Page 44 Advertisements Column 1

Observer, Volume 1, Issue 6, 23 October 1880, Page 44

jRHYMES ffORTHE TIMEs THE PONSONBY PANCY DRESS BALL. There was a sound of revelry by night, And Auckland's capital had gathered then, Her swelldom and her snobbery, and bright * The lamps shone o'er fair women and brave men There was an awful bobbery, and when Came West resplendent in Hyperion curls, Soft eyes looked love to eyes that spake again, And there was jealousy among the girls. But, hush ! hark ! strike up the music, and begin tho whirls ! There might you see the fashion of Parnell, Of Remuera, Ponsonby, North Shore, In fancy dresses, looking very swell, All nimbly tripping on the well-waxed floor ; Turk, Jew, and Gipsy, Christian, and Moor All countries, creeds, and costumes, young and old, From sweet sixteen to rollicking threescore ; Demure and modest, gaucherie, and bold, Thin, fat, short, tall, nice, ugly, warm, tropical, and cold. Here " Claude Duval" is prowling round by "Night," There " Romeo" for his Jvdiet grieves, And " Columbine, " the beauteous Miss AY c AVhose nimble hand the thirsty soul revives. And Ali Baba with his Forty Thieves, Besides a " lawyer," making forty-one, And little podgy B, who still believes He can reduce his weight from fifteen stun, AVith fair " Undine" is having lots of fun. Hero " Sorcerer" is dancing with "Queen Esther" There " Esmeralda" with " General" G. ; And Paddy L., in costume of " Court jester," With lovely Nellie D. is vis a vis. There Smith, the "captain" of the Queen's Navee No longer thinks of meeting Captain K. While "Starlight's" got a "planter" from Fiji j And portly C — g — in is spruce and gay, With whiskers curled in Beckham's neatest way. There's little V— g— u whirling like a top, His lovely whiskers waving in the breeze j And Gl — d — ll serving out the ginger pop, A crowd of struggling nymphs he tries to please, Delighted if he can their thirst appease. And gay old B— p— y with his hoary hair Forgets his new chums sailing o'er the seas, While to that festive scene he doth repair, To bask amidst the sunny smiles of youthful fair. Ye Gods ! It is a wondrous sight to see How B's. " redowa" makes the girls turn pale, While H. gyrates with rare agility, Age cannot wither him, nor customs stale. The old beau's infinite variety. There comes the Duchess iv that scrumptious hat, The ton, the leaders in society, Who lead a life of virtue and all that, Aud never breathe a hint of scandal in their chat. What wondrous triumphs of inventive skill ! What fancies comical are mingled here ! See Sl — r — d, specially got up to kill, Like a big bottle of his fav'rite beer. There's G. the gay and festive auctioneer, And Mrs. L. with slender classic curls • A " Turkish Pasha" with an Eastern leer Is casting sheep's-eyes at the pretty girls ; WTiile round and round the ever-changing circles whirls. Oh shade of Terpsichore ! what a sight ! What strange diversities ! what ill-matched pairs ! All madly quaffing pleasure's cup to-night, Oblivious of to-morrow and its cares. While over all the gaudy gas-light glares Without respect to sinner, or to saint, Alike on youth and beauty, and grey hairs, On nature's roses, or cosmetic paint, And lighting old lack-lustre eyes with glances quaint. " On with the dance ! Let joy be unconfined ■ N No sleep till morn, when youth and pleasure meet ;" Bid sorrows vanish in the .passing wind, And " chase the glowing hours with flying feet." Let spooneys sigh, ancL^ows of love repeat, Perchance to wake and find it all a dream, And cut each other next day in the street, Or laugh to think what hypocrites they've been, " For things," as sings the poet, " are not what they seem." Childe Harold.