The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1882-02-20
The MaseEerade BALL ut Elm Creek.

The MnseaEerade isaII ut Elm Creek.
Elm Creek school-house is in the centre OF
a well-to-do agricultural population. More
country produce is raised, and marketed in
San Antonio, than in any other distinguished
locality. 1t is settlement dating back thirty
years, and the original settlers thereof are
Irish to the backbone. Texas boasts of the
number and variety of na,ionalities, but there
is no such section that propels the prosperity
and advancement OF the state than the thrifty,
hard working, shrewd and genial Irishman.
The settlement perfectly understands the pre-
else position of that schoolhouse, and the
best of it is, it thinks everybody else should.
When it is reached, however, it appears very
creditable building. On Tuesday night, after
splashing through the mud for three weary
hours, and having the blessed opportunity to
thank Messrs. Jared and Mccoy for their
charitable gudeship, it was a sort of elysium
"a place of refuge. True that nearly half
the glass was shattered from the windows.
the doorstep was shamefully dilapidated, and
innumerable plants ofthe prickly pear around.
But that mattered nothing.
On the night in question masquerade ball
was being held, the proceeds for the Irish pa
triots. Entering, lively and exhilarating
sight was there. Perhaps nowhere could have
been found such medley. twas regular
ola. podrida. All the colors of the rainbow
were represented by the ladies in all manner
of fashions and shapes of dress. The mate
rails consisted of colored paper, raw cotton,
blue silk, and stripes of satin so dove-tailed as
to form perfect patterns. Little bells abound
ed. The head gear was diversified, as usual,
from the rimless pork-pie to the gushing
Duchess of Devonshire. The gentlemens'
costumes, with the exception of Uncle Sam
and Don Carlos, were rather devoid of good
makeup; for instance, a gentleman wore a
soldiers coat and civilians pants, and the
man who took Oscar Wilde exhibited neither
the lily nor sunhower. Individually, the cos
tunes were very becoming and elegant, but
collectively they savored nightly of the ridicu-
lous. The idea of the queen of England
promenading with one of Sir John Falstaffs
soldiers, and the mother of George Washing
ton polkaing with one of the musicians. The
company must have numbered $50. The
floor was inadequate for dancing room. Some
times bump, then two loving couples would
stop, both would apologize at once, leav-
ing behind the most of agreeable
"reminiscences. The music consisted of one
fiddle and one guitar, placed according to
Mr.. Malone's ideas of acoustics, in one corner
of the room. The surprises were only few
when the time for unmasking arrived. No
strangers being present, the peculiarities of
individuals would crop out, and SO led to
premature identification. A plentiful repast
was provided at twelve-cake, sandwiches,
and candy and hot black coffee disappearing
miraculously. How is it that the cows OF
Con McMulligan, P. McClusky, ]. Hannah,
John Kinney, and about hundred others,
don't give drop of milk in February? After
wards, postoffce was opened for the trans
nnlSSlOI Vi NdlSutlllSS. young RcIut.
men must have received their first ones by the
expressions used. The dismal dark
night, the eternal mud, the allurng
sounds of that fiddle and guitar kept the COM
pany till daylight and everybody went home
satisfied. few incidents are worth record
ing. Young Pat McClusky, dressed as lady,
imagined he would have some fun with the
girls. He chose the one his heart palpitated
for the most. He danced laughed and talk
ed with her the greater part Of the evening,
and was ultimately mortified to discover she
was his own sister. Paddy Kinney, the man
who is known all over the state as having
made the terrible asseveration that his next
son should not be called Guiteau, was for
once nonplussed. 1t seems he had taken up
with an old colored lady, and in the course of
the evening proved to be too loving for him.
She tried to hold on to him, butPaddy ran to the
door, terrified, yelling: "That's too much
niger for me-" Mrs. Banks was the mo-,
nerfsct incoonito and her character Of an old