The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-08-17
TIE BAL COSTUME AT CAPEmAY.
The First Of the Fancy Dress Season,
&c, &c., SO.
CARE ISLAM August Is, 1852.

.
au Prince, in Northern Europe and Southern Amer
ica. mag BIO in Siberia and Timbuctoo, you could
not send fitting to do justice to the grand faAcy
ball Of Cape May? Cape May, that most desirable
OF all summer residences-the maritime resort Of
Flooding farmers and money making citizens-the
present scene Of constant festivities shat may be
considered one of the lungs Of your own Gotham,
distant from it only about one hundred miles on the
highway to your sister Quaker city. Cape May, the
Mecca Of invalids-the summer bazaar of fashion
the living panorama OF all that is beautiful and re-
che,che.
Well, be it known unto you, sir that last evening
fancy ball came OF in the kursaal, i" on this Jewel
of island that could scarcely be beaten any whore
With the description Of the "Kurssal," SO named
after celebrated building devoted to nearly simi-
lar purposes, in Wiesbaden, in Western Germany,
with its rich and varied dec0ratiOns-with the
imaginary garden-with tho scenes Of mere than
fairy encbantment-wth the most complete iIlusory
etiect-with tho coup dGR, in short, that battles
aHdescrption-I shall not trouble you this 90
casion; for your last years reporter did ii graph
cally, that any thing more said would be superoga-
tory One gratifying feature, however, | must
mention-one that Sydney Smith, the facetious
dean, would have termed 81 tho moral sublime
the various houses this occasion were rs ono
The Mansion and the Columbia gayo to each other
the right hand Of fellowship, tho United States did
not vex Congress Hall, nor did the Atlantic frywn
on the Ocean When the orchestra gave the soul
stiriirg mote Of preparation the spectacle on the
floor WAS such as is usually seen similar occa-
sions. The past and the prescnt-the polished and
the uhcultiyated-the high aud the low-the chaste
and tho grotesque-the unobtrusiye neat and tho
tawdry vulgar-presented IL tdJLedu uiuant that was
animnting and amusing. Here was the Rus
sian bear, and there the Turkish janizary--here
the naughty English, and there the lowly Savoyard.
On one hand fr0ze the inhabitant of equatorial re-
maltad tha IF
the arctic zone Cowled monks and fashion
able debauchees, brave soldiers and cowardy cour-
tiers, ancient Romans and modern Greeks, all min
ged in most admirable disorder. The costumes for
the most part new, were furnished by Mr.. John G..
Taylor, Of No. 50 Prince street, of your city the
scenery was by Mr.. Peter Grain, Jr.; the decora-
tons by fairy hands. Messrs. Ludlam & Hooper, of
the Mansion House, assumed all responsibilities.
Mr.. Thomson Reynolds, OF Philadelphia, Mr.. Solo
mons, of New York. and the other members of the
committee, exerted themselves increasingly to give
due etldf to the ball. So many opposing interests
united men of different vacations, residents of vari
Gus localities and characters of every age and ma
ton, acting in concert, gave augury Of that time
which We have been frequently informed is coming,
when the lion and the lamb" SC. Most Of the
participants in the festivities Of the occasion, being
from Philadelphia, no mention is made Of the resi-
depces, except when hailing from other places Only
the most prominent characters are given; many Of
the balance could not be decphered by your cores
pondent, nor could they decipher themselves. No
Indifferent adjunct to the occasion was tho CONVEX
satlon IN the costuming ro0m while selecting the diff
terent dresses ~ want to have that coat" IAN Eng
hsh fox hunter's) 'and those boots,' (the buski0s
of Richard IID 20, Ia me- said most fascinating
miss, out of her teens show shall get this
low crowned hat to stick on my headl" "Wafer it
on" said her cavalier. THAT would not keep it
head too soft for the rail to hold Miss" was the
follows
Mr. T. Reynolds first sustained the character of
Of at in ri lvaf trim
med with gold, Then rich Greek dress, and last
ly, plain citizens clothes.
Mrs. 7. Reynolds attired in chaste Greek
costume, ana looked the character admirably.
Mr.. Jenkins appeared Knight Of Malta.
Mise Carr as Greek girl, and danced admirably.
Mr.. h. n. Carr, of Baltimore, the Chinese
cloen, and acted as well as dressed the character
bTs Carr made a very becoming Gypsy.
MIR Jacoby appeared as an Italian.
Mr.. Prince as Henry Quaire
Miss A. Watkins az jean of Arc.
Mr. j. +. Mitchell wore Quaker dress-state-
fully.
Captain Harrison. of New Orleans, donned the
dress of Spanish Don, aud, with his portly figure,
fitted the character well
Mr. Charles Elias was q Mexican Guerrla-only
for this evening.
Miss Clark was Countess, also, for Same length
Of time
Miss Cruise wore Highland dress, and with her
bonnet and plume. her sash and her belt, she only
needed little stature to have been complete per.
sonation of Helen McGregor
Mr.. j.. Harwood, Jr., Of the Columbia House, took
active part as Christopher Columbus but seemed
fonder Of the Scottish highlands than of trans
atlantic discoveries.
Major sneyey the efficient superintendent of the
vast Mount Vernon ENTERPRISE wore Spanish court
dress, and blended the stately manner Of the Don
with the courtesy of the gentleman.
Mrs Sneveey was tne Paysdnnc chdrmante, and
wore the low crowned, broad brimmed, PEASANTS
hat with the aonchaLanf air of a lady of tom
The Misses Jack, Of Brooklyn, appeared in tasty
New York dinner dresses. style well suited to
such an OCCASION but hardly appreciated by those
who arc all for glare
Miss Sarah Jane Canning appeared in the Cachuca
dress.
Miss Mary Galbraith was most winning, unas-
surning Quakeress.
Mr. Bose appeared as a duke.
Miss Green French peasant.
Mrs Souders n Spanish dress
Mrs Harris was Haydee.
Mr. c. Souders wore q Turkish dress-scarlet
jacket and straw colored trowsers.
Mr.. W. Souders represented st. Pierre-dress.
black velvet, sashed with purple satin and trimmed
with gold.
Mr. J. Wilson assumed the Indian character.
Mr.. Cameron was costumed Richard I'LL.
Mr.. Boice, of the Cape Island City Bank, was at
tired in a rich Turkish dress.
Mr.. Peterson only dressed-acted not-the prof.
ligate Earl Of Rochester
Mr. Lyon wore rich Greek dress.
Miss Dohnert personated the " Maid of Athens
Mr. Massey represented the "Amcrican Sailor"
Mrs Charlotte Hughes, of Cape Island created |
tremendous sensation as the Ellie du Regiment "
The aaiutte Of with which she supported |
the character most bewitching, so King Charles
acknowledged, who received moro damage about
The Leghborhood OF his heart than did his unfortu-
nate prototype from Cromwell, Mt the battle Of
Naseby.
Mr.. A b. Patterson, Of Baltimore, was costumed |
in ancient court oress
Mr.. Brown was Don Bazan"-bact velvet |
trimmed with gold, and slashed with straw. color
satin.
Dir. Cooper persouated King Charles'-blask |
velvet, trimmed with bugles.
Mr.. Collins appeared as 50 Romeo"-white, trim |
med with silver, slashed with blue-an excellent
disguise.
Mr., Joseph McMakin, Of The Atlantic, appeared
as "cowed monk" but be evidently had not !
fully renounccd this world and the things thereof,
he refused to confess or bless your correspondent
without the = almighty dime !"
Mrs McMakin wore IN elegant Spanish court
dress.