The Van Buren press., 1876-01-11
THE LEAP-YEAR PARTY.
Hurrah for the Girls!

II any of our people had any doubts
about the ability of our young ladies to
maneuvre through one Of the best balls
within the knowledge of the f." Oldest in
habitant Of Van Buren, such incredu
lons person would have had such errone.
Gus impressions dispelled from his mind,
bya peep at the picturesque scene at the
Granger Hall, last Thursday night Fair
forms, garbed in lovely, varegated hues,
fitted to and fro. handsome faces shone
with exquisite loveliness, and soft eyes
danced merrily with diamond like brill,
fancy. To the quiet locker on, it was a
scene of unparalleled beauty. The mo
wing mass, in the quaint, artistic group
ings, and graceful and bewltching inter
twinings of the quadrille, or ,he delie
ious revelry of the gddy waltz, was
scene to delight the eye Of an artist, and
fill tue ordinary man with emotions of
delight. The dancing was conducted in
a asplrndld manner, the young ladies who
acted as floor managers performing their
duties most exeelently.
1t was Il leapyea party, and, from its
incipiency to its eonsummation, was the
work of our young ladies, and was man.
aged exclusively by them, They extend
\ 1. 4
after them. The gentlemen were invited
by them to dance, and the poor fellow
who had paid, heretofore, but little at
tention to the fair ones, sat d" solitary
and alone, unnoticed and unasked." 1t
has been the custom, from time imme-
mortal, every fourth year, to reverse the
relations of the sexes, the girls reserving
to themselves the right to court and pay
attention, while the boys were compelled
TO sit at a respectful distance, and blush,
at the proper time and place, in the con,
versation. But, as far as we noticed
last Thursday night, there were bu. few
of our boys who complied with the lat
ter requirement 1t was a pretty scene,
to see the fairy little sprites trip up to
some good looking young chap, and with
bewitchingly fascinating looks. eyes dan,
cling with nerriment, and lips cunning!y
pouling, with beseechngl sweet voice
almost whisper, Are you engaged for
No l0f and, after a negative reply,
skip away, to dazzle, fascinate, bewider
and captivate some other unsophstica
ted and susceptible youth, with the same
coquettish lnicn and artfuly sweet utter
ed question. Even the writer, though
not devotee of Terpischore, was made
very happy by the kindness of many of
the young ladies in the above direction.
The seats around the room were well
filled with the older portion OF our cti-
zens, who seemed to enter into the Split
Of the occasion with zest and pleasure,
hardly equalled by the younger portion
of the assemblage
Never were young ladies more GAL.
liant. or young gentleman mere recipro
cative and modest than on this occasion,
1t has been the privilege Of the writer, in
the past to be present at n great many
large balls in the cities of the east, where
a very large number of people were pres
ent, and the most elaborate and costly
preparations were made, but nevcr-we
speak truthfully, and without hattery-
nerer did we, at any time. or at any place,
or under any circumstances, look upon a
similar gathering, that was more orderly.
respectful, or enchantingly beautiful than
the girls and boys at the young ladies
leap-year party. last Thursday night II
was an occasion that will be happily re
memhercd by every one present, young
and old, AS one OF the best--if not the
best--ball that has ever been given in
Van Buren,.
Surrounded by such a constellation of
beauty. it would hardly be possible for a
person of such ordinary discrimnative
perceptions as the writer to properly
and justly decide in matter where so
much loveliness dazzed and perplexed
his mental faculties. Among the figure
dancers, we noticed some very graceful
movements, and elegant attudnizing that
we have seldom seen exceled, while the
round dances were, in many instances,
above commentator.
The following ladies and gentlemen
were present from abroad: Miss Mollie
Montague, and Ella Blackburn, and Mr.,
ID. L. Bourland, of Ozark; Miss Sallie
Locke, and Messrs Locke, Cole, aud
Dave Brodie. Mase Watson of Alma !,
Miss Pride of Jasper; Mr.. Quesenbcr-
ry, of Pleasant Hill; Capt. Conradt and
wife. Little Rock, and Messrs, Simon
Baer and Bob Largen, of Fort Smith
The music, by the Fort Smith String
band, Frank oo,nger, first violin, Char
ley Herschey second violin, Johnie Reut.
eel, fife, Willie Bolinger, violincello,
ane Willie Vogel, prompter, was excel