And while this spectacle presents but the
vanity of our nature, grand but not lasting, the sweet breath of
summer is wafting its balmy odours to refresh and give life to its
lifeless luxury.
The gay cort?ge begins to assemble; the halls fill with guests; the
beauty, grace, and intelligence of this little fashionable world,
arrayed in its very best, will be here with its best face. Sparkling
diamonds and other precious stones, dazzling, will enhance the
gorgeous display. And yet, how much of folly's littleness does it
all present! All this costly drapery-all this show of worldly
voluptuousness-all this tempest of gaiety, is but the product of
pain and sorrow. The cheek that blushes in the gay circle, that fair
form born to revel in luxury, would not blush nor shrink to see a
naked wretch driven with the lash. Yea! we have said it was the
product of pain and sorrow; it is the force of oppression wringing
from ignorance and degradation the very dregs of its life. Men say,
what of that?-do we not live in a great good land of liberty?
The young affianced,--dressed in a flowing skirt of white satin, with
richly embroidered train; a neat bodice of the same material, with
incisions of lace tipped with brilliants; sleeves tapering into neat
rufflets of lace clasped upon the wrist with diamond bracelets, a
stomacher of chastely worked lace with brilliants in the centre,
relieved by two rows of small unpolished pearls,--is ushered into the
parlour, followed by groomsmen and bridesmaids as chastely dressed.
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