The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-04-18


as bad as II we were ''fnttting." was heart
lily glad, therefore, when they at last de
elared themselves ready to send out the In
vitations."
Then the consultations there were. abou
the day, and what people we were 70 ASK
Mr.. Dlsraeli forming new Cabinet for thu
government OF fourth part OF the world
could not have pondered each name for
longer time, or more aDxi0usly, and | an
sure he would not have looked half o.
gravely important over 1t. For my part,
watched the proceedings with an amused
eve. for my opinion, like ON eminent phyei
eiane, was only taken as very last re
source.
lists" was, OF course, Fred Kelly's-to catet
whom I'm plain English) our party was given
never could quite understand how THU
young Kelly. who was La the OWL Service
contrived to make 80 many mothers ant
daughters run after him. Perhaps-as guam
tity 10 often preferred tosquslity-it was only
because there was so much OF him, fnr ht
stood over six feet; but then he was ls thin az
lath, and nearly as white, with feeble at
tempts at straw colored moustaohe anc
hay-colored beard, ;" that Thaekeray speaks OF
More probably the reason was that he had IL
perfection the cool Ojibbeway manner OF the
men about town-that afsctation OF stony
indifference which passes for tho height ol
fashion In all except the best circles, where
people can dare to be natural. He was never
genlal-never animated even inter.
ested; indeed, to my mind, he was more like
O machine that had been taught to talk q
little than man. because, to save himself
trouble he seemed to havea pct phrase for
vice were, "Haw, those cads'-the depth Of
his Reproduction was, mot good form, you
know, the height OF his approval Was ex-
pressed by "Tol-lol."' meaning "tolerable;'
though once heard him certainly go 30 far
as to call a thing Rather jolly" My young.
or daughter Patty, who IL very observant,
used to laugh and say that Kelly was very
wise to be lackadaisical about everything, be-
cause, as he knew SO little, and had no feelings
and no Ideas, Il he was not lackadalsloal no
acquaintance with him, l can safely say that,
| IL he had any ideas. he was always admirably
successful In coDeealing Them In a word, he
was quite the hero OF certain modern novel;
lists; and the very difficulty Of thawing this
fashionable icicle made Molly and several
other young ladies attempt the enterprise.
But as yet the icicle remained an ioice, and
would melt to no warmth they could apply.
Next after Kelly In our common list came
the names Of the Vyners-father. mother and
two daughters--wlthout whose eyes to OBJ
serve our success In securing Fred the
triumph would scarcely have been complete.
All the rich people Of our acquaintance fol-
lowed; singularly enough. there was not a
shadow OF doubt about any Of these, nor about
that tawny young idiot, Northcoat, who
knew the younger son OF lord. Two bud
ding barristers from the Temple were also
passed mem, con.-"they moved In such good
society" | suggested asking the Prince and
Princess OF Wales, but found my little joke
received flor the first time. ] must confess)
with chilling silence, as the awful gravity Of
the occasion required.
There was also O charming unanimity
about asking some OF our less important ac-
quaintences. Thus. poor Miss Graham was
asked, because she was 80 good. natured and
nlientad n dan un
music Then Tomlins could carve, and
Vlekers talk so well. Mrs. Grubbins, too,
and the three Miss Grubbinses would be
mortally offended II they were left out--so
there was no help for 1t. we must have
them
Other names caused more discussion. /
was obstinate when l found my wife and
Molly were positively thinking Of leaving out
my old school fellow, Dick Wotherspoon-th
best OF good fellows, only rather rough In his
manners, as most of these enthusiastic artists
are. 1t was not, however, ON this account so
much that my wife disliked him, as the fact
that, though over thirty, he seemed to be
making no Roadway ut all la life, and was
his profession. Indeed, he was 80 poor that I
had frequently lent him q fve-pound note.
But l now overruled my wife's objections to
him and Insisted on bis being invited. With
his name our list OF forty-five was complete
that number being ten or fifteen people more
than our rooms would really hold; but then,
as my wife said. They would be sure, some
OF them, to be engaged; we might as well
have the credit Of inviting them as not"
Io be In proper form. we gave o ten days
Invitation, and the interval was ruled over
by the milliners. From morning to night
there was nothing but consultation about
blonde and muslin, mauve and magenta, |
or critical examinations OF patterns, or
: fittings on" For my part, undertook to
look after the tea, supper. and attendance.
for all of which it was absolutely necessary
to contract, since we only kept fat maid !
servant OF twenty (whom my wife, ON the
strength OF being able to boil potatoes hard |
ana reduce mutton chops to cinders, digni-
chit OF thirteen. scarcely able to lift slop-
pail, whom we called our "housemaid."
must say / never felt myself in such a
udicrously mean position as | did when |
was bargaining with the unctuous uphol-
sterer In the next street for a stylish supper
On hired dishes, to be handed round by
three imitation footmen, being the uphoi-
sterer's assistants. The whole thing did
seem such a sham. like playing the peacock
with borrowed feathers.
The all-important night arrived at last. and
The fever OF expectation and anxiety which
had held my womankind all the month reach
ID It's height.
Long shall be In forgetting the prepara-
ions and fuss OF that dreary evening the
hurried tea. the laborious dressing, the SOL
ann single knock of the upholsterer's men,
ike the undertaken bringing the coffin; the
rantic appeals OF Sarah to come and fasten
me-" the rustic OF skirts In the passages; the
lying about Of distracted cook and house
maid. the staid, methodical movements of the
ong- visaged walters. But as the clock struck
he fatal hour OF nine We were all assembled
n state ready for the first conner, my wife
her white kid gloves, and still red
n the face with her nervousness and exer-
ions. Asa proof that her exertions had been
attended with some success, | may state that
overheard one OF our young barrlsters tell
ng Northcoat, "She looked very handsome
Dutch Venus, indeed"
l had scarcely taken my place on the
when a loud rantan at the door
md hearty voice In the passage announced
he first arrival "Mr. Wotherspoon," whis-
'ered my wife to me, with touch of annoy
nee In her tone; The at any rate takes care
Q be punctual-knows no better, suppose"
\ When he was ushered In by one of the fmita-
lon footmen, he took much the same view of
ur proceedings as took myself and began
mailing me In his free and easy way: "Well
low, Miller, to think Of you coming out In
UGH swell fashion What on earth pos
essed you to begin giving state parties, eh2'
nj Mrc xv,feh ,,At to-, q l..