The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-06-01
Grand Ball OF the French Army TO Louis Napo
leon.

We cut the following description OF the ball given TO
Napoleon, from the correspondence OF the New York
Commercial Advertiser:
The ball given upon the following tuesday night by
the army to the President the most marvellous ete
ever yet seen in Paris ;-by our generation al least II
had been announced that the guests would dance in a
tent that may have been the original design but the tent
sweed under the tasteful hands OF the architect into
temple OF solid foundations and massive proportions. But
this is not the beginning OF the story AT haltpas en
the line OF carriages Except those OF official
which were allowed TO follow route closed TO all OH
ers) extended from the Ecoe Miilarethe OF the
ba-across The Fauburg ST. German, the bridges, the
Place de la Coneorde 10 the Maison fOr-a good TWO
miles II required, on an average. three hours TO 20 The
distance from ones house 10 the tent But everybody APP
peared 10 think that the result worth the effort when
they had fairly arrived under the cover Of that miraculous
marquee.
TIE Court Of Honor OF the hotel had been covered
over and converted for the occasion into series OF
spacious saloons or naves TO receive the company invited
the dancing taking place in the hall occupying me
centre. The entrance for the guests was by the large
gate on the Place Fonienoy. The first was vesli:
bue at the corners OF which were plas,ers The base oil
each being supported by four large pieces OF cannon
the barrels uprghtone al each corner and mortar be-
tween each cannon, surrounded by natural flowers The
upper part OF each pillar was formed OF sabres holster
pistols, and battle lakes,
In the muzzle OF each cannon was placed large
bouquet OF NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. instead OF grape. Before
the door leading from this vestibule OF the ballroom
stood two knights horseback, in complete armour,
with lance in hand, if guarding the entrance. Inside
the ball ROOM on either sde stood column six yards
/
sabres--the summit being formed OF lance heads with
their pennons, and crowned, one with bust oil me
Emperor, and The other with that OF the President Be-
hind these two columns be the OF the
legion OF honor and the recentlyesablshed military
medal in colossal proportions, formed OF military weapons
of every description.
The ballroom was 10 eet high, 400 feet long, by 240
wide Down the whole length OF the hall were placed
so pillars formed OF arms nerlaced. rising to the roo
and supporting Two large galleries encIcqg the room
heat, however, rendered them completely unienabe Al
one end the public entrance and at the other that
reserved for the President and his immediate secretaries
and the corps dipiOmaiqus slightly raised platform
was constructed here, upon which lofty columns
made OF and trophies and some dozen knights
in "complete STEEL" The draperies were OF red velvet
trimmed with gold, and so rich and heavy were they
that impossible 10 believe they had been put ul
within the week, and would be removed before another
sennght Opposite and over the public entrance was the
most formidable dancing orchestra yet collected in
Pars-36o instruments, 3 church bells, and rs drums
led by Strauss.
dents tribune that while Strauss conducting the band
with his wand in one hand, he was obliged 10 hold q
double magnylng opera glass IN the other ~ order e
discover when Louis Napoleon arrived The ceiling was
hung with $50 chandeliers bearing $4,000 wax lights
In the smaller rooms were 10000 candles more. The
ladies' supper was covered with so tables. which
parties OF 600 ladies seated after the other
The whole space occupied on this memorable night by
promenades and dances no less than two
half and into this space $4,000 people were collected
7 at one moment-at two O'Clock in the morning Tn,
used in the decoration of the ballroom consisted
"a moars 20 cannons TO- 900 bayonets and $4,000 mus
ke,s and pistols.
Persons who had neglected engaging carriage cout
procure for love money at three in the after
noon. The President rode from the Elyee to the Eco
Mltare by route strictly shut 10 all but himself. Hi
opened the ball with Mdme ST. AInaud wife OF III,
minister OF war 10 the same quadrille were 81 Anaud
Gen Magnau the Princess Mathilde, Mdme Bineau, wifi
OF the minister OF finance. and Mdme. Turgo wife o
the minister OF foreign ahairs-a complete family party
the coup de al INDUCING in little harmless amusement
The President al ten, and retired at His
ence excited little enthusiasm except among ih
military, and the dancing only commenced in good ear
nest after he gone In short, the ball of the llth
May very far exceeded all the highly wrought ancipa
tons that had been formed OF il, and is by
sent pronounced the sumptuous entertainment eve
offered 10 The lovers OF pleasure. COLUMBUS.