The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1882-01-28
MYRA'S MEANDERINGS.

| Lingering in the Lone Star State-A Bril-
liant Fancy Dress farty-The Dissipated
Guests-Eligible yyidowers, Etc.
Houston, TEXAS, Jan. q, 1881.
MY DEAR FLoRR1E:
| Will you think me strangely inconsist-
ent for remaining thus indefinitely in
Texass You know fixed limit of sew
eral weeks for my visit, ana those weeks
have heightened into month, and be-
hold me still reveling in the simple pleas
ures of these Lone Star people. Well,
my dear, you are at perfect liberty to
label me inconsistent, but l pray you not
to accuse me, as scmo other Louisiana
friends have done, of having n special
and deep-rooted interest in the place. If
l am evincing poor taste in foregoing tho
numerous enjoyments Of the present sea-
son in the Crescent City, plead no more
potent attraction in this town than the
presence Of tenderly loved sister and
her pleasant little family. Texas is q
nice enough place to visit, bnt am not
altogether sure that should be willing
to cast my lot here "for good and all ;"
| 80 my kind friends Of the Pelican State
must really not take alarm. Well, there
is not very much Of interest to tell you
about this week. It is needless and
quite too trite to jot down the condition
of this interminable spell of wretched
weather, which continues altogether in
statM quo. am so conservative in dispo-
sition that am quite content nature
should continue in this exceedingly
lachrymose state, having become accus-
toned to wading through the mud, and
witnessing the lugnbrious aspect of tho
surrounding scene.
Tho event of the week has been the
charming fancy dress party at Mrs.
Gray's. Despite the torrents of rain that
fell last Tuesday evening, there was a
full attendance, and Oh the principle
that human nature lis apt to appreciate
what is difficult Of attainment, the guests
seemed to enjoy the entertainment with
unusual zest, and the merriment and hi
larity was unbroken till nearly o'clock
A. N. Does not that remind you of our
old Assumption parties, when we danced
often till the gray dawni Those delight
fully informal evening gatherings linger
in my memory most gratefully, after
what seems to me a very great lapse Of
time, and make one yield the palm to
them instead Of the grander and more
ceremonlous parties of cities. There,
friend met friend, and in lieu of tho for
NAL and rapid transition from dance to
promenade, and promenade to dance, we
werc enabled to enjoy real conversation
and moonlight promeuades on the long
stretch Of gallery. So much depends on
our capacity for enjoyment, and when
girls arc just escaped from the thraldom
of boarding school, they are more fitted
to gather the rosebuds of happiness and
seize upon the mcrest trifes of enjoyment
than they ever are afterwards. After y
season in the beau monde, the novelty and
excitement Of that first delicious expert
ence is sonsibly dimmed, and the earnest
nature realizes how impossible 1t is for
our " infinite souls to he satisfied with
the gifts and pleasures of this extremely
finite world"
But, to return to the fancy dress re-
ception, which had been engrossing the
thoughts Of the Young people here for
| about two weeks. 1t was one Of the
loveliest entertainments of the kind you
can imagine. The large parlors were
| deliberately decorated with evergreens
and garlands Of flowers festooned grace
fully from arch to arch and the supper
| room, though adorned in like manner,
was chiefly attractive because of the
tempting array of delicacies spread in
'lospitable profusion upon the long table.
There can be no more attractive form
character, style and dress of heroes and
herones revealed to us by historical re-
search, or through the imagination of
authors, and we half forget that they are
| mere representations, so vivid and real
do the representations seem to us. NY
limited space prevents me from describ-
ing the characters in detail; 1 can ouly
mention cursori'y few that particularly
enjoyed the homage and admiration of
the beholders. Minnehaha" was charm
ing; her costume was simple, but most
appropriate and becoming, and the win
some manners and bright, piquant face
attracted many to her presence. The
"Q"cen Of Hearts" too, proved hereelf a
veritah!e queen Of hearts, if We may
judge by the number Of youthful SWANS
who professed themselves her victims!
Then, there was Lalla Rookh, attired in
al! tie niagniticence of Oriental splendor,
ant! tho Flower Grl-the French Wait
ross, who was the lovely young hostess,
who, i'll consideration of the duties of
the evening deyolving upon her, deemed
this character most appropriate. Amy
Robsart recalled half painfully the sad
old kenilworth story, and her fair, frag-
lie beauty emineutly suited the character
impcrsonated.
Every rose must have its thorn, sup
pose, and it was perhaps to DO expected
that there would be disagreeable features