The Sun.
London, England, 1867-09-26 00:00:00

711 E VOLUNTEER BALL.

This ball, which took place last night, was in
most respects one of the most brilliant and magnifi-
cent fetes of the kind which have ever been cele-
brated in London, or, indeed, in England. In splen- '
dour of decorations it threw into shade even the re-
nowned fete given to the Belgians, or the more
selectly filled, though far less lavishly decorated, ball-
room improvised at the India-office for the enter-
tainment of the Sultan. Till last night many years
had elapsed since a great national Volunteer ball had
been held in London—indeed, none of any magni-
tude have taken place since that in the Floral-hall,
which, as the first of its kind, was attended by thou-
sands. Brilliant as that fete was in its general sur-
roundings and bright effect, it fell short of the splen-
dour of the mere ball-room last night, and it wanted
nothing but the attendance of numbers to have made
the scene perfect. Perhaps for the season there were
not less than might have been expected, though
there were certainly very much less than Could have
been desired to make the scene of revelry complete
in all its aspects. Not more than about 2,500 visi-
tors were present, and of this number only about
500 were Volunteers. This for a building which
can accommodate at a concert nearly 18,000 lis-
teners, and has actually, at the Belgian ball, given
space for more than 10,000, made the interior look
by comparison with such great gatherings very
scantily filled. What was wanted, however, in
crowded numbers was amply made up by the in -
creased room left for dancing and promenading, and
thus the whole affair became w hat such great public fes-
tivities very seldom are— a real ball, where ladies could
see and be seen, and where there was room for al
without crowding or inconvenience. Whether such
a pleasant result would have been attained 'had the
entertainment been given at a proper period of the
season is very much to be doubted. In fact, the
mere holding of a Volunteer ball at this the dullest
period of one of the very dullest autumns known in
London for years past implies no ordinary amount
of confidence in the attractions of the hall itself to
overcome all obstacles as to time or season. It is
never quite safe., however, to ignore these drawbacks
to great success. People who have left town and
look to being up to their chins in the sea each day
will not leave Hastings or Worthing, Scarborough
or Brighton, to come up to a metropolitan Volunteer
ball, which may be exceedingly attractive in its
proper season, but will hardly " draw" well at any
but the proper time. , Of the surpassing beauty of
the hall as decorated last night by Messrs. D,lries
it would be difficult to speak too highly. It was
little better than a barn when they got it, and they
leave it little less than a palace. The architectural
features of the building itself admitted of lavish
decoration, and all that could be effected by admir-
able taste backed by profuse expenditure of money
has been carried out by them. On the night of the
Belgian ball nearly £5,000, it is stated, had been
spent on the decorations of the ball alone, the greater
part of which, consisting of rows of lofty mirrors
and massive chandeliers, is, of course, removable.
Since then nearly £3,000 more has been expended
in giving the finishing touches to prepare for last
night's fete, and the effect thus ultimately produced
was not only perfect of its kind, but really such as
has never before been seen in London. One would
require the power of writing chromatically, as well
as in form and outline, to convey an adequate idea
of the wonderful brilliancy of last night's scene
as it appeared before the dancing began. The side
walks beneath the galleries were spanned at inter-
vals by ample rows of coloured lights, very similar
to, but much more brilliant in effect than, the old
broad walk in Vauxhall Gardens. The walls were
tastefully draped with muslin, entwined with wreaths
of artificial flowers, and at frequent intervals large
mirrors, surrounded at their base with ferns and
groups of flowering plants, varied the long vista in
the most charming manner. Some of these mirrors
were lit with jets of gas in front, giving a double
reflection to their rays. At other points they were
left unlighted, little fountains playing over the
flowers at their base, giving a cool and pleasant
aspect to these little nooks of verdure. The main
hall itself was, of course, the great centre of decora-
tion, and attraction also. This was a perfect blaze
of light. From all points of the iron arches of the
roof hung long lines of the most beautiful chan-
deliers—the centre being occupied by one which is,
probably, the largest ever built, and this, filled up
with emblazonments in coloured cut glass, shone
like chains of gems in a brilliant setting. In front
of the balustrade of the galleries running round the
hall were a series of artistic panels in coloured glass.
These represented the arms and regalia of all the
chief countries in the world, and when lighted from
behind their bright and varied tints shone out with
great effect. It was at the southern end of the hall,
however, facing the dais, that the greatest effect was
displayed. Here, on a large sloped base, constructed
of turf, beautiful exotics were planted around and
between rows of cut glass crystal fountains. The
combination of the bright crystal with the leaves of
the palms and ferns and flowers was very fine, and
was enhanced to the utmost at one time by the reflec-
tion of lime lights thrown upon it from above, and
these by passing through glass discs of different
colours, alternately blue, white, orange, and violet,
gave incessant play of tints and beauty to the whole
parterre. At the north end of the hall was a
raised dais, the same regal canopy that was used on
the occasion of the Belgian Ball. This time, how-
ever, the high raised amphitheatre on either side of
it was filled in with a collection of exotics, inter-
mixed with arches and festoons of coloured lights,
and above these were little balls of fire, which ever
changing their hues, though neither fireworks nor
illuminations in the common acceptation of the
latter term, partook largely of the nature of both, '
and were very beautiful. Banners and flags streamed
from every part of the roof of the interior. Along
the main column of the central hall lay figures clad
in armour were placed. These had been lent from
the Tower, and illustrated almost every fashion, if
we may so term it, in the art of armour-plating
human beings—from the open morion cuirass and
greaves up to the cap-a-pie suits, when the closed
vizor left nothing whatever but steel visible about
the man who wore it. Those figures were very effec-
tive, though, as was not unnatural, they perhaps
attracted in such a scene less notice than they really
deserved, far some of the suits of armour were as
quaint in form as they showed wonderful skill in
workmanship. At the entrance where the Lord
Mayor was to be received two equestrian figures,
both horse and man being in complete armour, were
placed on either side of the door. Over the main
entrance inside the building through which the visi-
, tors passed was a beautiful arched screen of crystal
glass, lit with coloured lamps from behind, and the
effect of this was very striking. Such, in brief
terms, which arc far from doing adequate justice to
the brightness of the scene, was the aspect pre-
sented to the visitors to the ball last night. When
to these particulars we add the accessories of per-
fumed fountains, crowds of bright uniforms, the
richness of ladies' dresses, and the strains of a
powerful orchestra, conducted by Mr. Dan God-
frey, we have said enough to give some idea of
the raise en scene of the Volunteer Ball. The
doors were opened at eight o'clock, and shortly
after that time, ally as it was for the commence-
ment of such a fete, the visitors began to arrive, and
contingent after contingent followed in quick suc-
cession until ten, when Mr. Godfrey summoned the
assembly to commence the festivities of the evening.
Looking from the galleries as the first quadrille was
formed, the coup d'ffil was so striking that those who
witnessed it will, we believe, for a long time retain
the recollection of its beauty. The uniforms of the
officers of the regular army blended gracefully and
artistically with the toilettes of the ladies, and
made the simple and effective full-dress of the Vo-
lunteers appear to great advantage by the contrast.
Soon after ten the Lord Mayor, attended by the