392 ISLES OF SUMMEE. 



desire to cultivate the acquaintance, and stand or kneel on the 

 same social platform with her majesty's Bahama representative, 

 with his then reputed wealthy and very popular official secre- 

 tary, with the brand new "lord" bishop, with his excellency's 

 counsellors, with the venerable and very dignified members of 

 the Bahama house of lords, with the honorable speaker of the 

 lower house of the Bahama parliament, and with the few un- 

 titled gentry composing the elite of the town. It was perfectly 

 natural that some of the more enterprising and ambitious should 

 use all their arts, and every attractive and alluring blandishment, 

 together with full and free libations of expensive wines, and other 

 stronger, and, to some, more attractive beverages, in order to 

 accomplish a result so much desired and coveted. It is true that 

 the blood of a portion of the ''gentry" is said not to be perfectly 

 pure, but it is difficult in some cases of mixture to accurately 

 draw the color line, and it is wise to ignore it, and ask no ques- 

 tions of one's partner in the voluptuous waltz, which might result 

 in banishing the inquisitor from high-toned society. It is at 

 times injudicious to scrutinize closely hair that appears straight 

 or nearly so. One lady was quoted as saying that she preferred 

 Nassau to London, because it is not so difficult in the former to 

 gain admittance into good society, and move in its best circles. 



To the few and favored strangers who have the entree of the 

 homes of the leaders of Nassau society, we have no doubt the 

 social sky glows with a fervid and impassioned warmth unknown 

 to colder climates, and sparkles with a fascinating brilliancy like 

 the neighboring phosphorescent waters in the moonlight. Pas- 

 sions are more fervid in the warm latitudes; love is more ardent, 

 friendship more demonstrative, and hospitality more liberal, open- 

 hearted, kind, and assiduous to please. The islanders have 

 established an enviable reputation for the agreeable and polite 

 attentions which they bestowed in the past upon strangers so- 



