-
sembling horse can make noise SO much
like parrot has always been geological
mystery to mel"
Know anything of a Miss Cuthbert3"
asked
Il do know her, and to know her is to
love her." he replied in theatrical tones of
feeling. 'No, old fellow, chat aside-in-
deed chaff is aside with reference to her,
for she's genuine grain of corn. She's a
lady, and she's beauty, and she's singer
with a voice, and that, take it, is a rare
combination. You've heard of Royston,
one hundred and ninetieth MANY c. for
that Balaklava busness-good fellow he
was, towel, she's his daughter. He
died about two years ago, and, though she's
very well connected, there hasn't been
much money going in her branch of the
family since his death. She's an indie
pendent little person; and chooses to turn
her talents to account; and she has talents, |
let me tell you. She has also mamma,
who goes everywhere with her; so if you |
have been constructing a little comedy in |
which you are to sustain your well known |
character of the gay LOthario, the per- |
Torrance isn't likely to come off"
Indignantly disclaimed the suggestion. |
eyes, you look serious, old fellow" Hard |
ing continued. Hard hit, eh Liver wing |
and all that sort of thing. Well, if you are
really so anxious to know her, it just hap
pens that | can perform the necessary |
ceremony. The La 81 Society," OF which,
as you are aware, am humble but en-
thusiastic member. sing 'Acis and Galatea,'
at the Apollonial Hall, on the thirtieth
Miss Cuthbert sings the soprano, Damon
will be rendered by one in whom devoted
study of the works of Handel is seconded
by the possession of an organ of volume;
compass, and, as | believe is generally ad-
mitted. of sweetness-I allude to myself
We have a rehearsal on Tuesday, and if
you like to be Pythias, and accompany
Damon on that occasion, | snail be de-
i GIFTED to make you known to one in whose
eyes Glove sits playing, and she-sds