3-052-817 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Fancy Dress Ball, 1880. 'Julia to her Bosom Friend Isabel. You cruel dear! How can you treat me so? When we left school you promised me, you know, As clasped in tight embrace we sobbed farewell, That all your daily doings you would tell; And now almost a week has passed away, Since last you wrote. Have you, then, naught to say? Nothing of that young officer to tell, Who dance so often with you, and so well? Ah, dearest Bella! How I envied you, as round, with him, on music's wings you flew! A real ball! - unlike our school-day dances, Where girl to girl now sets and now advances, so primly staid, so orderly, and slow, Mid cries of "Shoulders down!" and "Point the toe!"...' From "Illustrated London News" Christmas number, 1880.