New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-27
NETWORK TRIBUNE, 81

Government Store House. At end Of the loft-bes
pardon, the ball room-were the British and American
flags, crossed In compliment to US underneath were
claret cup and lemonade for the iames'
and some good whskey for the quality In ths
gentlemen's dressing was long bar where was
dispensed English ale, strongly fortified to carry IL
through the tropics, and liquor built on the jersey
plan, guaranteed to kill the of the imbiDeTs
teeth. This was for the hoi pooI. The ball was
opened by the quality but by the time the music
got through the first bar OF the second dance the room
was so crowded that 1t seemed as II It's walls "ouia
be squeezed out should more couple come on the
floor The music consisted of flute, an accorueon
and two banios, the band OF the Ready, but after
the quality left (the ladies' only It grew fainter ana
fainter during dance owing TO the fact that the
musicians were dancing themselves. The men were
mostly sailors and petty officers Of the Ready and the
swallow, clerks In the two stores here, butchers,
bakers and candestickmakers in the settlement. Be
sides these there officers OF the gunboats'
the few gentlemen Of the place and ourselves Inc
ladies the sisters, cousins aunts and daughters
Of the butchers etc, rosycheeked, sturdy bevy OF
damsels who had no such mark Of weakness as
waist One young lady in dark red velvet princess
dress became known and described as the one Win
the waist" Because Of the inclement weather the
young ladies constantly shoes with soles half
inch thick, and If one came down on your patent
leather you bado fair to be crippled for life. The
nesses but the sturdy feet Of the dancers had kicked
the edges off in days gone by, and frequent waxing
and dancing made It so slippery that one slid up ana
down over hills and into valleys with the greatest
The guests danced steadily, no one seemed 10
think OF going home and at o'clock in the morning
the floor nearly crowded at midnight, the only
departures being sald lOokerson who repaired frs
quently the mems room and refreshed themselves
till their friends grew alarmed and removed them.
But the rest danced on all feet scrapng over the I'M
boards in perfect time, the dust rising Ike
mist and thought given to color, tzzes, ruches or
shirt collars.
Rules of etiquette simple and the best that
were ever invented for lazy II girl appeared
dance well you got friend Of yours not the ladys,
to introduce you. This the regular form, and
carried through with great gravity, though your friend
was as much of stranger to the girl as you were.
Then after getting your dance, soon as you stopped
you deposited the lady the nearest seat bowed and
departed reporting to your comrades your opinion OF
her dancing qualities. No promenadng, no light con-
versatlon feeding watering after the exercise
There was a delightful absence Of small talk and no
danger Of being bored II you were thirsty you re-
paIred TO tho ladies' buffet and had something good
out of the special bottle with your friends and eX-
changed information TO the best dancers. Duty
dances there were none.
AT daylight we adjourned to friends house with a
marty of officers and though the family had retired
somebody successfully burglarized the pantry and
wine locker. bringing out ham, biscuit, ale. every
thing save pie and Strawberries. haVlns
come 1000 miles across the water from Old England
Then some the Of Inc FAMILY came IN ana ING
bottle and the conversation went round as though lr
were nearer p. m. than a. m there were tale'
of hunting hares geese ducks and snpe on the sian
aIwavs exhilarang stories of Old Smiley our us
tinguished diplomatic representative.