THE LA-LOOP. 83 



small begged for it in preference to all else, and 

 a morsel for a "la-loop" would make its possessor 

 happy for the day. What on earth is a la-loop ? I 

 hear the reader ask. Know, then, that this source of 

 delight consisted of a fragment of leaf tobacco which 

 enveloped the scrap of sugar before-mentioned, and 

 was placed carefully in the cheek, where it remained 

 undisturbedly dispensing its liquid medley of sweet 

 and bitter to the infinite content of its consumer. 

 Many a brow of cloudy aspect have I smoothed and 

 rendered smiling and serene by a well-timed application 

 of this little luxury. 



In the evening a masquerade was arranged for the 

 amusement of our visitors, some of whom, become 

 familiar with the fmi, took an active share in the 

 festivities ; of these were Omdooyah and his dame, 

 Inopincha, the lady who munched the candle, and 

 another person whose real name I quite forget, for 

 we never called him by it ; we knew him only as the 

 Tchouski dandy. 



I suppose it is an inevitable provision of all 

 societies that some few among their components are 

 doomed to act the popinjay, and seek to be esteemed 

 by their outward show. The votary of Bond-street, 

 the petit-mattre of the Boulevards, were here fitly 

 represented by our Tuski friend; his dress was 



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