Social Gatherings

It would bo iv curious and interesting subject of investigutiuii, could wc trace how fut the dasiie i'or social cujoj'inont is satisfied, and its antioipations roalized, by the various appÜánoai usod to produce it. It would ccrtaiiily appoar that tlio pleasurc thus sought is uot found iu proportion to tho degreo ut' trouble, time uud expenso lavishod upon tho oomplicated cöbrts so frequently usod to attain it. Most of thoso who havo frequented, for a few s'iisdi, the largo asseinblies aud foshionable parties so mach relied upon to produce .social intercourso, aro ready to adinit that their resulta in enhancing social happinese re very siuhII. Theantipatifaw.s hayi! Uamu bright and the. p'-paratious elabo'.to, but in soma mysterious way, as tht ezoitement wbich thoy at íirst produce subsides, insipidity ■ to creep over them, aud wearuiess follows tho gratification expected. Ho froqurntly is tbifl tlit! case, and so coiumonly is it admittjd, that other and entiroly diffjroM picas are put ia i'or their continuauce. To preservo coi n ctions, to oxtend business, to obtain inñuence, or to furthor matrimonial Bebemos and establishments, are oftcn tho real motive for EÍViiii and attondiiig orowded assemblies, from which the interest and excitoment baye all did out. Social organizations, like many otljers, do not grow with the growth of humanity, and, thcreforc, though at tirst meeting a real want, and suppiying a real need, thcy at last become inoperative aud defüat tftSW own ends ; while persons clinging to the old forins, and yct feeling thoir inutility for their origiiutl purpose, try to make them conucive to cntiruly ditfurunt objocts. The (riniary onds of &11 sooiol gaweriagB are to iucriaso liuinan sympathy and to bring persons together in social interconi-se, but where they prove by their failurc that thcy ned reorganisation, we are apt to forgei their spirit in thoir i'orms, and to incteage their cuubrous appliances with far different ends in view. This disappointment as to social onjoyinoTit is usually found to ensiu! íti píoportion tS.the artificiality of tho mtthods by which it is sought. Fleaenre of all kinds is somewhat shy of direct pursuit, and the higher the nature of tho enjoyment tho Iets dependent it is upon iictitious accessories. Thoro are a fow etornal necessities to perfect social intercourse, but theto aro so simple and easily obtained, that people canuot believu that they are sufficient.