Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1886-11-11
the YELLOW DOMINO.

During the latter part of the reign
of Louis XIV. Of France masquerades
were in high estimation, and public
ones were often given, at immense cost,
on court days and on other occasions OF
rejoicing. Tothese latter persons ofail
ranks, who could afford to purchase a
ticket, were admissible; and accord
ingly rencontres frequently took place
at them, and exhibitions almost as Gu
rious in the way of disguise as in the
assumption of character.
Little chance adventures of an
amusing character were at that period
not at all uncommon; and indeed at
these strange entertainments strange
groups and characters were often pur-
posely concerted by their directors
and managers.
At other times feats Of legerdemain
or activity were performed; and on
one occasion, it is well known, a Ge-
noese-the Ducrow of his day-walk-
ed upon a tight rope, surrounded by
fireworks, which made him visible to
all Paris, from the top of one of the
towers of the Metropolitan Cathedral
of Nortre Dame into the window of
house near an opposite bridge, called
the Pont au Change.
Perhaps, however, the most whim-
steal Of the genuine surprises record
ed at any Of those spectacles was that
which occurred in Paris on the 18th
of October, the day on which the
Dauphin, eldest son Of Louis XIV, at
tanned his majority.
At this tete, which was of a peculi-
arly magnificent character-so much
80, that the details of it are given at
great length by historians Of the day
the strange behavior of parsonage
in yellow domino excited general at
tention very early in the evening.
This mask, in short, who, if we ex-
cept tallness with the most robust pro.
portions, showed nothing remarkable
as to figure, seemed to be gifted with
an apr elite not merely past all hu-
man conception, but exceeding even
the widest fancies of romance. Even
"The dragon of old, who churches ate,
When full of good people on Sunday;
When congregations were to him
But dish Of salmagundi"-
even he was but a nibber-a mere
cky-Go- Easy-to this stranger of
the yellow domino, who, with an alac-
rity and perseverance as astonishing
as it was edifying, went from room to
room, and from one refreshment table
to another, not merely tasting, but de-
vouring, devastating all before him.
At one sideboard he coolly dis.
patched fowl, two. thirds of ham,
and a half a dozen bottle of cham.
payne, and the very next moment he
was found seated in another apart
ment performing the same feat with
stomach even keensr than the first.
This strange course was perseyered in
steadily the whole evening, until the
company, who had at first been much
amused by it, became alike alarmed
and unruly.
as it the same mask, or are there
several dominos 2" demanded an off.
Ger OF the guard, as the yellow domi-
no rose from a seat opposite him, and
quilted the apartment.
, II have seen but one, and, by Hea-
ven, here he is again !" exclaimed the
party to whom the query was addres.
sed.
The yellow domino spoke not
word, but proceeded straight to the
vacant seat which he had just left, and
again commenced supping as though
he had tasted whole month of Sun
days.
At length the confusion which this