The New York herald., 1851-08-05
FASHIONABLE INTELLIGENCE.
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m GRAND COSTUME BALL At CAPE NAY
OPENING OF THE SEASON.

The first grand fashionable fsts of the season Q.
the watering places-the grand fancy costume
ball at Cape May-cams off on Friday night last at
she Mansion House, Cape Island. 1t was the second
affair Of the kind that has ever transpired the
island. and hence possessed, in great degree, the
virtue Of novelty. The room selected for the occa-
sion WAS the saloon known a the :" kursaa," which
was fitted up this occasion in style rarely sur
passed in this country. But it may be as well to
give description of the room and its decorations
The "Kursaal" is q spacious saloon, having an ex-
ceent entrance door, which connects with the Man
sion House ITSELF in fact, the ''kursaal is part
of the Mansion House, and is used as dining room
for that hotel. On the present occasion. the en-
trance to the saloon was through temporary porch
formed of frame work, Grated with American
fags and other appropriate drapery. 1he yisiter,
after rising the long halls of the hotel passed
this porch or entry door, when suddenly he was in
troduced to apartment, which 1t is no exaggera-
tion to call fairy scene, to describe which it will
be necessary first to give brief description of the
hall itself The Kursaal is spacious saloon, hav-
ing each side line of pilasters attached to the
wall About four feet from the wall, on each side
of the room, is of graceful columns, with we'll
wrought capitals, bearing devices of Mahomedau
signiication, such crescents, arrows, etc.
which, to the uninitiated vision, nothing but
a very pretty device. These columns were, on the
present occasion, made doubly useful; not only
were they ornamental in themselves, but they we're
made the starting points Of some of the prettiest de-
sorative inventions that have been used in the
country In the first place, artist, Mr. Peter
Grain, Jr,, employed to furnish drop scene
which, being placed at the lower end of the room,
formed complete optical illusion, making the
IN eytendad till
;tlost itself in a beautifurgarden scene Mr.. w. J.
Kerr. of Philadelphia contributed for the occasion
two hundred and twenty-eight Chinese lanth ,rns,
which mingled with festoons of evergreens, and
suspened from column to column throughout the
saloon; and to correspond with these, the drop
scene before mentioned was supplied with transpa.
rent illuminations, that the vister, entering
the saloon, unconsciously led to imagine
that he was in an oriental garden Of immense size
Indeed, the effect was charming, and the partici-
pants the festivities of the occasion could hardly
make up their minds that they were in an ordinary
ball room. The orchestra, which was enlarged for
the occasion, was so hidden by the artstically
ranged decorations, that it not easy to perceive
whence emanated the sounds that were produced.
The music, which was good, produced by band
of black players from Philadelphia The room
not only festooned, but there was plentiful
supply Of wreaths and garlands of flowers displayed
with very great taste, from all available points.
For these garlands and for these beautiful wreaths
the committee de corations were indebted to the
ladies resident at the Mansion House; for, no soon
er was it known that the committee wanted assist
ance than the ladies coDgregated in a side parlor,
and expressed their willingness to go to work at
once and they did 60 to work with viii as the sai
lors say. The result Of their handwork the best
decorated room that has ever been seen an occa-
sion of this kind in this country, and doubt if it
has been excelled anywhere. Ii may be as well to
remark here that the friends of the ball had
sort of under-current opposition to work against.
There were those who were Of the opinion that the
ball could not succeed, and these were not back
ward to express their opinions to that effect This
circumstance by no means deferred the anagers
from going on with their work They only work
ed the ardenty, and it may be that the ladies
were induced by the same means to undertake the
part which they performed admirably One Of
the most interesting cobcomisants to the ball was
the scene which presented itself in the where
hese fair busy bodies were engaged making up the
floral ornaments which were to render the room in
the evening perfect paradise of a place. At a
late hour in the day the completed as to
its decorations, and at about o'clock in the
ming the dancers, having all or nearly all costumed
themselves, began to make their appearance by
scores in all the variety Of dress which be ina
gined The halls Of the house were thronged for
short time an then the band struck up the grand
Introductory overture; this succeeded by the
promenade, which brought all the characters on
the floor, and magnificent and interesting sight
vas presented-a tableag, in fact, which is sell
dom to be met with. Nodding plumes, gay
colorei dresses, powdered heads, caps and bells;
the eagles feathers Of the Indian head-dress,
and tie cowl Of the monk; the velvets and
tinsel Of assumed royalty, and the aounting but
admirable ribbons Of peasant girls, counterfeit
greatness and counterfeit modesty, were all there
in Heterogeneous mass, and one disposed 10 study
the picture might have found good lesson in it,
for II not unlike the scene which is to be met
with in real life every day. Pretension without
meh. is no new thing to look a.. Well, in they
came, and as their numbers were increased, the
beautiful lamps, so gracefully disposed among the
evergreens seemed to shed upon the motley null
titude a cheering and beautfying light. There
was, in fact, harmony, consonancc between the
rnulsieolored lamps and the costumes upon the
floor, which produced an effect perfectly charming
The bali once opened, Of course The aoor was
occupd by gay dancers, who were eager for the en-
ioymcnt Of the evenings entertainment. We give
the names and costumes Of most Of the characters
which appeared in tho ball room. Ihe ladies, as
well the gentlemen, were for the most part from
Philadelphia, hence We have not, except in few
instances, de.i ynated the residences Of the dan
cerf:-
Mics L. Wallace appeared in the costume Of q
Highland lasse, in full dress.
Master Parkinson dressed in a beautiful cos
tune, representing French bOstman 10 his hOh-
DAY rig.
Mr.. Powell. costumed ss knight, in partial armor
Of buff black, and steel.
Miss Brolasd was attlred in excellent costume
Of the Lady Of the Lake.
Mr. Edwards represented scottish Highlander
Lewis Williams personated spanish Cavalier.
II. J. Turner was cOstumed az an Italian noble
man