The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-04-15

MASQUERADE BALLS. Early last wi inter-
two OF three fancy balls, as they are termed.
were got up at the theatres in New York
fancy ball is one where each person assumes
some particular character, either of ancient or
modern times, and dresses and acts in cores
pondence Herewith Some newspapers having
dropped hint of the licentious tendency of
such exhibitions, they were defended by those
who favored them on the ground, that they were
essentially different from masquerades. and
that, as masks were excluded, no evil could
arise from merely dressing in character"
But it was found that the transition from one
to the other was the easiest thing imaginable.
and that the sport of meeting with Turks. Jew.
and Indians, Heroes, Angels and Dem;. Gods
was infinitely diminished by the discovery, on
their near approach, that the persons were no
others than their friends and neighbors. A
single masquerade was, therefore, resolved up-
on, "just to see how it would SEEM Il was
attended by multitude of people, in conse-
quence OF which, others were Immediately plan.
ned, since which, they have followed zach 9TH
er IN rapid succession. sometimes four or five
of them in week, so that it would seem as if
the whole city had gone masquerading. Such
are the approaches of vice what at first is rc
PEELED with Indignation, and then but half apol-
ogized for, in the end is openly embraced and
defended These masquerades are said to have
excited most corruptlng influence on the
morals of the city, and to have been the scenes
of the grossest RIGHTEOUSNESS and crime. Fe.
males, the most abandoned and profgate, and
men whose characters are none of the fairest
attired in female habiliments, and disguised So
as not to be known, have mingled in the mass,
to SOW the seeds of corruption and pollution in
the minds of the young, the innocent, and the
fair. bill is now before the Legislature of
the State, prohibiting such amusements under
penalty of one thousand dollars II is said
that the proprietors of the theatres boast, that
that they can pay the fine and still make money
by it The following, from the Journal of
Commerce, narrates one of the consequences of
thesa exhibitions
On Friday, the Sd inst, as a gentleman was
passing the Bowery Theatre, he was. attracted
ny the crowd assembled round the doors. IN
gaze upon the grotesque figures that were nd.
mltted to the masquerade His curiosity be-
came excited, and, notwithstanding several
computations of conscience, he at last deter
mined to become spectator ofthis " very popn-
lar amusement" Having paid two doliars for
his admission, he entered the saloon, looked On
each motley group with wonder, and became
fascinated with the scene. Thus entering into
it's aurements, he partook of the convvalities
afforded by set Of choice Bachanalians. till
overcome with :heir wit or their wine, he WINS
by some good natured being packed up in a
carriage and ordered to his lodgings Unfortu.
nately for the votary of pleasure, his delights
are the mere harbingers ofsorrow, and so il has
proved in this instance. For in addition TO a
severe head. ache and thousand other ills. tho
unfortunate person found himself minus one
pocket book, and several bills and checks 10 The
amount of about $4,000. The affair has beon
by the Police, but as the persons.
in whose society the loser spent his merry mo.
ment, were MASKED, of course it is impossible
to discover the thief
David Henshaw, formerly of Leicester, is an.