Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-03-06
EVENING STAR.


Taking Advantage OF Leap Year.
Prom the ~. JOHNS IN y Mars
81 James q rect one night last week. A0out
dozen ladies, including four or i've from
Portland and Carleton, Had charge OF the az
islr. Iney inyited fifteen or twenty other
lsdles and about thirty young men. Tue IN
vitstions 10 the latter were printed, a true
love knot grscing each corner OF the card
Tue INVITATIONS set forth that "the pleasure
OF Mt@s company Is earnestly requested
az leap year party, 20 be held at Mrs. =
81 james street, on Thursday, February 81,
n,1, oy a number OF marrisgeaole young
ladies' &C The young men were more than
a little surprised on finding At the house
Young ladies win whom they were well &C
Qusinted. 80 well, indeed, that gossiping
matches" among them. The folding doors
between the reception room and another ele-
gantly furnished apartment were soon
ladies'" commenced 10 play Mendelssohn's
Wedding March" on the piano. and each
of the remainder OF the ladies was soon
gagged for this dsnceeaNit having ou se en-,
pr, viously announced that dancing would
form part OF the evenings entert atnment
AT It's conclusion the ladies marchedstheir
partners TO seats, leaving them with polite
bows. Then one OF the ladies walked slowly
~ and down tire room, and the Others began
singing: "Here comes the Queen OF Dover,
she has lately come over, aud let her be Of
Tended or no; n she be not offended she will be
attended by all the respect that we owe, owe.
owtl" Then "the Queen" selected young
man from the company, and both walked up
are the King and Queen OF Dover" &C.
Then another lady walked the floor, the n rst
song was repeated, and she selected gentle
man 10 accompany her through the room.
And so the play went on until all hands
were promenading the floor. When the
young men were being bowed TO their seats
should Kiss them. An were agreeable 20 this
except one pretty damsel, who declared: ~
won't; i never kissed any person except
mamma I'm 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
thought that another dance was TO be called
on. He was approached by a lady-s sister
OF his "girf'-wbo asked: Are you en-
me for partner" further queried the lady.
Certainly" was his answer. Then she
turned to the rest OF the company, aud with
an air OF triumph exclaimed: "Do you hear
thaR he has agreed TO marry me-" The
ladies all said they had heard him make the
engagement. The young man was be wildered
for a few moments. Then he tried 10 explain
that he had only promised TO be her partner
in the dance. She declared that she mad not
mentioned anything about dance, but had
popped the question" fairly and squarely
He was given till that night week 60 make
up his mind as TO whether he would carry
out his engagement, and all the Others voted
that, III he did not marry her, she would Kill
him, as did an American girl a young man
who refused her offer OF marriage lately.
IL was next proposed TO play post Office. !"
The folding doors were partly closed and
laties got into the back room, leaving the
young men in the front. The former then In
turn announced: 81 have a letter for you"
One by one the young men entered the back
room and were required TO pay postage In
kisses for piece OF paper on which was
" no LAT IA II faS
measuring love ribbon" and ''cherry pick
ing" during which about dozen OF promises
of marriage were made.
The party was brought 10 a close by an
amusing incident. One of the ladies' had
shown desire during the whole OF the even
Ing 10 have q few moments conversation
with q certain young man. He was put on
his guard by lady friend and IN snaged 70
give We anxious one the ''cold shoulder for
three or four hours. While he was resting
on chair In corner, away from the rest OF
the company, she drew q chair alongside and
seated herself upon II. He was satisfied that
she intended TO pop the question $50 he said
sfterwardD and he was determined not TO
give himself away cneaply.
He pretended not 10 understand that she
meant the matrimonial market, and said:
mo; but believe the common council in
tend having the new building ready for the
butchers early In the summer"
IL don't mean that" she said. "To be
plain, do you always intend living in that
"Do you mean that IL is not a good house?
Why, Miss B., besides getting three good
meals daily, we are supplied with luncheon
every night. And the board is cheap"
To her question-"Don't you intend getting
partner" he replied: "The lady of the
house has declared that dancing has finished
for the night"
She began anew: "WiI you have me for
q -"
"a partner in the first dance at the next
party" he broke In. 81 will certainly"
"You stupid thing! Will you marry me?,
of / had the power" he said, "and YOU
came to me, IL would afford me great pleas
ure to marry you-to even my own brother I"
She left him in disgust. and in a few mo-
ments the ladies were "seeiDg home the
gentlemen.