The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-01-23
Curious Sketches OF Fashionable Society In
Kew York, ut the Last Ball.
From the Sunday ARe1

From the Sunday Agsl
EXTRAORDINARILY Our DANCING MASTER
All our readers know, OF course, what we are go
ing to speak Of to-day The grand Fairy Ball at
the Astor Place Opera House-of course; splendid
but cold, gorgeous but stiff, rich but dismal, pre-
tentious but unsatisfactory, arstOcratlc but without
sauor fare among the leaders, or rather those who
ought to have been the leaders OF the affair. This
much be.puffed ball came near being one of the
most brilliant failures on record.
MI: Fry, the manager OF the Opera House, certalu-
ly did all IN his power to insure success; nothing
could have been more rch tasty and beautiful than
Pense was spared In lighting or decorating the
beautiful sale, or IN providing tor the comforts of
the visitrse as es these provisions came under
the control OF the managers. ALI or nearly, all the
faults we alluded to in late number, (when speak
ing Of last years fancy ball, had been remedied
this years the stage and parquette were oored over,
smoothly, beautifully and sprIngy, with as nice a
floor as could possibly be desired the ascent OF the
avoided; there were large dressing rooms accessi-
BILE to all, which were found great convenience
by everybody; there were plenty of attendants, aud
civil ones al that; more than two hundred extra
cond tier Of boxes, and shed soft pleasant, and
beautiful light upon the scenes below. The stage
itself was arranged with the very richest and mos
beautiful tapestry of white, gold, and flowers, into
grand tent, at the back OF which most rich
looking buffet, formed as a pyramid of terraces,
was arranged by Messrs Delmonico. From the
centre Of this tent splendid chandelier shed more
light. Speaking Of lights, we would here remark
Qor fear Of forgetting II hereafter) that we have
rarely, IT ever, In all our experience, seen better
or more judiclousIy liehted ballroom; we make a
svecial point of me nrionlng the, because 1t is a
point TOO often neglected or forgotten by the pro-
puetors Of bathrooms, and the givers OF balls and
parties; too often do we FIND, either not light
enough: or broad and brilliant glare of unpro-
tected lights In the rooms, and both extremes
are equally bad. The quality Of the light is
what should be looked to as much as the guam
tlty, but that point is much neglected light
should be plentiful, plentiful enough in all parts
OF the sale, to examine the most minute part Of
dress, or to detect the slightest irown or
pout on beauty's face, yet so susdued as not to
injure the most delicate eyeslght, or to change
by Its glare the tiat of any color that may be
worn. As we said above, the Opera House was
beautifully and well lighted. The orchestra was,
as might have been expected, excellent, and their
rtpe,tove cf polkas, quadriles, and waltzes con-
compositions, never heard before this occasion.
Max Maretzek's band had been at work at these
things, that was plain and evident enough. Mr..
Schntider however, was, for the ballroom Or
chestra, fully as great conductor, as our clever
Maretzek ID tor the Opera; and this is no small
praise. The orchestra arranged near the centre
OF the house, in the lower tier Of boxes
A most efficient and capable professional gen.
tlemap had been engaged as floor manager, and
plnted programmes Of the succession Of dances
were plentiful all OF which were improvements
upon last years ball But the spirit, the life, the
joyousness, the ease which make balls plea
surable-the sc were wanting: the managing COM
mlttee was either not OF the right calibre or not
numerous enough. Ap0p0s Of this point, our
neIghbor Of the Mirror SAYS
1t was very grand mistake the part Of the com.
mittes to give up the whole management Of the affair
that could possibly have been selected from all upper
If, instead Of one manager, there had been COM
NJ ntoA
circles fashion In this and the neghborng cities,
though the tickets had been high twenty dollars
ccmmod.te and then iii would have BEEN merry a.
marriage bell"
A point on which, there was great deal of very
Just complaint, was the unheard OF extravsgant
PRICES charged for refreshments: these were gene
rally more than double the amount usually de-
n anded for the articles-a fact which prevented
many from supplng there at all We really think
that Messrs DelmoRico would have made more
popular favor which they now enjoy. II prices
are go .s.xtravsgsntly high on these occasions.
they Will prevent people from supplng at all at
the ball whilst Teass nable prices would more
than proPoltionately pay, by an increase OF Gus
toners.
The hour for dancing to commence had been
announced to take place at nine o'clock; but nine,
half-past nine, and ten O'Clock, came, yet the lev,
stiff, &c remoDlous chIness remained unbroken.
At last, Mr. Schneider tapped with his baton, and
the band commenced beautiful march, the air Of
Lind Partners, 'Fahnenwacht," (The Standard
Bearer.) Mr.. Charraud, the professional floor
manager, took his position In the middle OF the
floor, awaiting or expecting march or promenade
by the whole csmpany; but no one would break
the Ice, or dare to walk across the ballroom floor
The march was ended, and q Polka followed
Still no signs Of animation, though 1t was near IL
o'clock: The committee, had the gentlemen COM
posing it understood their duty, would have open
ed the ball, or at least walked once or twice with
their fair companions across the room /; others,
who were only waiting for this official or seml.of-
fetal beginning, would soon have followed; but
the cold reserve continued until near the end OF
the Polka, when two or three courageous couples
absolutely ventured to make dash at it, but quickly
rushed again to their places. The next was qua
dIle, which, at last, brouehta portion of the com
ice seemed somewhat broken, and dancing was
kept up rather more lively than first appearances
had indicated.
We will now give our readers Inst Of the most
prominent characters we observed ON the floor
during the eve ming; we shall adopt the alphabet
cal order, dc not wish to be guilty OF partial
lty In giving preferences
Madame Arpn, the wife Of the editor Of the "Cour-
ser des Esis Unis wore beautiful fancy dress with
and elegant French woman. .t H.-
Miss Appleton appeared in . beautiful fancy cos
tsme, the name Of which We did not ..certsin:
SAINTS costume-said to be that of"Gertrude" In the
"Loan of q Lover.n
Mrs DR. Castle dressed and looked extremely well,
"Helen Mar''
MFRS Castle appeared most lovely, Is . Scotch
laeeie.
Mrs. Clark, a. d.baraleuse, decidedly among the
most sttractves In the Hers rich dress Of
white satin, plain but elegant The head dress was
white wig with black cooked hat-s very jsunty and
graceful costume.
Mrs Clason, a. La File du Resiment-a very neat
and appropriate costume.
Mis- Davis . rich fancy drees
Miee julia Field, drssfed in q rich riding costume.
Mrs Fuller appeared Is gipsey, In velvet bod
dice, blue sstin SKIRT and hat with howers-a very
becoming costume
Mrs. Greepway, a. flower firl.
Mrs. Heasrmsn wore . very becoming sipsey dress,
and Vas an excellent fortune teller.
Mrs DE- Jones, as"Liza'' In LA Sonnambua," looked
extremely well.
Mics Anne c. Lynch appeared ~ . Poonaise; dress
Of blue, trim med with dark fur over skirt Of white
latin; square cap to match and blue boots; and Q
fash around the waist
Miss Mortimer appeared ~ nun, In white dress,
with white wreath on her head.
Miss Morris the daughter Of friend, tho "Brigs
disr,n attrscted much attention by her light and
aIt cefr stzipg and polking She wore simple white
dress.
Mse Nelson, asa Quakeress looked beautiful enough