The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-01-13
GRAND FANCY DRESS BALL ON ICE.
Splendid Display on the Firth Avenue
Skating Pond, &c., sc.

Skating Pond, &C., &c.
The first grand fancy ball Of the or
yesterday afternoon and evening on the Ffth avenue
skating pond corner of Fifty ninth street. and proved
most successful and interesting affair The weather, the
ice and everything else requisite for the enjoyment Of the
occasion most favorable During the forenoon the
surface of the pond had been swept thoroughly Of obsruc
tons OF every kind and when, about O'Clock r. NJ
the first throng Of skaters mpat emily waiting and knock
ing for admission allowed N and opened tho ball.
the ice presented beautiful and slippery floor
which IL would difficult TO improve by art
or nature. A splendid band OF musicians
ped comfortable balcony erected the Sxiieih
side Of the pond and at signal from Mcssrs Oatman
a Van Dyck, the proprctors Of the pond, strrck up
lively welcoming overture, during the performance Of
adjusting their skates preparatory TO the start The
company ncaded ladies and gentlemen OF all agc
ashonably alfred but not in fancy dress costumes,
speak there beng only few people rugged out In that
style There were, II Is true, Zouaves and Russian OFF,
Pottowu:omes Ossawatomcs, Senecas, Clubfec &c but
they the exceptions and as they very
The amusement was not however, the less hearty
and Agreeable The whole afternoon the skaters kept
flying around In picturesque confusion, quadring waltz
ing polkaing and tiggng, as well as they could, with
skates for pumps and field Of ice instead OF spring
boards for dancing floor The assembagc kept ncrcas
ing the hours advanced until the approach OF night
when the amusement reached Its height and scene Of
the utmost mcrriment 70 be witnessed. CARRIAGE
after carriage drove up TO the entrance Fifth avenue,
and deposited loads OF arrivals every two or three
minutes while constant stream OF pedestrians Kept
pouring In from every direction crowd Of spectators
occupied tho sidewalks close in by the pond and looked
down upon the with genuine pleasure. Drum
mond lights flashed In i've or six places, and III NJ
tho surface OF the pond tolcrably well, and FIRE
works blnzcd away In every direction. But the finest
iumnator the clear, bright full moon, and the
countless twnklng stars above, which shed down food
OF mellow light upon the Thousands Of skater, Fitting
about like beings OF unknown sphere with that
graceful and rapid motion noticeable In the
vrcs Of experts the deli shtful exercise. There you
bchcld beautiful girl with 'jockey hat and rooster
feather executing In wonderful style, charming pas
de deux with fur clad gentleman equally skfal on his
runners and up the mysteries Of the art tcrschorean
ming in a quadrc that would astonish professor Of
dancing for the originality Of the ngres and the daring
disregard Of distance and order Now matchcss
skater would glide past, wheeling and twisting and
piroucng In pcrilous pas se, followed, perhaps by
pair skating through the intrcacics Of waltz,
achottisch polka Now half a dozen young men
come flying along with Roman candles in their hands
sending forth their luminous balls into the air and timing
the sky with a variety OF brilliant colors. Some have
lanterns their ankles and glide by like hrcfes In the
summer night Some have masks on their faces and
represent old men, hdeous creatures and every species
grotesque countenance. There punchinellos
however with enormous and protuberant backs
and somachs; no harlequns in partcolored vcstmcDts
panaloons playing mad pranks and tumbling about
Ia Rayel there showers OF bouquets, or bon
1ons or confetti, like ono used TO see on the Roman
Corso during the old carnyas; none OF this Is TO be
seen but sti the scene Is anmaDg picturesque, and
emlnently American In it's composition.
The ball was kept up until about midnight, when Mr.
Ontman closed up with the promise Of new Jetss Of
similar style during the season.