The reels now performed were done in better style than those described, as they fell to practised hands and feet; and this was the accompanying etiquette. Two young men presented themselves before the young women of their predilection, made their best bows, and handed them out on the floor. There was no such thing fashionable among our vigorous-natured boys and girls as engagements for third or thirteenth set, and seldom a refusal given to an application. This reel having concluded, the young men sat down, or stood by, and the young women, dropping courtesies to two other cavaliers, reel No. 2 was executed. And thus the dances succeeded each other, the elect of every dance being the electors in the succeeding one, and the fiddler receiving the salutation addressed to the master in the beginning of the evening. This portion of the entertainment was always a period of great enjoyment, but was succeeded by an exercise of greater excitement still, originally invented by a fiddler fond of pennies, and acquainted with the results of rival feelings, either in gamecocks or in young country fellows, when they feel the eyes of their sweethearts resting on them. The two male performers in possession of the floor, when selecting partners for the first reel, under the new system, threw two halfpence into the fiddler's hat, carried round by Tench, or a substitute; and one of them shouting out "Hurroo for Coolbawn," if that was his own residence, or his sweetheart's, away went the lively reel. It was not allowed to go on very long when another aspirant, pitching his halfpenny into the treasury, cried "Stop the music." The strains became dumb, as by magic, and continued so till they were awaked by the dropping of another halfpenny into the hat, and a cry raised by one of the two new men, perhaps for the girls of Knockmore, or Dranagh, or Gurrawn. It was the privilege of the men to call for their favourite tune at the commencement of the reel, and their choice was consequent on a whispered consultation with their partners. They danced with the more vigour and enjoyment as they did not know the moment when a boy from Cnoc-na Gour would take it into his head to exalt the belle or belles of that locality, and, by dropping a halfpenny into the hat, stop the music and the enjoyment of the present party at once. in all human transactions, was not Jobbing, that unpleasant ingredient absent from our mirthful gathering. When the fiddler found the cries for arresting the music waxing weak, a young fellow, furnished with money for the purpose, would make the necessary motion, and, with a "stop music," and a hurroo for Clonroche, or Coolroe, and the sky over it, induce a slight rush in the shower of copper. business there was considerable comDuring this part of the evening's motion and bustle, similar-in a milder and healthier state-to what is felt The rival youths may be supposed at a horse race, or a boxing match. anxious not to lose ground in the esfelt right jealous of their neighbours' timation of their loves; townlands eminence; and the girls hurrooed for or townland, deeply sympathised with in connexion with this or that village the young men who championed these sorbing sport were scarcely less exlocalities. The assistants at the abcited than the performers. They were in the same category as the betters race-ground. on a favourite horse at Ballyheoge years, lead to a fight, but we can re- Kehoe had some words at the fair Henrick and Bill Clere boxed it out and the girls whose homes lay there, through his stock performances, of which we give some of the names-the triple hornpipes being slower in movement than the double, and those again slower than the single. Single.-"The Leg of Mutton," "Kate and Davy," "Garran Bui." Double.-"Planxty Carroll," "Shan Bui," "Little House under the Hill," "Tatter Jack Walsh," ""Haste to the Wedding," "Trip to the Cottage," "Unfortunate Rake," "Paddy O'Carroll." 66 79.66 Triple.-"Flowers of Edinboro'," "Cuckoo's Nest," Spenser's Hornpipe," and "First of May." "Moll Roe," ," "Miners of Wicklow," "Larry Grogan," "Shan Bui," and "Donnybrook Fair," were of a miscellaneous character. The young men who executed these hornpipes were generally selected by Mr. Tench from among his best expupils. They served the purpose of desirable models to those under training, and raised ambition in the breasts of those whose courage had not reached the point of sacrificing nineteen pence halfpenny, Irish, on the altar of renown. Popular dancers, even though untrained by the master, would at times be called forward and obliged to perform, willingly enough for the most part. Tench, however politely he might act on such occasions, did not like this arrangement, but he knew that opposition would be useless and tend to make him unpopular. Very great and eager