The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-01-31 00:00:00

A BALL AT THE ELYSEE.

A Irenel Correspondent of Ti,, Times thus describes
(sent over by telegraph) a Bail given at the Effete on
Monday eight :

The-re w-as a Court Ball given last night. The yard
of the Palace of the Dyseos, the streets, and the avenues
which aurround it presented the moat picturesque and
unexpected appearance. The line of carriages pra-
ceeding to the Palace commenced on one ride at the
upper partof the Champs EtysEe, passed along the lateral
avenues of the Elyses and tle Avenue Gabrielle, and
on the other side extended from tee Avenue
Gabrielle on the side of tbe Place de la Concorde,
which it surrounded, extending as far as the Bridge,
and only terminated at the railing of the Palace of the
Cores Legislatic Scruens.de rifle on fo,t and Gardee-
de-Paris on horeeback kept watch over the vast space
extending from the upper part of the Champs
Elyrs ta the Boulevard Malesherbes, and from the
Church of the Madeleine as far as the Paige of the
Corps Legielstf. Persors provided with tiekets which
pave them permission to pees t -trough the row of car-
riages were comt mtly stopped by sergens-de•ville, who-
made them ehow their credentials. The Elyse was lit
up a giorno, and a dense but quiet crawd had gathsred
along the four facades of the Palace. In passing in
front of the carriagte as they drew up to take their
place in the queue one could see the gaily-coloured ball
dreaste and anxious looks of the ladies, who in come of
the carriages had been waiting for two hours, and
who still remained in the midst of the Place del la
Concorde. On approaching the Palace the coup do ii
became more striking. Many of the ladies, naving
lost all patience, had left their csrriager in the
midst of the Champs Ely sees or the neighbouring
streets, and were seen bareheaded, with fi iwera
aid genie In their hair, thin satin slippere, and
light acarfs over their bare shoniclirs, nervously lifting
the skirts of their white dresses and running along the
wet street in order to reach on foot the doors of the
Elysee, anxious alike to eiscape from the bitter cold
and the prying glancea of the crowd. From time to
time there was a cry heard when one of these ladies
saw a carriage draw up and close the entrance against
throe arriving on foot.

In the interior of the court the scene was vnique.
In spite of the slowness with which the carriages
seemed to advance, great numbers entered by the
Avenue de l'Elyeee, and followed each other continu-
ously. The sergens-de-vil'e, who had taken or their
places along the marquee which had been erected
in the court, admitted four or Sine carriages
at a time, which tilled the eemicircular space in
* interior of the courtyard under the flight of
steps, where they discharged the persons they
bad brought. In this way forty persons a minute
were enabled to leave their carriages while those sr.
riving intention& ly on foot poured in by the great
entrance which opens into the Faubourg Si. Honord
Above the flight of steps and under the peristyle a
strict examination was made to aeoertain the identity
of the persons provided with cards. This scrutiny
was so strict, and it was CO difficult afterwards to reach
the dressing nom, that not more than ten persons
a minute could enter, while in the same space of
time 60 were arriving. As the guests left their
carriages they rudied up the steps, where they
waited their turn. The staircase then presented a
most extraordinary scene. The enormous, closely. packed
crowd had a motley and strange appearance in the glare
id the thousands of lamps which lighted up the court.
From below the staircase one could see crests and
helmets, flowers and precious stones sway and glitter-
ing in the light. From time to time an officer's
spur would get entangled in a lady's dress, and
make her scream as it tore out a shred. While
those at the top of the steps were pushing back
the mush from below, thole who were only
approaching took refuge in the crowd as a protection
against the chill of the night air. Under the great
marquee, which was bung with old tapestry and fur.
noshed with velvet seats, ladies who had left their
carriages without the protection of cloaks or pelisses
shivered on the arms of the gentlemen who accom-
panied them. The sergens, executing their duty to the
latter, prevented the fix4men who brought furs from
remaining with their masters.

The invading crowd increaeed as the night advanced,
while the cold was getting at the same time more in-
tense. Many ladies, abandoning all hope of finding
WillAPSioll in time. attempted to get back to their
own houses without having seen the ball. But the
carriages were drawn up at such a distan m that in
many cases it took an hoar to get at tt em and
the ladies bad, iii Consequence, as much dfffieully In
leaving on foot as they tad in entering. Lat,, at
night It was certain that if the orders were not with.
drawn and the strict regulations were continued, it
wool! not be till two or three o'cloLk in the morning
that some of the guests would be able to get admix.
non. But as the appearance of the court, thus unex-
pectedly cdiverted into a sort of drawing-room, in
which ball dresses' decorations' uniforms, and black
dresses were mingled, afforded a curious spectacle,
those even who did not find admission had some cows.
pensation for their efforts and long waiting. A great
crowd is one of the conditions of a successful ceremony,
and in this respect, in brilliancy, and In animation it
may be said that no fae has surpassed that in which the
gue-its the President of the French Republic involun.
tarily took part.