New-York tribune., 1873-02-27
MASKED BALL AT FLORENCE.

pid you ever 60 to a bal Sasqutf
Not one of those orgies In Pans
vnare Hell ia let loose as In gala day
vhen the Devil with souls at fierce war Is
where pcison goes IN at every breath
~, .asspools that boilwith Gods creatures,
an branded and cursed with moral death.
An beast, cen in spite o; their features -
Bu, an elegant, gentscl bal mosQat
grand Veei,0ne in Florence,
AT la Psr0ola where for two francs pay
You revol in light and in nonsense;
where elegant, genteel people resort
And jostle their laequeys and tailors
Grades leveed by virtue of mutual sport,
Iu costumes from kings down to sailors.
The theater, as;brght as o Summers day,
That Is, AlaminGtOd oera--
Looks as though IL had caught the center ray
Prom the suns heart and pressed II, for neef
More menowly tintodidiamond blaze
Fired three thousand souls so ecstatic,
Transfusing their brains with a champagne maze,
giving sanction to acts most prdgE'at'e
The scene is a human kaleidoscope
Quick changing In color and motion,
with surges andltones-to use trope-
As dancing To some witch-like potion;
You think that a rainbow cut up into clothes,
Dropping down TO partake Of the folly,
Its colors have blushed inte eOttleU de rose
The beet hue 10 which to be jolly.
Aud women triumphant, all dbeoiletees.
The boxes from pit to dome teeming,
Lean forward unmSsked a. much as TO say,
Did you ever see glanccs more beamingF
From one 10 the other you fit, here and there,
You puzzle their wits az they've any,
Oompounding them nonsense and facts till they
stare
And wonder who eau be This zanyf'
You drinb their champagne in a nOachalant way,
Every box has its sumptuOus cend,
Ttc maskers 20 all have a carte blanche entree'
BE prince on bourgeois entertainer.
These microscope feasts wear picturesque look,
A Ia Louis QsdH-e. hair us epriata-
Lake studies most quaint from illumined old books,
Or the first scene in la TrGciGtd.
Are yon H. for more fun Then dof your disguise.
Come forth a dress coated StgHOrc,
Descend to the floor III search OF surprise,
And view the masked BAN in lis glory
Fur IN the parterre the medals reversed,
Tie men are unmasked, and the faces
or ladies are MD, nor can age be aspersed,
A. you can't ten their (h) airS from their graeesI
You've mounted an irreproachable hat.
The envy OF many an eye,
when d form from behind, az black as bat,
RcreaIns out. " 81 oOHOSoO. sal!
Aud down on that elegant modsh tile
Pals series Of bangs In "a shower,
And you feel as you gaze the Greary pile"
Like Manus when stripped of bis power.
little blue domino here iuteryenes
Aud plies you with questions perplexing.
And pricks jus, as though she were humanized
pins
There's nothing on earth that's more vexing.
She attacks you u ov'ry pregnable way
III 10 pert aud bewitching manner,
And there's so much Of truth mixed up with the play
You're il doubt OF ~ love OF to damn her.
But just a. you think you're on the right track,
And exclaim, An. know what your name is"
Hsr place is usurped by lady in black
Aud the blue one shoots Of-so the game Is.
Thls lady you know e Of a certain age,
And a bore; now for spirits OF evil,
You mention her years, and she leaves 10 rage,
And DO doubt wishing you at the devil
vision in pink now calls you by name.
Tie veriest imp and ntriguer!
ehe shows you her hand aud you swear tits the same
To possess which you've grown wan and meager.
shc goes 10 her box; you follow, implore,
A. really, 'us vain to resist her.
You drop on your knees. and Oh don't you roar
To be found at the feet of your sisteri
Far unknowns in greer, white, crimson and gold,
Besiege you IN shrlllest JGiSetto-
Prom ladies quite young to ladies quite old,
From sharp TO rOoe Dc pehO.
one gives you a glove, another rose,
One taunts you with esprit and laughter,
Bat worst Of il is that heaven only knows
winch II which, whether mother or daughter
There's no better sport than bal nGsQM
That H. IL you're not old or stupid,
o. rot q savant, with nothing 70 say
or not blind as Fortune or Cupid
You 90 home at FIVE and dream that you've been
To- place where IT'S all lalsser-ailer.
Where 10 make love in jest is accounted 20 sin
.-..... t..L.rD In I'm In a lallnfI