was the excitement produced among the spectators by these exhibitions of individual skill and strength. Besides the natural sympathy roused in the nervous system of every spectator, not thoroughly callous or indifferent, by witnessing rapid and harmonious motions, every one had his own little world of fautorers-townsfolk, relatives, or perhaps a lover, whose muscles thrilled to every bound, and spring, and rapid beat, and flourish he executed. All this was fully evident to the dancer, either in the low murmur or loud "Hurroo for Pat. Martin," or the social electricity with which the atmosphere of the room was charged, and added suppleness and vigour to his much-tasked powers. A feeling of absolute fatigue, and the sense of what was due to the other high scholars in art, were his warning to desist. The acme of perfection in this exercise was the bearing of a pot of beer in the right hand, unspilled, during the performance. Those who wish to look on the mere ludicrous features of rustic dance-academies, may be safely referred to Carleton's inimitable sketch of Mr. Buckram Back, and his instructions in politeness, and the contention of his pupils with those of a rival establishment; and how one party, being greatly assisted by a certain post in correctly executing their figures, the other party, taking a shabby advantage of them, got it removed; and how the absence of this trusty fingerpost threw confusion and unsteadiness among their ranks, even to the loss of the great trialmatch. Unhappily, nothing of the kind took place in our neighbourhood. The Carrolls of the Duffrey, would not cross the Dranagh stream in a S.W., nor Tench in a N.E. direction, nor ever meet at fair or pattern; but it was not so with their pupils. When the gathering was within a reasonable distance at each side of the boundary say Knockmore, or Clohayden, or Kaim, or Mangan-some dancers in repute from the other side of the stream would be present, and at the hornpipe hour would be politely invited to mount table or unhinged door. No discouragement whatever would be experienced by the foreigners. If an artist used one leg only in certain steps, and did not variate by the indifferent use of both, he might hear some ungracious murmurs-that was all. When once the performances were over, and the parties returning home, probably by the light of fangles, the most unreserved criticism felt itself at full liberty to exercise its rights. At last it began to be felt, that quite enough of the floor and of the evening had been given up to the * Fangles (French, fanal) were long irregular cones of straw, tied at short intervals with twigs or slight straw bands. Being set on fire at the broader end they burned slowly, and were very useful in dark nights where the way led by field-paths. If the distance was great, two or more fangles were provided. young men, and by general acclamation, petticoatees and coatylongs (cotillons) were introduced, and walked and postured through to the air of the 'Jackson Family," &c., &c., &c. Probably the farmer's wife and a near neighbour or two, and their husbands, were the earliest performers in these old-fashioned measures. They were the ghosts of the courtly minuets, and did impose a trifle of awe on the young girls and boys by the slow movements, the bows, and courtesies, the holding out of the petticoats or gowns, so as to make them present the hooped articles of last century, the formal touching of hands, and the haughty turning away. All this would have answered the men's tired state, but the girls soon wearied of the constrained motions, and the general slowness of the business, and gave their entire assent to the formation of the two rows of boys and girls, indispensable to the country-dance. The spirited couples had little room, were obliged to mind their steps and figures, were sure of being railed at if they committed blunders, and besides tedium has little power in a crowd not too crowded, when music is giving forth its harmony, and this harmony is given back by sprightly clattering of feet. Besides, if the row was rather long, the pair left at the head would start off when their leaders were one-third or onehalf down the line; and thus the music would inspire the legs, and arms, and heads of two or three loving quaternions at once. Country-dances were suitable as a closing to the labour and relaxation of the night, as they afforded an opportunity for several couples being on the floor at the same time. But we are obliged to reserve notice of the country dances, long dances, May boys, mummers, and other matters connected with our subject, till next month. ALASTOR AND EOLA. Eola, dear one, cease thy fears, Above the restless sea. My heart in this rich silence hears A whisper tremblingly "Love's bark alone true spirits bears, Love is the pilot lone