Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-09-21
CHAPTER XVI.
"A hundred lights are glancing
In yOnder mansion fair,
And merry feet are dancing
They heed not morning there, ~

They heed not morning there"
At length the preparations commenced
in earnest for the grand ball Mrs. HOugh-
ton was intending to give. She had been
awaiting arrivals from the West Indies
which should bring in some fruit, as the
CITY was destitute of everything of tire
kind. When they came she urged for
ward her preparations with yigor. To get
uD a supper in these days was quite an
undertaking. You could not then as now
put the whole matter into the hands OF a
professional caterer and have an elegant
repast put upon the table as If by magic,
and the same was true of floral decOra-
tions. the whole labor of preparation de-
yoIyed upon the person who gave the en-
tertainment. with such aid as she might
Obtain from her retinue OF servants, VINO
were literally only hands, for there were
very few of them who had any taste or
skill in adOrnments. Now II was Jnat the
services of Clare and her mother were
iuyaluable-their skill in Housekeeping
duties was at a premium. They not only
superIntended, but aided win theH own
hands in making and Ornamenting cakes,
in preparing jellies and custards and
blame mango and ices, candied fruits ana
rare cOnserYes-e that cOulu
teUDt the palate. The whole house was
TO be given up to the occasion; Deds ana
bedroom furniture were .emoYed from
the rooms N5Eu DIS AuCob NhetAAAHNAD
slowed away in lumber room. me
carpets taken up from several of the
APARTMENTS, and the floors chalked iOr the
dancers; use. EYergreens taStefully ar
RANGED around pictures and mirrors,
leaving spaces among them for bouquets OF
flowers to be plucked when the evening
came and arranged fresh and Iragl ant
An was hustle and commOuon IN tne
bouse. Even Mrs. HOughtOn neglected. 10
f Al. rtr1un hQr Of times
I during the day. She was trying her pest
/ to help forward the preparations, put as
/ is often the case with the Ignorant hlnder-
+ ed more than she aided. CARDS nau u en-
sent far and wide to everybody. jane
I Thomson had the desired ticket at Mrs.
I HOnfleur's suggestion, who spoke oi hGI
as a neIghbOr OF theirs whom she WOuIu
1 not like TO have neglected. MI lie yer
/ rier and his mother were OF course among
/ fine invited guests. and when Mrs. HOugh'
/ ton heard that Miss Gordon was VISITING
Mrs. lie Nerrier, not having time 10 can
/ on her. she enclosed a card and sent an
/ invitation to her too. Miss Jessie san
/ ford and her sister and Mr.. Fillmore were
to be there also, and all of Mrs. Hough-
/ toms ''dear five hundred friends.
/ The day came, and, the house being IL
perfect readiness, the task OF setting
! tables commenced. Mrs. HOntieur tool
| CHARGE of the meat tables, and arranged
/ temnting vIands with an artists skill
! All manner of meats and fowls, every
| Kind of game and wild fOWl-whlch was
then much more abundant than now
fowls not only of every description bu
nranared in every possible way, salads an(
ancloyies, and sardines and pickles
abundance of the shell-fish with which GU
southern waters abound, variously an'
deliberately prepared, and all KINDS
foreign luxurIes-eyeryth1ng that wa
choice and delicious was gathered 10 grace
the feast.
Yet the table which Clare SUPERVISED
far transcribed her mothers in beauty
There was so much more room for the ex