ning her heart and losing his own. may luxuriate in the display of A fortunate but conscientious lov-nature's fairest works, improved er, he married his mistress pri- by the embellishments of art: here vately. The secret was soon be- the grace and elegance of woman, trayed, and though publicly she aided by the magic of fashion is had not the title of Queen, yet most strikingly developed. Inevery one knew that she was wife spired with the spirit of harmony to the King of Poland. The ti- and joy, she glides through the dings reached her native village- mazes of the dance with the foot her mother died of joy, her father of a sylph, and the smile of a of grief; and John Cassimer soon seraph! I never see a group of followed, leaving La Lhauda with youthful females but I immediateone daughter, whom his family al-ly fancy myself among the muses, ways refused to acknowledge. and imagination confers upon

Such was the end of three mar-each, some celestial charm! in the riages contracted and dissolved in pensive brow, upturned eye, and the short space of fifteen years. graceful abstraction of one fair La Lhauda's good fortune was not being, (whom I sometimes meet left as a heritage to her descen- at these gay assemblies) I trace dants-she lived to see them re- the serene and contemplative turning to her own former obscu-graces of Urania, and in the sparkrity. Many an old man in Gre-ling eye and dimpled cheek of noble can remember a little Clau- another, I mark the wit and sportdine who used to solicit public ive mirth of Euphrosine, and macharity with the word 'Pray give ny a lovely one bounds before me alms to the grand-daughter of the king of Poland? What a vicissitude to point a moral and adorn a tale!' The history is well remembered in the little vil-ed tresses and loosed drapery of a lage of Bachet, near Huglan, where La Lhauda was born.

FOR THE BOWER OF TASTE.

THE BALL ROOM.

with the flexile form and aerial step of a Terpsihore. In short I am in a land of enchantment—all are goddesses! one has the twist

Diana-another, the flowing curls
and rounded arms of a Hebe.—
(I never knew but one who had the
glance of Minerva, and the smile
of Venus.)

But there are some indeed, even among the young and beautiful I Do love to look upon woman-whom nature never designed for to gaze upon beauty unadorned, dancers-such as have no ear for in the plain and simple habili-harmony-no elasticity in their ments of the morning, with her movements-yet these persons bright hair parted on her fair fore- often profess a fondness for, and head, or curling round a face persist in dancing, when it is obbeaming with health and cheerful-vious to all who behold them, that ness. This is a pleasing sight-their amusement is a labor. But her manners seem to partake of when I attend a ball it is for the character of her dress, at least pleasure-I go not to sneer at I have ever thought I could trace natural personal defects, or to a correspondence between them. -But I confess I also love to gaze upon beauty in a 'ball-room.' --in this region of taste and brilliancy the painter and the poet

criticise upon the taste of those whose dresses do not happen to suit my fancy-these, like the errors in painting I pass lightly over, and dwell with more enthu

siasm on its beauties than if the ened chin. Smiles of the most whole piece was perfect.

I love to see people happy! particularly the young and innocent. A ball, conducted with decorum and propriety, has perhaps a less evil tendency in society than any other amusement unconnected with mental improvement, yet when we consider that order, politeness and refinement of manners, are absolutely indispensable in a ball-room, we must allow that an improvement of the mind, as well as of the person, must be the result-be this as it may, although I do not let these amusements interfere with the more important concerns of life, yet I am often most happy to join in the dance, particularly when I am so fortunate as to procure a fair partner to my taste.

MAG'S ATTEMPT AT

'HIGH LIFE.'

W.

poetical import, would doubtless have sported with peculiar gracefulness on her lips, were it not that her under one curled, or rather lapped, over on the ponderous member alluded to. An admirer of a ruby lip would have fallen in raptures could he have be held its voluptuous swell, blooming in all the beauty of fleshy exuberance!

But Margaretta was beautiful, -SO at least her imagination taught her to believe; and she determined to visit the gay metropolis of New York, that she might learn its fashions, and give a finishing touch to her natural beauty. A six months residence here, had indeed, made a sensible alteration in her conduct, for she had rapidly learned the affected airs of gaiety, and coquettish toss of the head, when a beau presumed to address her. The giggle and the he! he he! she got almost to Margaretta Rushbrook was cer- perfection; and no female of her tainly a very extraordinary look-acquaintance could excel her in ing girl. To see her once was to giving certain omnious hints to remember her for ever: At least I the gentlemen, of the existence could never banish from my mem-of such things as theatres, balls, ory the impression that her looks Castle Gardens, &c.; for when made upon me. On the first they appeared not to comprehend glance, the stranger was struck-dull souls! she would wonder with a huge square mass of flesh from her feet to her shoulders, on which was placed a head that physiognomists might behold with The day at length arrived when wonderment. A small nose, was she left New York, possessed, as snugly seated in the centre of an she averred, of the hearts of expanded face, and just beneath some half dozen youths; and she a pair of cunning grey eyes that soon entered her native village, twinkled like a couple of glow- the proud mistress of fashionable worms on a red cabbage leaf. A smiles, starts, nods, winks, and he! vast profusion of curls were scat-he! he's. Her sudden and dashing tered round her head-some were gracefully dangling behind her ears -others were majestically reared on the very top of her head and seemed to be viewing with contempt the presumption of a stray curl, that appeared endeavoring to find the extremity of her length

