Locomotive, Volume 8, Number 1, Indianapolis, Marion County, 3 March 1849 — Page 1

1 ' B It E V I T Y I S THE S 0 U L OF WIT. VOL, VIII. CITY OF INDIANAPOLIS, SATURDAY, MAKCH.3, 1849. - No. 1.

THE LOCOMOTIVE 13 PRINTED AND PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY, AT THE BOOK AND JOB OFFICE OF DOUGLASS & ELDER, OPT0SITE BROWNING'S, BY DAVID R. ELDER & CO. Terms For 3 months, 25 cents, SCrin advanccC5 One Dollar a year. No paper will be continued to mail subscribers after the time for which ihey have paid expires, unless the subscription is renewed. . . , , Advertising For the first insertion 5 cents per line; each subsequent insertion 4 cents per line. Religious and benevolent notices, Births, Marriages, and Deaths, gratis. ' - Communications ana subscriptions must be addressed, Post Paid, to " The Locomotive, Indianapolis, Jf," or handed in to the Publication office, opposite Browning's.

' . - . . - For the Locomotive. . . The Ball cf the 22d. " There is a time to dance" so said a sage of old. Whose wisdom Heaven inspired, whose lore the Bible told ; Then be not wisier than the sacred page, and say That time too precious is to waste in movements gay,. Nor frown when youth's bight step and everjoyous glance Grows gayer, brighter, ana more iuoyant in the dance.

.-' , , . ;iiss hervey. : " The Celebration Ball of the twenty-second was a delightful affair,, and if beautiful ladies attentive gentlemen- excellent music and rich viands, are to be appreciated and acknowledged, then must a visitor to this pleasant and hospitable city, be allowed to trespass ( if you so view it ) on the columsof the spicy Locomotive, in a brief description of the Celebration ball. The" writer was honored by the receipt of a polite invitation to be one of the party on the occasion, and about the hour of nine, we found ourselves at the "Carlisle House," surrounded by a bevy of pretty ladies and their beaux to match, music playing partners engaging and dancing commencing. During the first quadrille we were merely a " looker on in Venice,", but the sounds of the violin always acts on our nervous system very much like the. galvanic battery, and we had great trouble in keeping our digits under subjection, for they were for performing certain gyrations which we had accustomed them to, when we took lessons in one, two, three, four, &c, several years ago, and had practised on sundry and many occasions since that interesting period. Soon, however, came introductions, small talk, and engagements, and then dancing until almost daybreak on the morning of the twenty-third. ; Our first partner was the pretty Miss S. of the Palmer House, she of queenly carriage, and pouting lip, whose movements have been so anxiously watched by the beaux. Dressed in a rich' plaid silk, with pretty head-dress, Miss S. was a bright gem in the circle around he:. Mr. W. of Madison was this lady's chaperone during the evening. Mr. W. and his beautiful - lady were present, and gave a zest to the gayeties. Mrs. W. is the ideal of 1 'our imagination in feature, form and expression. " It if no wonder that her smiles bewitch The sad and gay, so well her humor bends v To suit the time and place." The petite Miss B. was all animation. Mr. B. f N. O. is dancing with this young lady. Her dress is very appropriate and suited her complex

ion, blending the color of the rose with that of the

lily. v She may be thus described, . . " Lips like the rose-bud cleft in twain With pearly gems the cleft to stain, ...... Eyes like twin-stars beneath some cloud That comes their sparkling light to shroud. -Rich tresses of bright auburn glow Bound neatly o'er a brow of snow." - Those gay young ladies, Miss I. of this city, and

Miss VV. of Madison, are dressed in the same costume, white skirts with the pretty blue sac, which looks very well. We like the little cunning pockets in the corners, they are so convenient to carry pop-corn for instance. We found . the article in profusion and were not backward jn. helping ourselves to it. Miss I. is a lively partner in the dance, whose ringing laugh is provocative of mirth and glee. Miss W. was the only lady present from Madison, and represented the sister city. Mr. B. ofM. we observe dancing with Miss. W. of this county. She is ' an agreeable-lady of ingenious manners and unstudied mein. We enjoyed a short tete a tete with Miss W. and was much gratified by her converse. Mrs. D. is present and entertained us by lively chat, and mingled in the dancei reminding us of a similar "meeting a few months since. ' " The gentlemen present, Mr. B. Mr. E. Mr. W. Mr. F. Mr. G. Mr. O. Mr. M. Dr. H. and others

