The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-05-15
An Imperial Fancy Ball.

| An Imperial Fancy Ball.
A correspondent of the New York Herald
writing from Paris, gives the following abo u,
the grand bal costume given recently by the
Empress Eugene:
The splendor of the scene presented the
night before last at the bal costume given by
the Emperor at the Hotel d'Albe and which,
for the last few weeks, has been the grea,
topic OK expectation, was such as has scarcely
ever been surpassed The persons invited be-
gan to arrive about nine, but before an hour
had elapsed the rooms were filled. The En-
peror made his entry shortly after eleven, in a
biack domino, which he only removed during
the evening to substitute for il a blue one
The Empress, who arrived soon after was at
| tended through the room by Prince de Met
| ternich. Her Majesty also wore q domino
Wnich, 10 the general surprise, she never took
on. report having 1ffl med that she was to ap-
pear as DIANA the Huntress. Her Majesty re-
manned only short time. The stume OF
the Pflncess Mathilde was of a most unusual
description. as the texture OF her skin was
comPleteiy darkened to represent copper
coiored Indian, and to suit a curiously pictur-
esque attire, lightly fastened together. The
Princess Clotilda showed exquisite taste in a
! most charming costume of IA Bergere in the
time of Louis XIV. Prince Napoleon appeared
| iE domino The guests were received by
| the Duke and Duches de Tascher la Pagerle,
| whose courtesy and attention was unceasing.
| Dancing commenced early. and continued
during the night, but three Juadrilles in par
ticuiar stood out in bold relief for their beauty
ana originality, and the costumes of which
had been previously arranged. In the first
| were represented the characters of the fairy
| tale which delighted our childhood. Puss in
| boots the second was composed OF the favor.
lte personages of the Italian carnival, such as
| PuHchineilo, Harlequin, and the rest; while
the third, in which the four elements were
| attempted 10 be lmpersonated gave TO the adj
| mirlng spectators one of the most lovely sight Is
ever presented in any ballroom. The Coun tess
w ranr rod vV.ltl ha1,,
| AS UHdine. She wore a coronet Of diamonds
surMounted by Il conque shell of diamonds
and opals Behind noated on her shoulders
marine shrubs. Air was personified by The
COUNTESS de Morny, who Wore a head dress Of
| diamonds, with wings at the sides, her hair
Being powdered with silver whilst behind
We're 10 he Seen light pinions. The Princess
| SWiskOWska represented Earth. Her head
| dress was composed of a crenelated tower in
Solu orhamented on one side ith a cornu-
coPia, from which fell flowers and fruits
Fue was represented by the Princess Czarto-
| rlska, daughter OF Z uefn Christina. She wore
a dIadem of flames of gold, her hair be-
ing powdered with gold and flames of the
| same metal were lntermiEgied with her hair.
| In each quadriile the ladies were dressed
nearly alike; and. in addition 10 the leaders
! mentioned above, were TO b. seen the Countess
DR. Persigny. Nine Niprabitowska aud Mile
Slvewiboft, the Countess de Morny, The Prin A.
cess de Metternich, Mime. Nirerdrecka, The
Countes de POrrales, the Countess de Labe-
doyere, &c.
The last-named quadrille was composed
solely OF ladies, four for each element, and
each fou- being dressed alike. with rimost the
| sole difference that he display of diamonds
and precious stones was someW hat greater
| with some OF the ladies' than with others. But
| such was the admiration excited moi only by
| the richness Of the costumes but by the beauty
| OF The ladies who took 4 part in it, that UNI l.
ver>al sunplication took place for a repetition
OF the dance, and the request was most kindly
| acceded to.
Al two O'Clock the curtain, which hung be-
| tween the pillars of the garden corridor, was
| raised, and present ted a sight the magnitcence
OF which could scarcely have been imagined,
| unless in beholding some picture by Paul
| Neronese. This was the banquet hall, which
| to that hour had not been opened. The cor
| ridor led on to galleries, which extended down
| both sides OF the hail. "A the farther end,
| scenery had been arranged so rs to vanish in
| To distance; u fountain sent up its waters in
| the foreground, and on them electric light
| was so adjusted as 10 give the wa,ery spray,
as il rose aud fell. the appearance of frosted
| silver.
