New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1859-05-04

THE MAY PARTY AT ODD FELLOWS HALL

In the May party and ball given at Odd Fellows
Hall on Monday night, Professor Vegas eclipsed all
bis former efforts, and furnished an entertainment
which will long be happily remembered. The Hall
was decorated outside and inside, in the most lavish
and beautiful manner. -Four arches of evergreen ex
tended across the second story 'front.' hung With par
tcolored lanterns, whilst an arbor Of similar mate.
rial, similarly Illuminated, shaded the main entrance
beneath, and extended the banquette from the
| building to the street. The effect was fine, aud col.
lected crowds in the street. who had design Of see
ing the ball. The entrance corridor was lined on both
sides with living shrubbery. handsome arch OF
evergreen extended over the head of the stairway.
Inc large dancing hall was spendidy decorated with
towering fancful arch over each end, the gallery
and the walls on every side hung with sreamers Of
RED and biae, and the chandeliers and windows pro-
| Iusely ornamented with garlands Of green inter.
| twlned with flowers. On the large arches were ap-
proprlate inscriptions. Beneath that at the foot of
the nall was stage, occupied by Denegri and his
capital orchestra. Beneath that at the head was
stage containing the throne and sceneries for
| the coronation, for a time hidden from view by Q
handsome curtain OF red and white stripes. The two
stages, and the triple row OF seats around the hail.
the visitors reduced the dancing arena to compar
| atively small dimensions.
| Before seven o'clock the multtudes of gaily
dressed children and ladies and gentlemen began
pouring into the hall, and in short time it was
densely and most brilliantly crowded.
The coronation of the May Queen was the first
spectacle of the evening After an overture by the
orchestra the curtain at the head was drawn aside
disclosing most charming tableau. The Queen, a
sweet little girl, Miss Julia Nash seated her
throne and surrounded by her court, consisting Of
Miss Bella Stevenson, as Morning Star, Miss Lilly
Ridgely, as Evening Star, and Miss Clara Deesder-
nier, as Night Star; Misses N. Goure, Kate Sweet,
and Celestia Boyle, Fairies and Misses Cora Cas-
sidy, A. Lauraine, and j. Muller, as Cupids. All
were small but dressed like fairies, and sweet-look-
ing as sugarplums. The Queen was dressed with
| exceeding richness and taste, having on white
satin body and SKIRT covered with double skirts of
tulle the upper one trimmed with ruche, and dec
Grated with flowers. She was truly pretty, and bore
her honors with true queeny dignity, young as she
was.
| The sceneries of the tableau were elegant and
tasteful When first disclosed, the group was partly
veiled in illusion of different colors and among the
stage ornaments were two gigantic roses. One Of
the Fairies touched these roses when out from thei
midst, as if by magic, sprang two Cupids as sweet
as any that ever poet dreamt of. The ceremony o
coronation was pretty performed by the Stars and
Fairies, the crown being a rich garland of leaves
aud flowers.
Little Queen Julia, being duly inaugurated, pro
ceeded to inaugurate the festivities. In clear and
spirited style, she addressed her subjects thus:
"My young companions, am proud to be your
chosen Queen of May. This is the month OF beauti-
full flowers and sweet odors so well represented on
| this occasion by our beloved and worthy teacher
The Queens speech is never long one. My reign
will be short; but from what see before me, this
evening, it will be pleasant one. 1 shall lay no
tribute upon you but to enjoy yourselves much
you can. 1 shall impose on you no tax but to lend
your aid in making this the merriest and happiest
evening of the year. And to show you how mild
and gentle l intend my reign to be, will close my
regal speech by letting you join at once in the merry
dance and sports''
Then, descending from her throne, Queen Julia ant
the little ladies of her court marched in procession
around the ball. to music After that the children
ball opened and there followed all those beautiful ant
joyous displays which Professor Vegas alone know!
how to get up, and which have made his name 81
famous. The different fancy and character dances
were bewitchingly done, and the polkas, siciennes
etc., in which all joined, were perfectly tumultuous
Until eleven o'clock they thus enjoyed themselves, the
sight of their beauty and happiness aording scarcely
less enjoyment to the multitude Of ladies and gentle
men who crowded the seats, gallery, and all available
standing points, .u.
After eleven o'clock, the ladies and gentlemen
made grand irruption into the dancing arena, ant
the dance that followed was characterized by all tn.
life and genuine joyousness belonging properly tt
such an occasion. Professor Vegas flew about every
where experimenting things and seeing that all wen
of smoothly. He acquitted himself with signal sue
cess, and added one leaf to the already larg
laurel of his popularity.
1t was far on toward daylight when the ball broke
and even then the happy dancers seemed to have no
danced enough, and if they left with regret-a re
gret doubtless arising from the reflection that it wa
the last ball of the season. under Professor Vegas
management, and perhaps the last Of all the balls a
Odd Fellows Hall.