Year: 1866

a Midsummer Nights Entertainment.


In spite Of the summer solstice our city is not
altogether devoid of amusement. If gaiety does
not rise Oh tiptoe or with the thermometer, our
young folks still contriye to while away some
pleasant hours. The absentees at the watering
places are not having all the fun. For their bene
fit let Us indulge in line or two Of description OF
polite assembly which we attended Saturday
| night:
1t was given at one of those old plantation
chateaux some four miles from the city, and
whose magnificent foliage and scenery every one
must have admired who has visited that part of
| town. A moonlight ride, that is, it would have
been moonlight if the night had not been cloudy,)
with lovely companion or so, prepared us for
scene that was well worth the seeing. Not to
speak of the river calmly flowing in front, and
the lights of the city cleaning in the distance,
there was before us an illuminated garden, with
transparencies and parti-colored lights. The
walks were filled with gaily dressed couples TAX
ing breathing spell from the last dance. The
notes of the music were warning them to get
ready for the next. 1t was one of those delight
full assemblies which extended to every part of
the hospitable mansion


Arriving at rather late hour we reversed the
natural order of things and commenced with the
! supper-room, and tasted of sufficient edibles,
punch, and still more undsguised fluids to give us
| a poetical turn. Then we descended to where the
dancing was going on, and amused ourselves look
ing through the open windows with half-doz
. similar old fogies, who had their go some twenty
years ago. Rheumatism had done its worst but
had not altogether dimmed our sense of beauty
and in our philosophical moods perhaps we ap
preciated the same more than any one else
present. Some of those snowy creatures
in skirts of tulle and with head-dresse
la Goddess of Liberty, were certainly yer!
pretty. We never grew tired of watching
them as they danced from one room into tn
r. other, and through the doorways and passages
There was one couple who was said to hay
danced all around the upper verandah which in
closed the house, and at least half way down


pair of steps; but we did not see it, and won't b
positive of that fact-stil so less that the feat


interrupted by backward fall. But we sa'
enough to make us recall with pleasure the tim
we had spent, and our only regret is that we cal
not find ourselves in. such amiable cOmpan
again-not tonight, but, say tomorrow.


The drive home in the car was enlivened
some flashes of merriment, but the road from tt


barracks soon began to appear long, and slet
told upon more than one damask cheek. Wht


we, with one or two other friends, parted compar


with the driver at the Clay statue, his cargo VI


reduced to two martial figures, but as they we
TC stretched at full length upon the cushions but lit


space remained unoccuped. Seeing his hest
the ton and that he was about returning to the bt


racks lit was the last car, mind you,) one of


party who was wag, begged him not to distu


them, but to carry them back with him to


depot. As the fare was paid he did as was


quested, and we presume that daybreak probal


found them in the neighborhood from wheE
~ they started.