The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1878-02-27
THAT DELICIOUS DUCHESS,
Mark Twains Adventures Among
the Can-Cnn-ers In the
JardRn Mabille.

Jarunn MteDille.
L
On my arrival in Paris inquired
what was the best place to spend an
evening, and was told that the most
aristocratic place of resort was the
Jardin Mabille. / took a cab aud
proceeded thither, l found myself
ia a beautiful garden, brilliantly
lighted. There was a crowd Ofladies
and gentlemen, a fine band was play
ing, and aquadrille forming. While
| was gazing about gentlemen ask
ed me if | wished to dance. Isaid !
would like to, but that 1 was d strang-
er, and not acquainted with any Of
the nobility present. lie smiled,and
said the French nobility were ex-
ceedingly affablc and obliging, and
that he would be pleased to introduce
me to a lady of high rank and var
| led accomplishments, who would
dance with me if wished, Then he
presented me to the young Ouch
ess d'Assafptida CHATS as near as /
could catch the namc.)
had never stood face to face with
q duchess before, and therefore felt
diffident and i'll at ease. Thisgrace-
full creature understood my case at
once, and within two or three min.
utes made me feel perfectly at home
more than at home, | may say. |
never met a lady so easy TO get &C
quainted with as she was. II must
require a high cultivation, only to be
attained in the upper ranks of socie-
ty, to give one such self possession Us
hers. This duchess smiled upon me
in the most encouraging way, and
tapped me on the shoulders with her
fan, then she looked up into my face
and charmed away all embarrass-
ment with u burst ofcherry laughter
that was full ofhappiness and garlic.
Next she took my arm, beating time
to the music with her fan, and still
uttering that fragrant laughter
And next she put her arm around
my neck. This was somewhat unex-
pected l must say. 1t made me feel
blissfully uncomfortable, l enjoyed
iebut at the same time l was afraid
it might attract attention, Iintima-
ted as gently asI could that theduke
her father, might be III TIE crowd
somewhere, but she ouly laughed more
odorously than ever, / feared the
paternal duke might invite me to
breakfast on pistols and coffee. |
like coffee, but do not consider that
it improves it to mix it with hard
ware. This l hinted to the duchess,
and she received it with one of those
peculiar laughs of hers that was per-
fectly smothering.
Just then the music struck up fu-
riously, the duchess exclaimed, come
and dashed away with me. Thecrowd
closed up to our set, and walled it on
every side. l had never before seen
so much curiosity displayCdin mere
Quadrille by disinterested PARTIES
Dukes and duchess began to prance
to and fro in the dance with wild
energy of purpose and extravaganza
Of gestures
began to get interested. l CLAN
ccd across-my partner was was turn.
ing; she miscalculatcd the length of
her limbs, and lifted herdrcss accord
ingly; she came prancing over | sal.
lied forth to meet her, and when we
were within yard Of each other, l
wish l may never be believed again
if she did not kick the hat off my
head. l Istooped to pick 1t up and a
noble aristocrat fell over me; others
followed him-both ladies and gen.
tlemen-and Inever saw such a chaos
of struggling limbs and frantic drap-
cry since the benches broke down at
the circus when l was boy. 1t was
pure good fortune that nobody got
hurt,
When I got out l went to my place
at the head of the quadrillc and staid
there. had lost confidence; this
dance was too high.toned for me. 1t
had pcculiarities about it that were
new, or unexpected. l had seen
plenty of quadrilles, but Inevcr seen
one with the variations before. The
duchess resumed her mad career, and
the rest Of the nobility danced just
nc sha did Ench sox seeuhnl In havn