The Gunny Bags, and the Jam Tarts, and the Zee Creams.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 689, 7 May 1879, Page 2

The Gunny Bags, and the Jam Tarts, and the Zee Creams.

The weather has caused much toouble aiike to the Gunny Bags, and the Jam Tarts. The Ice Creams have not yet put m an appearance, and until -the season, Settles m a little finer, we should recommend them to remain as they are. As we write, for those at a distance as much as those by whom we are immediately surrounded, we may explain that Terpsichorean Society m Gisborne is divided into three classes. The pleasant re-unions of the Gunny Bags, the Jam Tarts, and the Ice Creams are managed by separate committees, each having an honorary secretary j and everything is admirably arranged. The Guuny Bags think themselves quite equal to the Jam Tarts, and the Jam Tarts as evenly matched with the Ice Creams. The Ice Creams perhaps don't think so 5 but as every member of the respective grades is quite satisfied with himself or herself, it> is not of the least consequence. The Gunny Bags do not trouble themselves ivery; greatly about the fashions. The young' men brush their hair and spruce themselves up a bit. The young ladies let their back hair down, and shake out their curls. Then both are ready for the dance. At it they go merrily, and- joy fullyy; fop they have no five-guinea ball dress to destroy, and a girl doesn't look very cross if her partner treads upon the skirt of her dress. The Gunny Bags have light refreshments — lemonade for the, females. The, gentlemen can slip out between the sets and get their totSj, .which many of them do most religiously. The Jam Tarts do very much as the Gunny Bags. No fuss about dress. Dancing boots for the gentlemen ; generally a black coat, but not uecessarily so. The ladies put a bit of extra ribbon on their head or round their waist ;, perhaps both. And they, too^ enjoy themselves to their hearts content. The Gunny Bag and Jam Tart girls — if we are permitted to use such a common word as "girls" — are mostly single. So are che men. Consequently there is a deal of courting going on between the dancing, and there is a great attention paid to putting on the girls' waps and cloaks, and seeing them to doors and gates of their papas and their mammas, where there is a little quiet laughing; a lrtitle pressing ;of hands *; half a-dozen " good nights," and then a separation. Some day or other the couples will arrange for a twelvQ-o'clock-in-the-day church performance, where there's a clergyman and a pair of bridesmaids. These couples will, years hence when they each become a Darby and Joan, talk of the days when they were of the Griinny Bags and Jam Tarts, just which ever they may have belonged to. Possibly they may have grown m their matured days to be pious, and forbid their daughters to go to dances on the score of " its , impropriety." The Ice Creams are composed of the elite of Gisborne and Poverty Bay. The ladies go m tarlatane dresses, trimmed with lace, or silk, or satin. They wear artificial lowers m their hair, with silver leaves They have handsome fans, and, of course, white kid gloves. The gentlemen are most of them dressed to kill. The Ice Creams are # many of them married couples. There will be a few elderly single ladies, and a few elderly and middle-aged gentlemen. There is great propriety observed, and " etiquette," strictly maintained. There are more " wall-flowers" among the Ice Creams than there are among the Gunny Bags arid Jam Tarts. The Ice Creams have real refreshments : cold chicken and ham, pastry and fruit ; wine for the ladies ; Hennessy and Long John for the o;entleman. The Gunny Bags and •Jam Tarts break up at 11 o'clock, and are fresh for a day's work m the morning. They chat over the breakfast table as to who they danced with, and how Miss Somebody was sticking up to Mr. Goodman, and doing her best to cut out Miss Somebodyelse. How one, man dances so charmingly, and oh ! so very gracefully. The Ice Creams don't go home until morning The ladies take their tea and toas. m bed, and are very often crost through the day> scolding the servants awfully. The gentlemen have gons out, and before 11 o'clock have had three or fou • sodas and brandiee apiece. , TJiey are very seedy, and look a good deal used up. There is only one thing more to say of the Gunny Bags, and Jam Tarts. They are exceedingly vulgar m this respect. They pay punctually for 'the use of the dancing hall. They pay for their music and Tor their refreshments, and, above all, for their printing. In these matters the Ice Creams are not at all vulgar. They are sweet gentility to the letter and the spirit. Such is Tbrpsiohorean Society m Gisborne.