Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1876-04-07
Taking Advantage Of Leap Year.
From the st. Johns On. b. News

ance and retired well pleased.
Taking Advantage Of Leap Year.
From the St. Johns (N b News
A leap year party was held in
house on st. James street one night
last week. About a dozen ladies, in
Guiding four or five from Portland
and Carleton, had charge of the
affair. They invited fifteen or twenty
other ladies and about thirty young
men. The invitations to the latter
were printed, true love-knot graced
each corner of the card. The invi
tations set forth that the pleasure OF
Mr.. IS company is earnestly re
qucstcd at a leap year party, to be held
at Mrs. IS, st. James street, on
Thursday, Feb. Sd, 1876, by mum
Der of manageable young ladies'
etc. The young men were more than
little surprised on finding at the
house young ladies with whom they
were we'll acquainted, SO we'll, indeed
that gossiping tongues have had II
that there were many matches
among them. The folding doors be-
tween the reception room and anoth-
er elegantly furnished apartment
were soon opened; one of the "mar:
riagcable young ladies" commenced
to play Mendlessohn's Wedding
March on the piano, and each of the
remainder of the young ladies was
soon inquiring, care you engaged
for this dance?" it having been pre-
viously announced that dancing
would form part of the evenings
entertainment. AT the conclusion
the ladies marched their partners to
seats, leaving them with polite bows
Then cne of the ladies walked slowly
up and down the room, and the
others began singing: Here comes
the Queen of Dover; she has lately
come over; and let her be offended
or no; if she be not offended she will
be attended by all the respect that We
owe, owe, owe!" Then the Queen
selected young man from the com
pany, and both walked up and down
the room while the others sang;
"Here are the King and Queen OF
Dover,'' etc. Then another lady
walked the floor, the first song was
repeated, and she selected a gentle
man to accompany her through the
room. And so the play went on un
til all hands were promenading the
floor. When the young men were
being bowed to their seats this time
it was proposed that the young ladies
should kiss them. All were agree
able, except one pretty damsel, who
declared: 81 won't; | never kissed
any person except mamma in my
life" Sooner than that the play
should not be carried out she allowed
the gentleman who had marched
with her to kiss her.
Immediately after this one of the
young men was the victim of a cruel
joke. 1t was thought that another
dance was to be called on. He was
approached by lady-a sister of his
"girl who asked: care you en-
gaged?" "No," he replied. CIVIL
you take me for 3, partner?" further
queried the lady. "Certainly," was
his answer. Then she turned to the
rest Of the company, and with an all
of triumph, exclaimed: "Do you
hear that? He has agreed to marry
me-" The ladies all said they had
heard him make the engagement
The young man was beyildcred fol
few moments. Then he tried te
explain that he had only promised tc
be her partner in the next dance
She declared that she had not men
toned anything about dance, bu,
had "popped the question " fairly
and squarely. He was given till thai
night week to make up his mind a:
to whether he would carry out III.
engagement, and all the others voted
that, it he did not marry her she
would kill him, as did an American
girl young man who refused hel
offer of marriage lately.
1t was next proposed to play "post
Office The folding doors were part
ly closed, and ladies got into the
back room, leaving the young mer
in the front. The former then II
turn announced: 81 have a lettel
for you" One by one, the young
men entered the back room and were
required to pay postage in kisses fo1
a piece of paper on which was writ
ten, 81 love you" This was follow
ed by "spin the plate" kissing pig
con fashion," measuring love rib
bon," and "cherry picking" during
which about a dozen of promises O.
marriages were made.
The party was brought to a close
by an amusing incident. One of tho
ladies had shown desire during the
whole of the evening to have a few
moments conversation with a certain
young man. He was put on hl'
guard by a lady friend, and managed
to give the anxious one the "colo
shoulder" for three or four hours
While he was resting on a chair in ;
corner, away from the rest of the
company, she drew chair alongside
and seated herself upon it. He was
satisfied that she intended to pop the
question $50 he said afterward), ant
he was determined not to give him
self away cheaply.
He pretended not to understand
thatshe meant the matrimonial market
and said: "No; but 1 believe the
Common Council intend having the
new building ready for the butchers
early in the summer"
I" don't mean that" she said. "To
be plain, do you always intend living
in that boarding house?"
"Do you mean that it is not good
house. Why, Miss B, besides getting
three good meals daily, we are sup
piled with a luncheon every night
And the board is cheap"
Toher question, Don't you intend
getting a partner?" he replied: "The
lady of the house has declared tha,
dancing has finished for the night
She began anew: "Will you have
me for "a"
GA partner in the first dance at the
next party" he broke in. 81 will
oovto.uI,,S -