who steers Through yon eternity." The star that bears us on to-night, FRONTING the west stretched a wild and beautiful coast, bathed in the mild and mellow lustre of a September evening, which, mirroring its gold and crimson light and long line of gorgeous clouds on the smooth expanse of the tranquilly undulating ocean, shed its level rays on a line of white cliffs which rose from the sands, on one of which a turreted castle cast its shadow over the pleasant gardens, with their wall of ancient trees, their flower-beds, arbours, and fountain; and streaming away over green upland and meadow, dotted with kine, illuminated the yellow distant woods, and remote ranges of amethyst-coloured mountains, ridging the horizon with a smile, faint, beautiful, and peaceful, which seemed less that of the waking, than of the dreaming day. The ivy - trellised casement of a spacious chamber in the castle, fronting the west, was open to the light and soft sea-wind, which, fluttering the pages of a volume which Alastor held in his hand, at moments gently stirred the tresses of Eola, who resting by a harp, had been half unconsciously evoking a fanciful voluntary from its strings, as she gazed toward the sunset, whose light congenialized with a small jewel on her brow, and still more with her radiant meditative eyes. For some time the lovers had been lost in silent reverie, half the result of the book they had been perusing, half the impression of the exquisite eventide scene. At length Eola, aroused from dreamy pensiveness by a sudden sense of harmony between her soul, the hour, and prospect, murmured, "Come, let us sing the sun to sleep, he has just touched the ocean, and our final song this evening shall last just so long as he appears. Surely, if light could have a voice, it would be music." Without replying, Alastor approaching, fondly seated himself beside her, and both looking on the heavens, from which the minstrel took her inspiration, amid the deep stillness, she reflected in sound the varied aspects and slowly deepening changes of the departing day. Grand, ample, and sonorous, the first strains realized to the imagination the idea of space, as they died off slowly, as through infinite distance; then came a gorgeous tumult of sound, mounting and streaming away, like the piles and surges of purple vapours, golden tinged, which hung across the level semicircle of the sea; then a globe of tone magnificent, but decreasing with solemn majesty, imaged the sinking orb, after which, for a time, the strings of the harp, sympathetically saddened, seemed in their wide and solemn, but regulated undulations of harmony, to express the endless vibrations of the spacious darkening waters. Lastly, after the strain had sustained itself for a space, melancholy and monotonous, it suddenly became jubilant, exalted, soft as love, brilliant as light; and Alastor glancing at the twilight star which rose sparkling above the departed sun, and glad dening the deep blue and dim waste of ocean with a line of exultant light, recognised its reflected splendour in the change of the music; and as it swept to its close, in tones of sustained and elevated melody, the re alization of the idea which Eola sought to express-that of the hope of immortality, triumphant over darkness and over death. When she had ceased, both approaching, reclined in the casement. Around them the ivy leaves tinged with reflections of the diamond lighted star and lemon-coloured sunset space trembled, as though in answer to the whisper of invisible sea fays floating on the airs; the long foamless waves broke upon the sands beneath, and from time to time a sea-bird, returning to its nest, hovered above the cliffs with wings flashing light in the lustre of the moon, which rose slowly over the inland. Alastor held Eola's hand; their hearts beat in harmony, as, gazing on the fronting space, he said: "Certainly, no aspect of nature impresses the mind so strongly with ideas of life, death, and futurity, as a sunless evening sea. The vast expanse, with its endless succession of waves, resembling time; these dim clouds are like the tomb of a being vanished from the earth, passed to the unknown; yonder star, like an Eden of futurity. Oh, who, dear Eola, who has felt the ineffable delight of love and imagination and thought-who, that has lived in the heaven of the heart and brain, can have a doubt of immortality. Yes; surely as the old writer says, there is a piece of divinity within us, something that was before the heavens, and owes no homage to the sun. Frequently I have scepticised on the future; but, ah! when the heart deeply loves, how impossible is it to entertain the idea of extinction. It is the emotion of love indeed, still more than even the possession of intellectual gifts, which testifies to the certainty of