The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-03-03 00:00:00

THE FANCY DRESS BALL.

Rapid progress was being made during the whole of
yesterday for to-night's ball. The whole of the flooring of
the hall has been laid down by the contractors, Messrs.
Xilpin and Montgomery ; and although the effect can
scarcely be said to add to the beauty of the hall, still the
apparent additional space. which it spreads before the eye,
makes the arrangement especially suitable for its purpose.
In the vacant niches, and on the pedestals around the
hall, will be placed vases of rare and costly exotics, supplied
partly from the Botanic Gardens, and partly from the
conservatory of Messrs. tskirving. In the northern vesti-
bule, where the company are to enter, will also be placed
vases of similar exotics in the front of each pillar, and a large
stand of flowers in the centre. The floor of this vestibule,
the entrance approaching it, and the staircase flights on
either side, are covered with cloth ; this and other portions
of the fiitings of a similar kind being supplied from the
establishment of Messrs. Jeffery, Morrish and Co., of
Compton House. The company entering at the northern
vestibule will pass by the lefthand side round the corridor
and into the hall. In the hall itself, but little additional
decoration will be required, or could be supplied to its own
rich and lavish ornamentation. The organ and its gallery
are, however, now made completa in all external arrange-
ments ; and the effect of this portion of the building is very
much heightened by the addition of a graceful figure of
Euterpe, executed by Mr. Nicholls, the artist of the pedi-
ments in the hall, surmounting the organ. The supper
tables in the Civil and Crown Courts are laid out in a semi-
circular form, running round that side of each court which
adjoins the hall. To avoid confusion, arrangements are made,
that the company entering each sapper room by the flight
of steps leading up from either end of the hall, shall not
return again by the same approach, but passing
round each court, shall go out at its ordinary
entrance into the corridor, and enter the hall
by one of the side doors. An arrangement of a similar
kind has been made in the concert room up stairs, where
sapper is also to be laid, and here, too, the confusion of
crowds endeavouring to come in and out by the same
entrance, will be obviated. A semi-circle of supper tables
is laid out in this room, a great portion of the seats
having been removed for the purpose. In tke centre of the
room a considerable space is left altogether open. This
room will also be decorated with flower vases. The
refreshments, we have already mentioned, are to be sup
plied by Mr. Anderson, of the Merchants' Dining Rooms.
The evergreens and flower stands, which are to adorn the
tables, will be supplied by Mrs. Emett, of 90, Upper
Stanhope-street. The galleries of the hall will be fitted
with cushions, for the accommodation of those who may
choose to leave the moving crowd below, for the purpose of
obtaining a quiet survey or the general effect. It is scarcely
possible that any expectation can overrate the varied brilli-
ancy of the sight which will be had from these galleries, when
nearly three thousand figures in every variety of bizarre
and fantastic costume, will be seen moving through a hall,
whose proportions and gorgeous ornament have no rival
in England. It may be hoped, too, that with so many
outlets as the arrangements of the hall, supper rooms, and
corridors allow. there will not be at any time so dense a
throng gathered in the great hall, as to prevent the enjoy-
ment of dancing and of moving from place to place, without
which, few could:either take pleasure in the entertainment
or appreciate its effect.