FRENCH BALL CONVERSATION.
During the French revolution, parties danced as gaily as ever; the following is a ball conversation, which took place in the month of Frimare, year 7.:—Well, the Ottoman Porte has declared war against us! Oh yes, there is no doubt of it, (En avant deux) It is an enemy the more—(chassez) and the Russian fleet they say has passed the Dardanelles, (en avant quatre) yet the papers say that the emperor sincerely desires peace.—Yes, but Count Metternich wishes for war, (balancez) so we have also a new coalition against us. England, Portugal, Naples, Turkey, the Emperor, Russia, perhaps the empire of Prussia, (Faites face et chassez tous les huit)—well we have bayonettes, (la poussette) besides it is not so far from Dover to Calais, (traversez)—Do you belong to the conscription?—Yes, and I too; (pirouettez) what makes me uneasy is to know what will become of our partners when we are gone: (La chaine des dames)—what will be left to amuse them (La queu du chat.) It was thus that days of terror were preceded by evenings of amusement and pleasure.