The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-09-18
The GOSSIP OF THE OLD WORLD.
Our London, Paris, and Gen 500
Dispatches.
~N>~I~~>~>~~o~~~~0~~-~~s
Affairs of Young America i'm Old
Europe.

THE SPLENDID BALL ON. BOARD TEE
FRIGATE CUMBERLAND.
&e, TO-. &s
The Late Bail Boasd thD Fxigaao Osna-
be, aand.
LETTER FROM AN ITALIAN LADY TO HkR sIsrsg
IN Nsw YORK.
GENOA. August 10, 1863.
Here am back again in Genoa, my dear frienlk
juee in time for the mail and / hasten to give yeu
the best account can of my nip to Spezzia Yoa
remember mentioned in my last letter that ~
officers Of the United States flag ship CumberiaaA
had issued invitations for ball, to take place on
board On the evening of the 10th. The gentle
men whose Office ii WAS TO issue tie invitations worc
most diligent and painstaking. for have heard Of
no omissions, and people were summoned from
Genoa Leghorn Florence, IAcca, and, for aught
Enow, still farther.
You can imagine what an effort il was for mo t.
leave home for three days to attend ball bat SUM-
moniDg all my courage commended he childrcu tos
kind Providence, and left Genoa Monday evening.
pass over the discOmforss of the journey, and tho
still greater ones Of sleeping the floor in a smau.
secondrat Spezza inn, for the charming ball has
obliterated all dssgreeables from my mind. MonAav
night was perfect, the temperature was warm but
not hot, the water smooth and unrufiaed, and tho
moon almost full but alas Tuesday msrning the
sky looked lowering, and there was q dampish winA
which foreboded rain. People met in tho little gar
den and consulted with each other, and hoped anA
prayed for a fair evening.
All Spezzia was on tptoe, and all expectation
we're raised to the utmost, for the Cumberland haa
been the admiration Of all in her everyday dress,
and thert fore was certain to be miracle o, COED
taste and order In her gala costume. About sevoA
o'clock the clouds darkened over SpezAia, and 6r
few minutes the rain fell in torrca.s. One general
voice of lamentation was heard; elderly ladies
gr0aned over the damp exposure, younger ones fear
ed they should take the Stiffness out of their new
dresses young gentlemen lanented the risk incurred
by their emo Wy trowsers felt none OF these soici-
tudes, but sincerely grieved for the dsappontment
Of the officers, after all their kind cxertions. By
eight oclock, however, (tbe hour for assemhlin8.l
the sky WAS clear again. and boat after boat osue
and went with its fair load, skimming over tha
water swift and light birds, the fine, manly, fan-
dressed sailors seeming much interested as anv
Of the guests.
When ! arrived, (about nine o'clock,) dancinx
had begun, and no words can give yoa An idea eg
the scene Of enchantment on board. The o Ter guns
had all been removed leaving a noble ball room:
was dressed and fes.ooncd with the flags Of n
nations, and the whole was lighted by chandeliess
OF bayoDets and pistols, tastefully arranged with
candles. Two broad staircases led up to tina poon
deck, where were seats and rugs for thoys whs
wished to look on ard at the other end Of the shin
were raised benches for the sailors, who forming 4
pyramid of blue and white dresses, added extremelv
to the effect Of the view. Wreaths Of green ana
flowers encircled the whole vessel and nothing vas
left to remind one that the gay ballroom was eysr
devoted to less joyous scenes.
Ipassed over to pay my respects to the Comma
dorc ar the lady for whom tho ball was chiefly In
tended-thc Marchesa Doria, who adds q ne v charm
to the ancient lustrc Of her Nnme by her varied a.
complishments warm heart and amiable hichbrpS
manners. ~ Were vain to tel you of the yari0oA
pretty faces and fresh toilets The ladies' uf M
Queen were there, the young Marchesa s. g.. III,
hGhtest and most graceful Of dancers and TIA far
Contessa T., who speaks English very pretSav: tho
sweet, sad-lookyig little barchesa lie R.. in an A.
quisite PINK dress, and the Marohesa O. with an
independent fortune of pesss on her neck. (whiter
even then they).
AHout eleven cicck, when the dancing was going
"i with great f,pirit, there came another smart
/ shower. such scampering to got below, aud such
exprcsslons Of regret, in soft Italian accents, You
caniot imagine. People scattered about where they
could on the gun and berth decks, which were light
ed with myriads oil paper lanterns. The indefatiga-
bles danced round the galley ae sentimentals Airted
m the ward room and the matter offacts addressed
themselves to ices, cake and lemonade.
The rain fortunately soon ceased, the swabs were
actively used ana before very long the light founce
and white shoes Of the ladies were fast drying up
the moisture on deck.
Later in tho evening there was bountffu supper
in the captains cabin, which reflected great credit
the head that planned and the hands that cooked
IT. and so the ball went mcrriIy on, nobody thinking
how the wind blew, and fear few fair damsels re-
fecting that the charming officers who hummed such
pretty sentiments in their ears were m arried men,
with poor lonely wives at home. will wager good
dinner that they all write those wives that they
did not enjoy the ball for their hearts far away.
| | don't know about the hearts, can only answer
| for the arms and the eyes.
The last ladies left the chip at o'clock; all the
girls determined TO marry any but officers, and
al--young and enthusiastic in prasing the de-
corations the music, the supper, the reception an
| and everything. As we rowed from the shin We
turned back to notice the beautiful effect Of the many
lights peeping out from the dark sides; and will an
swer for it, there was not person board who did
not long to give three cheers for tho Cumberland and
her officers.
Hy~~. r E~w