with great naivette, 'what ailed the folks-she never saw such a stingy set of fellows in her life?'

appearance created much wonderment among the simple villagers, who could hardly be persuaded to believe that 'fat, long chinned Mag,' as she was rustically called, could be transformed into the thing she was.

Tim Slochenhausen, her rustie

he

never used but on special occasions, 'by golly, and Davy Rachel, but there's a good one!'

lover, who was the wit of the Slochenhausen!' He could hardvillage, was the first to call only credit his senses: a tremenduher. In former days, when they ous 'whew' burst from his lungs used to play tag, it was glorious like a torrent, accompanied by his sport for Tim to chase Margaret-favorite exclamation, which ta into a corner, or behind a door, and then seizing hold of her chin, draw her face to his, and give her a hearty smack. How often had they played billy button together! and sung 'Come Philanders,' 'Oats, Pease, Beans, and Barley O' and 'I'm a Roving Bachelor!' The recollection of these precious sports passed rapidly through the memory of the swain as he rapped at the door.

Margaretta was too well acquainted with rustic manners to notice this sally: and taking a chair, she placed herself in one of her elegant attitudes, and looked with ineffable dignity on her rural lover. It was sometime before Tim recovered from his confusion; at length venturing to look at his former play mate at tag, he was lost in a transport of rustic admiration.— What a metamorphose was here! It was no longer plain Mag with her check frock and white ruff, but Miss Margaretta Rushbrook, from New York, tricked out in the extreme of fashion, the essence of politeness, and the queen of beauty!

Some time elapsed ere Tim could muster courage to ask her how she was pleased with her visit to the metropolis, when-whizz!

Tim was somewhat surprised to find himself formally ushered into the 'parlour,' and was desired to sit down, and wait a few minutes, 'as Margaretta was not yet ready to see company.' Margaretta! How strange that sounded! he had never heard her called so before-it was always 'Mag;' and by way of variety, sometimes jolly, fat Mag.'Tim's heart misgave him as his eye rested on a tremendous Bolivar, which was sprawling on the table before the looking glass; and the flood-gate of her speech was wondered, and wondered, in the in- open, and such a torrent of words nocence of his heart, till his mouth and unintelligible jargon, never was stretched almost wide enough before greeted the astonished ears to receive the object of his aston- of Mr. Slochenhausen! Theatres, ishment. balls, Brooklyn, Broadway, CasLaces, ribbons &c. of the new-tle Garden, bears, ships, flounces est fashion, and half bound novels, and the battery, streamed from were so placed as to attract no-her tongue in rapid succession, actice; and Tim's eyes were begin- companed by a paraphernalia of ning to look big, when Margaretta nods, winks, giggles, he! he! he's! Rushbrook entered. to the utter destruction of her former mock-dignity.

After the manner of certain city ladies, she intended to give effect Tim, during one of the pauses, to her entree; and assuming a was about collecting sufficient stateliness of manner she march- wind to give another 'whew! ed in. She approached Tim with but she skilfully manuœvered to a sweeping bow, and a knowing check the gathering tornado, by smirk, which was intended for im- suddenly setting in motion the mense condescension, and reach-'paddle of her speech.' Like ing out her forefinger, she inquir-one of those machines, denominaed with a careless air. 'Ah! Mr ted a steam-boat, she spluttered

through an ocean of words, pad-merit attendant upon the excessdie, paddle, paddle, till she came ive love of no velty, which always to a conclusion, by exclaiming with upturned eyes, 'What a romantile place is New-York!'

imagines the object to possess some degree of worth: a circumstance this, by no means essential to the influence of fashion; whose authority is, in general, derived from things known to be idie and insignificaut. Fashion gives absolute sway to modes, forms, colours, &c. wantonly introduced by the whim of an individual, with whom the majority have not the most distant connection, and concerning whom they are totally ignorant: unless circumstances and situations of notoriety, should render their characters either equivocal or unequivocal.

