New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-12-24
and TIC CaDaSss, immediate preparations were msde |

laid with the rertsbmen me evening, De
perceived thai there small amour. OF labor TO
he accomplished In the limited space OF four hours
But willing hearts and active hands made aick work,
and in this there no lack Of heads to plan nd
hands 10 execute that by the time so ,ci6ed the
room bad undergone complete traoso m alton aud
wss ready for the reception OF the guests Bat al
though this apartment was one OF Immense size, II
sbrmk into comparative insignifcanoe beside the
huge proportions Of iis reighbor, the grand dancing
ball. This latter room the great mscbine shop OF
the Northern Railway Company, capable OF contain.
Jog whole trains OF carr, az in which hundreds OF
workmen usually seen engaged in all the compli-
Gated abors attendant upon keeping In order and re-
pair the and locomotives of lengthy railroad.
But the woikmen were banished from their legi.
mate dOminions but rot before they had transformed
theii dusky realm into palace, all light and glitter
end magr ifcert display.
DESCRIPTION or TIE BALLROOM.
The whole experiment. had been newly aoored, and
those portions Of it not intended for the acconmoda,
ton of the dancers bad been capeted and provloe1
with chairs and sofas 1t was warmed by Immense
stoves ard sh ed with iaDumerabe Jets OF =, wnca
the ID of the artist and mechanic nao co"oooa !"
arrange in beautiful devices, stars, crowns, atcnes
and hundred tsstic shapes, the Deauui eu'ct OF
which could only be properly apmeciseu py tuosewuo
were on the spot TO see All nequannes IN toe moor
hed boon smootbed away or sGifdlly concealed, 30
Wst ,ho f,ee movements of the dancers were unim.
neded cave by their own numbers. At the upper end
IF The hall was raised platform, decorated WI gay
daes and streames carpeted and furnished with seats,
which, from its elevation above the dancing hoor az
forded the best view of the Upon this platform
elegantly dressed ladies crowded, unconscious or ur-
thinking II at Immediately beneath therfeet sumbered
huge engines and mammoth torges, resting bat ttle
while from their lightly abos and that at any other
time the shite seamcloud ana the shr warning sing
OF IL c safeyvalve might give them notice that they
were treaciDg on dangerous ground. Bot now the
sorit of steam had given up his realm to other rulers
and his servants the poDderous shafts and Wheels the
mighty athes and hammers, dead for time, were
waiting until the return of their mighty master should
vivi1y reanmate and resurrect them into busy life
again.
The elevated platform before mentioned was 10 the
form of crescent thus sording the grea es: amount
ofseeDg-Ioom in given space, and giving TO all who
were fortunate enough TO secure posion upon 1t an
opportunity to take in at single glance the entire
besuty of the grand display Upon the wall immedi-
ately il, were arranged IN gas JETS letters and
devices in the following order; V. A. with crown
ode iritiss of Queen Victoria and Prince Aber, and
n. 4. for Napoleon and EdgeDis On the left the
letters of H. 4 T. r. Hamilton and Toronto Railway
were seen. and Immediately opposite G.. W. Il. Great
Western Railway. Numerous stars and ornaments,
gas itts, ako decorated this part OF the room. De-
seer cling from this elevation the spectator would pass
uIcer brilliant arch of fire, and would find himself
before beautiful fountain, erected over railtraok
usually occupied by disabled locomotives The basin
of tie fountain about fifteen fest 10 diameter, and
upon the surface of the water were floating aquatic
birds of hfesize, which created considerable
sensation at FIST by their natural appearance,
until sou Q practical and utiitarian Individual
dispelled the romantic illusion by too close
inquiry into their private affairs, and the
consequent cec0very tndt they were mace OF wOOd
emo black paint In the center Of the basin arose a
swan Of the natural sze thro Eing the principal Jet of
water from it's mouth, while eight minor streams were
projected from the sides of the basin n pyramidsl
form toward the center, and the whole viewed by the
blaze of the br liant illumination produced very
strkipg effect Other arches of gas jets were erected
upon the 81 es of the room and numerous chandeliers
plentifuy scattered throuR bout the hail. making
the lighting up perfect and co9plete. At the lower
end OF the hall, over the main entrat &c, the British
coat of erns displayed of colossal SIZE supported
either side by the nationsl cOlOs; while at the win
dow on the left OF the grand door the coat OF arms
of Canada was shown, with the letters + w. II
Edmund w. Head, Governor General OF CanaJa,)
and at the ding window on the other side
the shield of the United States wreahed with the stars
and stripes and surmouuted by the American esgle,
with the initials +. T.. Frankin PIERCE Along the
sidee or hall the Britsh and American flags were
the windows were decorated with trophies of
banners, each bearing in it's center an aopro-
Pirate Seyos With the on OF s Is as
into direct communication with Toronto, by the
completion of the new railrosd. Among the pro-
ninept Ilaces thus meBiorislized were New-lork,
Hamilton, Chicago, Detroit, Boston, Buffalo London,
Portland, Oswego, Port Sarms aud CoiingwoOd.
Other shields and mtdalliO7s bearing the sames OF
veious other cities were also used in the ornamental
ton and decoration Of the hail.
Visitors snteIing at the man doorway were greeted
by the sight Of the word Welcome, 10 letters of fire,
hind which placed a banner with the motto q Re
c,pTocsfy-thus IRE prOspe-. On either side, ABOUT
The uiode of the room, music stands had been pre-
pared ore OF which occupied by the band OF the
regiment of Csna6sn Rifles stationed at Toronto which
was conduc ed by Mr. HARKNEss, and the other was
filed by very excellent orchestra from Rochester.
These discoused in alternate strains most excellent
music OF which better proof be offered than the
fact that its eDveung power kept the dancers busy
until after O'Clock in the morning. Over the orches-
ira stands and above some OF the windows swords and
spears were arranged in tasteful devices with excellent
effect
Although by far the greater proportion of the immense
numter Of flags employed in the edornmeots were the
Brtsh or American cOlos sti in place, the inner
circle of the crescent elevation at the upper end OF the
room, were displayed the flags Of The Ease;n Allied
Powers
The amount OF skill patience, and industry shown
in the conversion of the whole huge building from
rough wOIk shop into a superb ball room, only be
appreciated by those who witnessed the magical trans
formation All the Rasftters and uphOsterers In To-
Ionto were employed in the work. and great many
flags and d. oorsioDs brought from other towns,
the RESOURCES of sinee city being unequal TO the
great demand. The sxtemporZing ballroom fiOm a
machine shop, ard making the former 80 complete
and perfect scarcely TO show trsce of the charc
tersiics OF the latter could not be performed Ia more
beautiful manner. HAD il not been for the long line OF
shaftng which oDg The ceiling and an occ ssionsl
wheel which would peep through the Grapery, no cas-
ua observer would have entertained suspicion that
the room had ever been sugh else han rendezvous
for bliliancy and beauty. The rooms we're thro .n
open at eight O'Clock, but paraiively few persons
arrived before TEN sosn after that hour no wever the
carriages begsn to drive up and the rapidly TO
MI. The arrangements for taking up and setting
down guests sere complete as circumstances you'd
admit. covered way erected from the build
iDgs TO the street that visitors 1ud proceed directly
from their carriages 70 the dressing without
going 10 the open air TIE ladies' apartment large
ard well warmed, ard the geDtlemen's rooms also
well prepared and both were provided with mirrors
and all the cOnvenences for properly attending to the
a6oIment Of the exterior At Zine O'clock the music
sounded tie signal for the first dance aud at Ihis
moment properly commenced
THE BALL.
For an hour or more the dancers no. over |