292 ISLES OF SUMMER. 
. 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 éite 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 entrée 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- 