What mighty wonders had she achieved while there. She had read the Ivanhose in ten volumes; the Deuce of Warsaw, in six; the Vittle of Wakefield, in four. She had enslaved the hearts of no less than a dozen dashing youths, whom she won at parties, by recommending and setting the example of drinking nothing but brandy sling. One of them was so far gone as to present her, on the day of her departure, the ace of hearts on the back of which was a profile, or some thing very It is capable of instantaneously ominous of one. Margaretta re-altering our opinion of the nature ceived it with infinite marks of and qualities of things, without condescension, called it her dear demanding any painful exertions minilter, and wore it faithfully next of the understanding, or requiring her heart. She now drew it forth the slow process of investigation. to the gaze of wonderstricken Tim, who, after viewing it attentively for a few moments, started from his seat, and seizing his hat with a variety of contending emotions,of which amazement was the most predominent, rushed rather unceremoniously from her presence. Margaretta seemed in no way surprised or offended; but very complacently turned up her nose at her love, as she beheld him striding down the street, lustily exclaiming to himself, 'She's a ripstaver, so help me Davy Ra-numberless instances, do we atchel!'-Phil. Album.

POWER OF FASHION.

With the quickness of a magic wand it in a moment subverts all those ideas of beauty, elegance and propriety before cherished. It makes us regret as odious what we had lately contemplated as most desirable; and raptures are inspired by qualities we had just considered as pernicious and deformed. Unwilling to renounce our title to rationality, unable to resist the power of fashion, we make every attempt to reconcile reason with absurdity. Thus in

tempt to vindicate to ourselves, and to ethers, the novel affection. We are assiduous to find out some From Cogan's Treatise on the Fashions. peculiar excellence, or advantage, THIS power is an ideal influen-in whatever becomes the idol of za, spreading with the utmost ra- the day; and to discover some inpidity, and infecting a whole com- sufferable defect in the divinity munity where it commenced; we have discarded. That which sometimes extending to distant was once deemed grand and manations, and acquiring such jestic, in size or form, will now strength, in its progress, that no-strike the eye as insupportably thing can resist its force! It clumsy, and the regularity we does not possess the degree of once admired, now renders an ob

ject stiff, precise, and formal; col- a dazzling complexion, and large ors which were yesterday so del-blue eyes would render them too icately elegant, will appear to- seducing, if their simplicity and day faint, faded, and lifeless; and modesty did not enforce respect those which were lately much too and temper, by the charm of virstrong and glaring for our weak tue, the two lively impression cauoptics,become in an instant bright, sed by their beauty; they please glowing, and majestic. the stranger by their sensibility, while they interest him by their imagination.

Fashion will render that particular garb which we once thought so warm and comfortable, hot and Without cultivating the fine arts insupportable as the sultry dog- and literature too much, they are days and it makes the slightest not strangers to them; and, when covering, contrary to its pristine their confidence is gained, they nature, remarkably pleasant in evince considerable knowledge, of the depth of winter. The flow- which they never make a display. ing hair, or adjusted ringlets, shall Their presence in society is as at one period be considered as be- agreeable as that of Frenchwocoming and elegant; at another, men, and it may be said, that they be rejected as an insufferable seem to be more necessary to it. mark of effeminacy, and reproba- The men are less agreeable than ted as demanding a culpable waste their wives, and generally less of our most precious time, while amiable. The Austrian women their close amputation is deemed speak with nearly equal facility both manly and commodious.-all the European languages; and Fashion has power to influence French is peculiarly delightful in our ideas of graceful proportions; their mouths. They have much it elongates or contracts the form less influence in the world and in of the leg in one sex, and of the society than the French women, waist in the other. It diverts de- but happiness does not depend upcency to excite a blush, at being on exterior. Family love and detected without any other head tranquillity of mind never tire, and dress than that ordained by na- these alone are what they appreture; and it is also able to sup-ciate. The German girls have press the blush of female delicacy, at exposures which scarcely leave any room for the exercise of the most licentious imagination.

Thus does fashion powerfully, expeditiously,and absurdly, change both our opinions and our affections, according to the dictates of the most wanton caprice!

SKETCH

OF THE FEMALE CHARACTER IN

AUSTRIA.

THE Austrian women in their simplicity and good nature have a charm that is peculiar to them; a mild sound of voice, an air of candor and goodness, flaxen hair,

much more liberty than the French; this liberty, which they never abuse, gives them a greater knowledge of the world. It is to be remarked that, in general, women in Germany have a marked superiority over the men in society. It is astonishing how little agreeable men, and even clever men, are in conversation; neither their ideas, nor their choice of expression can convey a conception of what they are capable of in silence, solitude, and meditation. The most distinguished men are so little in the habit of conversing, that without women there would be no society.

M. Marcel de Serre.