The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-08-20
TIE GRAND FANCY DRESS BALL
SARATOGA SPRINGS.
Fashionable Life in America.
TREMENDOUS DISPLAY OF FINERY AND POLLY
BRILLIANT SPECTACLE,
&c 81. sc.


the watering places locked forward with great inter-
est and which many Of them will look back upon with
delight, came Oh at the United States Hotel Saratoga
On Friday night last The number Of visitors at the
springs increased very rapidly for few days previous
TO the 1Th that when that day arrived the streets
Of the village were literally thropged with people, but
mp to this time there was no indication that the
ball would be good ed the prevailing opinion
seemed to be that there would be but small company
present on the grand occasion The tickets were sold
ut $40, and 1t was supposed BY that this would
have a tendency to prevent large sale. De-
jonge, the costumer, ut his post with fine lot Of
rich dresses but up to the night Of the 16th he had
let but very few Dibblee and Barker, the fashion
abei hairdI from this city, who always ct
hand these occasions, had received compare
lively but few orders and Siguora La Fats, the
only costnmer Who had ladies' dresses to let, had
disposed of bat insignifcsnt number. Thus
matters stood up to the afternoon of Friday whom
the rush OF preparation emmeucsd and BY Its impe-
tuosity overwhelmed erything else In the ghbor
hood of the principal hstsls. The shop keepers
gum down with customers the milliners and msntua
makers were in full and profitable employment, and
everything was 80 entirely changed in appearance,
that began to believe that the ball would be
phantly sustained At dinner time the directors
had already disposed Of 200 peterborough to
rant the success OF the enterprise The true cause
sfhs previous apparent apathy was that the fashion
abss had for the most part procured dresses before
coming to saratogs, and not, therefore, to be
found st the costumsrs in other places which
have been their rsssrts in former years.
The preparations mace by the Mssns. Marvin, pro-
pristors Of the hotel unexceptonable The beau
tfu grounds Of the United States decorated with
great taste. The trees were hung with lamps Of
rous coos about 5000 Of which used for the
pose Of adding beauty to the soens already beautiful
The trees were changed into columns Of sparkling
brightness From the centre of the little mound 'front.'
ing the main piazza, pyramid Of these red blue
yellow, green and other solorsd lamps, while fancy
pieces ingeniousy wrought from coorsd paper nostsd
In the air in the shape Of balloons, days, streamers
and ornaments Of all descriptions. At about eight
O'Clock beautiful display Of fireworks made from
AAs centre Of the lawn Az 10 the buildings Of the
hotel they presented magnificent appearance
The nsw bsll-reem. which 10 probably unsurpassed
IN TIE Union was lighted BY two immense and superb
shandsiers whose light Was aided by that reflected
from numerous nds lamps Of great brillisncy. There
\ no light effective for . ball of this kind than
ths enc The belt Of minor luminarss IL of necessity
- disposed that ray from some Of them will not
AL to strike gem, gsvgaw to give II due sf
isct The drawing was brilliantly lighted, and
che dining rooms regularly illuminated with wax
candles All tho spprssshss to the interior Of the hotel
ws cut or and the door elossd st ~ early hour
Al the onos door posse Of officers were plaest ana
2nh established This the only point for ingress
place Of egrsss to and from the grounds Of the ho
tsl and the door keeper could only be passed BY the
presentation Of ticket prepared 70. the occasion.
The eufrSe announced TO take place ct clock,
but II was much later than that before the company
started from the drawing room. Meantime, strange
sight presented itself 10 the principal street Of the VII
lags. From the Appearance Of things around him.
might easily imagine himself transported to mart
vhers all nations traded Persona boarding ct other
hotels o. course In costume from their lodgings
10 the Usited States Hotel, and AZ the evening
pleasant they walked In prsfsrrnes to riding that
fhs Broadway Of Saratoga presented motley ap-
pearanee the evening In question meets the eye
.. any OF the ports Of the Bosphorus
At length, all being ready, possession was taken OF
the ball room, and the bands struck up march, to
which the company present promsuaded for time
around the room. Besides Schnsdsr's band, the
sic committee bad employed the ssxona band and the
two being placed In orchsstrss ~ different ends Of
the room, played alternately for the dancers Tho
programme Of dancing be interesting to many Of
cur readers, and We therefore insert -