157 



I hope this crumb may be some consolation to Chowringhee in her 

 distress. May it soon be in my power to offer other crumbs. It mav 

 be so if I overheard aright the whispers about the next Ball which are 

 growing more audible. It seems the only difficulty is the selection of a 

 suitable anniversary to commemorate. I suggest either the 21st June, 

 or 3rd July, or both ! The former is the longest day. Let us add to 

 its honour by making it the longest night. On the latter the dog days 

 begin. Days for what ? for the dogs to dance of course. To quote a 

 local poet : " For every doggie he has his day on which to begin to 

 dance." And let the 3rd of July be ours — Salaam jee ! 



F. GOLIGHTLY. 



MIDSUMMER MADNESS. 



Balls, Paper-chases, Polo-matches, commemorative dinners. 

 Scene— Calcutta. Dramatis Personas — Enervated Anglo-Indians. 

 Time — May-June. Quite enough to take away one's breath. What a 

 change has come o'er the spirit of the scene I What an awakening 

 is here ! Where the listlessness and the torpor of the past ? Fled, 

 fled to the hills and far away. May it please our sweet cousins who 

 have migrated to Simla to meditate that in our madness (save the 

 mark) we cannot only exist in the plains, but be happy even in 

 midsummer ! 



The Ball, really the viost delioJitful of the year as I have over and 

 over again been assured — 



Ye gods ! How sweetly gossip falls 



From lips of beauties — after balls. 



Is now a thing of the past, 



So I speak not of that. 



The music stopped, the lights expired, 



The dance is o'er, crowds retired. 



And all those smiling cheeks have flown. 



And, to interpolate " a little thing of my own" (as the Parish Clerk 

 remarked when he gave out a hymn of his own composition). " Police- 

 man Roche is left alone !" 



A commemorative dinner is as secret and mysterious as the rites 

 of Freemasons and Mormons, so I cannot speak of that knowing only :— 



That Eton's sons are there to-night, 

 And Lord how great would be their mirth, 

 If fate would lift them from the earth 

 And set them all with magic jump. 

 Squat down beside the Brocas Clump. 