The scene was most beautiful and called
| vividly TO mind those abodes only read of in
the Arabian Nights. The centre of the hall
! was reached by two wide staircases, and in its
wide expanse We're disposed twenty tables
glittering with plate and crystal, and covered
| with supper of most sumpiuous descrips
iion. The attendants consisted solely Of
pages at'Ired in Il costume of the richest KIND
silk velvet and lace, of the sixteenth century.
party OF musicians, also dressed most gor-
geously. played during the supper.
| The Emperor sat down at one of the tables,
| but did not remove his mask, even while
| taking refreshments. Eight ladies were SEATED
near him the Countess de Morny at one side,
and the Countess Walewsha at The other. AT
| the supper table with the ladies of the Court
were To be seen the Princess C,otllda and the
Princess Mathilde. As soon as the first party
OF guests had withdrawn, ther descended
and so continued until all that pleased had
| supped. Dancing was resumed afterwards
| ana the fpte Gid not terminate It'll in tht
| morning.
Perhaps there was never seen n more mag.
| nificent display than on this occasion, or one
| in which every person appeared to have be
| slowed SO much attention to faithfully carry
| out the various details of the costumes adopt.
ed, Expesse seemed t. have teen totally dis
| regarded both by the givht OF tie tctc and by
| the invited, aud the first rough expense Of the
entertainment before guest had entered the
| rooms, is estimated at not less than iUo, ,0Ot
francs. The display OF diamonds was some
| thing wonderful and the dresses were gene
| rally remarkable tor their fidelity. Among
the costumes noticed for their historical cor
rectness ana spinndor. were those worn by
three English ofcers-Captain 1,umley, in the
character of the Earl of Essex; Colonel Burn.
| aby. as Gustavus Adolphus, and Capt. Maxse
| as Francis 1.-Gdkign0n
NAVAL INTELLIGENcE.-A detachment OF
marines, in charge OF Lieut.. Butler, United
States Marine Corps, for The United States
steam -frgate Niagara. arrived at Brookly L
! Marine Barracks on Thursday night, from
Washington. They were Immediately sent Oh
board OF the receiving ship North Carolina
where they will remain until further orders
There were also draft of sailors. arrived from
Boston, for the Niagara The Niagara has beeI
| fl ted up in the quickest possible time. On
) Thursday week she was lying in The stream
housed over and to day she is fully equipped
and ready for sea- and will be commits ionei
| on the 18th inst. The United States store-shiI
Release, recently returned from The Coast o
! krNyil sill IVirY the stream where ALI
| will await the action OF the Government. Sh
brought home twenty Evalids from the Brazi
| So uadron, who were sent TO the Naval Hos pit
| al yesterday A Court Martial has been or
dered npou Capt, Potter, recently in comman.
OF the sloop-of war NiucenDes b F. Halle,
| United States Navy, is TO be Judge Advocate
How DUELLING WAS STOPPED IN ILLINOIS
In moralizing upon dueling, the Chicago Pres
| and Tribune informs us how the law become
dead letter in illinois, by reviving the hsto r.
| of the first and only duel ever fought in tha
State. In the year le20, Alphonso Stewart an,
William Bennett fought with rifles, in S,
Clair county, and Stewart fell mortal,
wounded on the first fire. Bennett made hi
| escape in to Arkansas. where he remaiPed tW,
. | years. His whereabouts were discovered. b
was arr rs ted, brought back indicted, tried, con
victed Of murder. and executed. Governo
, | Bond was besieged days and weeks by the dis
cipies of the code. clamoring for pardon. Blu
he closed his door against petition and entrea
~, aud William Bennett dangled At q rope
/. end in the presence of some thousands Of spec
tators, who took In great moral lesson. Thi
was the first and last duel ever fought on IN
soil OF Illinois, aud it effec ctually crushed Ou
! all respect for the bloody code in that State
Il LADY SHoT.-The Augusta (3a.) Dispatcl
states that Mrs. T. w. Freeman, while asleeI
| in her room, at her residence, about clever
, | O'Clock last Friday night, WAS awakened by
1 ST. nj cd hv at niuU