Year: 1868

WEST POINT, June l9-Mldn1ghI


hop % C very nice thing in ITSELF but before hop
had on board vessel Of war, with the breeze fresh
from the waters touch cooling your heated brow
and the stars in the blue heavens lighting your
dancing way on the smoothest Of foors a hop in q
sunocating ballroom on land where land lubbers
most do congregate, paes It's ineectual fires. There
can be no doubt about the fact that the cadet hop in
the mess hall last Tuesday evening was very enjoy
able affair." but then II did feel like fantng in the
close atmosphere, it task to reach the outdoor
air in time to ones Senses but at the hop on
the practice fleet tonight how different was the
case Although there were numbers of dashing look
ing fine fellows all about the decks during the whole
evening haven't 80 far seen single damsel turn
her eyes upward and attempt to fal into the arms Of
single one Of them. And many did so at the cadet
hop. The fact Of the matter Is 1t would not have
done under the circumstances for when lady faints
In ballroom there is often good cause for 1t; but
what girl likes to hear any person say when she
fants, "How nicely that un played that" And II
one had tainted on board the vessel tonight she
would have had hard work to prove that she didn't
fall into middy's arms expressly to be Rugged.


THE WAY TO THE VESSELS


AS the hour fixed for the commencement Of the
evening entertainment approached the road leading
to the south landing Of the post was thronged with



foot At the landing every group OF pleasure seekers
was met by boat from one Of the ships, richly deco
rated with flags and with the softest OF cushions and
commanded by never SO polite mdshipman, who
told each where to Sit how to SIT and then him
self sat down by the pretest girl, waved his hand
imperiousy, when at once eight brawny arms pulled
stoutly the waters until the flagship was reached.


THE VESSELS.


On ascending by the two story stairway OF the
savannah, hung over her sides. and stepping with
the aid of middle, on the deck Of the SHIP scene
was presented to the view which de1es all efforts at
ftu hnrrt
The decks OF the Savannah and the Macedonian,
which had been placed stern to stern for the &C.
spe U Of oaand s & IKE on@sr pssd
steel. Every way the eye turned 1t was
met by decorations OF evergreens, and standards
manner. along the bulwarks, about the masts,
throughout the rigging, everywhere, IN fact, where
the blending OF a variety of colors went to add to
hidden from sight by evergreen surroundings here
and there above the dancers heads there dangled
chandeliers, formed OF three rings In pyramidal
form, which were also hidden by evergreens now-
ers and ribbons and round about each ring , were
ing like diamonds in the light cast
by the tapers each bayonet served to hold.
In the rigging, amid moving, nutterng, varying
scene of animation formed by the thousand tiny
nQs and streamers oating gently In the air. bright
colored lanterns shOne like as many stars, while the
waters beneath the prows caught a reflection of the
whole. The Savannah and the Macedonian were
adorned although not In like manner, with the same
discriminating taste, and flags and streamers and





lantly on one the other Joining the sterns OF
both vessels there was q platform neatly covered
with standards, and above 1t and beyond II, over
the decks Of the vessels was canopy formed OF lags
that gave TO the general scene fairy aspect of the
most wonderful beauty: Along the Interior OF the
bulwarks at Intervals the letters U. - NJ A. and u s.
n A. In evergreens relieved the mOnotOny OF the
covered boards while about them cutlasses were
ranged in neat order and beneath them six boarding
pistols were made to form the figures "6s." To rem
der the scene all the enjoyable, at every step be-
meath the canopies OF fags and standard and daz-
zling lights, fragrance as OF crushed flowers and
refreshing breeze waited from the shore thousand


THE SCENE FROM THE SHORE


was of the most enchanting character during the
mirror rejecting the brilliancy OF the lights and
giving the outlines Of the vessels, their rigging and
their adornments with faihfuness that almost led
one to believe there were other vessels beneath the
were realities. The decorations OF the masts and
among the thousand and one ropes that ran from
the masts TO the bulwarks the uttertng of the ags
I'm the brightness OF the light cast about by the bayone
strains OF the band coming clear and distinct above
the music OF merry laughter and the murmurings Of
MANY voices the decks, added to che soft echo Of
the footsteps as the dance went gayy on, formed
scene that at once brilliant as II was novel;


THE DANCING.


There was plenty OF room for dancing. The upper
decks of the Savannah and the Macedonian and their
lower decks were clear and the cadets and middies
In their enjoyments. II Is only necessary to say at
this late hour that the ladies' toilets were superb,
that they looked as pretty rs prettiness well can be
and danced with their companions to the music OF
added zest TO the entertainments


YIFAIR.


:. ~ midnight the Gay t.loos Of dancers wended
thsAS M 3 ~ Vs's GvstsS bads briAa9tf Se9e