Connecticut western news., 1892-01-07
THE MASQUERADE

The old Fem homestead in the course of it's long and eventfnl history of over 100 years has seen great deal flor instance the last of the discomfited and retiring British soldiers after the war of the revolution) but we are sure that it never held within it's hospitable walls happier company than the throng of merry maskers who gathered there on New Years eve. in response to the invitation of Mrs William J. Thom- son who gave party on the occasion in honor of her daughter. Florence and her son, William Jameson.
 Nearly all the company wore masks and costumes. The time passed rapid ly in dancing and conversation in pau- tomipe, till soon after midnight when partners were selected and. as the strains of the violin died away, the masks were removed and all had an op- portunity to verify the accuracy or dis cover the iuaccuracy of their conjec- lures as to each others identity. De- licious refreshments were then dispen- sed with generous hand aud, after something like justice had been done to them, the wild whirl of gaiety was re- sumed.
 In each room there were sprigs of mistletoe hanging from the ceiling, but only the fair ones seemed to be aware of it's significance, and they only put their knowledge into practice among themselves, forgetting the pecul- iarity inherent in leap year.
 There was plenty of dancing, both round and square, to the goddess notes of the fiddle, which was played with skill.
 The costumes were all effective, some beautiful and some curious. Our space will not allow us to describe all, but we will mention few taken at random. Among the ladies there was one from the metropolis and one. it is said, em- ploying her leisure time in iustructing the youth (s very improvable story we theughD who personated night" dressed in very deadly dancing cos- tunes of black tulle. and these, we must say. for spirit and grace in the light footed art, stood we'll nigh alone. Another lady was disguised as bat, and doubtless more than one of the 'brave men' present would have liked to get her under his hat" One rep resenting Folly" clad in dancing dress of complete red. but not conceal ing her neck and arms, charmed all the beholders. We must not forget to mention the beautiful "Goddess of Liberty" draped in the flag. nor the ''queen of hearts" in red and yellow, nor the Quakeresses iu demure drab, nor fair medical student, disguised as a gipsy girl, with her friend in sky blue. Then there was a pretty Normandy peasant girl in pink and white and beautiful Japanese and many more as deserving of mention. Among the gen. tlemen we noticed Great BarrlDgton devil with red mantle and tail ,an Ameri- can Indian, Mexican vaquero, cour- tier, Humpty Dumpty, a student in cap and gown, foolish boy. genia druggist pretending to be woman, be. sides priests, leather-stockings and no end of others.
 After nearly all had departed, little group of congenial and, all but one bright spirits, including the two ''qneens of night" the beautiful Japan csc, the irresistible Folly" the sair peasant girl, the comical Humpty Dumpty, stalwart courier, the silly boy, the delegate from his Satanic Mai esty and the wicked Jesuit, gathered in . cozy corner and made the old house ring with jolly songs, accompanied by banjo, guitar and castanets, to the ap- parent pleasure of the agreeable hostess and her two sons. At intervals the two '.queens of night" ''Folly" and the devil performed some feats in dancing which Carmencita might have envied. Altogether the affair was Q complete success and will be long remembered with pleasure by those who had the good fortune to be there.