immortality, whose doctrine, promulgated by Christ, derived its power and truth from his life, which was one of love and sacrifice for man. A pause ensued, during which Eola prayed, and Alastor silently reflected. After a little, during which she had drawn near to him, with a bright smile on her face, she asked what he considered the object of Life, and its beauidéal; to which he replied "The beau-idéal of life is that of constantly approximating to perfection, by means of Culture, by a harmonious education of the feelings and faculties for purposes of production and happi ness here and just according to the power and perfection of being which we attain here, will be the rank taken by our souls, in the next conscious state beyond the tomb. Possessed of soul and will, of force and faculty, while sympathizing humanely with all things human, never let us forget that, gifted with a self-developing, self-controlling, immaterial element, eternal in its essence, we may yet attain to the felicity and power of ministering deities in the endless future, amid yonder infinite spheres of life, which are the heritage and domain of everlasting spirits. In this life-our first awaking into conscious being the sense of death frequently saddens us; but after the first experience of the great change-one which, judging from the progressive laws by which creation is regulated, will exalt us into a superior state of being, amplified by the addition, perhaps, of other senses and faculties; the termination of all future phases of temporary existence will be regarded without awe; existence, with its changes, will appear but as days of endless life, in which the change from one state to another will not only be regarded with no more apprehension than the sleep which follows our waking day, but experience will attach to it a still increasing delight and glorified anticipation, as the past testifies to each change being one from a lower to a superior condition of existence. While here, to love, to observe, to think, to imagine, is really to live, and the more fully we grasp and experience this life, will be our delight in its reminiscence, when transmuted to other spheres." After adding that this world is a manifestation of the mind of deity, whose creation is various as infinitethe conversation turned on the aspects of nature, and a project they entertained of travelling during the winter months, through Italy and Egypt— countries equally stimulating to the mind, from their physical character and history. The anticipation of new scenes, and their associations, agreeably whiled the hours until midnight, and the lovers resolved to set out for the continent in a few days. Alastor was a young thinker and philosopher. Living long in his intellect, it was only since he had felt the inspiration of love he became conscious that heretofore he had partaken but in part of the revelation of life. BURGUNDY. ALASTOR and Eola travelled Northern France rapidly, on their way to Italy. Now they passed through the chalky fields of Champagne, along roads sparsely lined and dialled by pale poplars, now over the rich vineyard-covered undulations of joyous Burgundy. Stopping for a brief space at Cluny, where they were anxious to inspect the famous monastery, beneath whose portal, in the Middle Ages, Raymond's steel-clad army of Crusaders marshalled, bannered and shielded, to receive the benediction of the Church before pursuing march and voyage to the wars of the Cross in Palestine. One evening, while the sun in the purple west shed its richest glories over the rivers and woods, the towns, castles, and villages of the land of the vine, they approached the monastery-an immense building, on a height, above whose innumerable chambered walls old ivied turrets looked far and wide over the circuit of jocund harvestplain and upland. Having ascended the steep old ave VOL. LXII.-NO. CCCLXX. nue, lined and roofed with aged beech and chestnut, with pleasant gardens on either side, they arrived at the huge open portal, where they were met by the Abbot a portly figure, with all the amenity of the land of grapes and pretty women beaming in his jovial Jovian countenance. "Enter," he said, bending aside to let them pass through the vine-shadowed vestibule; and they passed into the large hall, floored with glossy oak, by walls and doors adorned with stags' horns, and by which were ranged great tables, on one of which a repast, with cold meats and many tankards, was spread. The red light of evening streamed through the high casements, across the harvest landscape it brightened, and from which it seemed to gather a sweeter joy, touching the gray stone walls with a golden halo, ere sinking behind the poplar rows and roofs of the little town of Cluny, breathing in bright, peaceful, twilight calm on a distant slope. 30 |