of this city with whom we have not the pleasure of

an acquaintance, were at home, in the tripping of the light fantastic toe, the social conversation, or the promenade. And all seemed happy as the days of joyous youth, fraught with brightness and unclouded skies. The refreshments were of the best, and ample justice was awarded them. Our host of the " Carlisle" has established. his reputation as a good caterer.; The cuisine arrangements on this occasion were admirable, lacking nothing in quality or quantity." .' . ;; . . After the feast of good things, enjoyed amid the sprightly witticisms of some, the lively repartee of others, and exuberant mirth of all, the dancing was resumed and kept up with spiril far into the small hours of morning. The absence of some of the bright particular stars which have radiated this circle on former occasions of the kind, and were links in the chain, caused regret to many. We were not the only one who missed the queen of dance, the reigning lelle, Miss M. F.S,:' We saw a rueful countenance among the gay that night. His thoughts were with the indisposed, drawn thither, we opine, by that sympathy which rules the mind under eertain influences. . Our friend the Count" was not present, and we regretted much his absence, caused by a temporary illness.

, Miss II. cf Lawrenceburgh, who has been one of

the pleasant society of the Hoosier Capitol this season, was not in town. Nor the pretty Miss A.1, now on a visit to Washington. Nor did we see Miss Q. whose winning graces captivate so many of the beaux. , '

, Although portions of the bright chain was wanting, enough were there to make the circle agreeable and inspiriting. Whenever we participate in such a scene as this, where beauty speaks to the heart, the language is not easily forgotten. The magic tones leave their impress -a pleasing reminisence on the mind like an oasis in the desert of life a green spot amid the wastes to which we may recur in after' years. We shall often think of the happy hours so spent, and through memory recall the forms of those with whom we mingled in the dance, and hear again the merry laugh, indicating high hopes of ..youthful pleasures to be.enjoyed ; lighting the brow and enhancing the beauty which dimples the fair cheek, outvieing the rose. in freshness, and listen again to soft voices in , pleasing1 converse, intellectual and ennobling. The genial hospitality and polite attention of the gentlemen' managers of the Celebration Ball, toward a stranger in their social group, deserves his special cornmendation, showing a trait in the characters of those who rule the ton of this city, averse and opposite to every feeling of envy or jealousy $ and marks the society of which we presume the portion who attended the BaQaxe a prominent part, as compos- . ed of material oT which any city in the Union might well be pround.' Henry. Indianapolis, Feb. 25 1849. . . . ' ' Look on this picture, and on this Ed. .. For the Lccomctive - The Dance. A Limping Rhyme in Prose. i 'Cano I sing, but not of arms and men, "Nor hair breadth 'scapes by flood nor battle field," But no less nobler theme is minei for when Do not men in arms to youth and beauty yield. There was a sound of revelry on Thursday night, About ,9 o'clock," at the Carlisle House, and bright The lamps shone o'er nice young men and maidens fair, Who to celebrate the day that night had gathered -there. " Here, Johnson, come and brush my hair;" " say John, where's Bill ?" " Be quick,. my coat, that's it, my boots, rub them until You make them shine," come, hurry now, its nearly time; There, that will do, remember, John I 0 U a dime." " Oh, . how strong, give me a glass of . water." "John! here."' "Coming, sir," "are you very busy? what's the time ? I'm late I fear." After washing, brushing, combing, swearing, the ' toilet's made, And three cotillons on the floor are presently arrayed. Right gladly and happily beat the hearts of all, Except' some stags, who had no partners for the ball. When the bow, well rosined, was drawn across the fiddle, " Ladies all hands round," and the gentlemen in the middle ; Soft eyes looked into eyes, but anon a scornful glance, Upon the poor " peach orchard ones" who hadn't learned to dance. " Top couples forward,'"' back again to you r places, Look at that young lady there making ugly faces. " Side, couples the same," " a pleasant evening Miss, I think I never saw a dance as pleasant yet as this." "Ladies to the right, and round' the gentlemen swing," Be careful how you do it, for 'tis a ticklish thing, For many of them, too many by far, Have paid frequent visits to the nearest bar. "First gentlemen forward," or rather dos a dos, "Oh, you awkward fellow you, you've nearly