The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-02-14
The Close or the Winter and Opening or
the Spring Sc ason.


But few more opportunities remain to, trip
the light fantastic toe in public. Lent COM
mences to-day, and during Its continuance pub
lie balls and private parties are ignored by
large proportion of our community. Still the
grand balls Of the Liederkranz, the Eighth
regiment, the Melochoreans and the Purim ball
are yet to come of, and they will secure as
usual very large attendance of those classes
who do not recognize the observance of this
period of fasting and prayer. The winter sea-
son has been exceedingly brilliant. Almost
every week an immense ball has been given in
enc Of the largest halls In the city, and the pri-
vate soirfes and receptions have been num-
bered by hundreds. At all the public assem-
blies an unprecedented display of gorgeous
costumes and costly jewels has been notice
able; for the war seems to have diffused un-
bounded wealth among the people, and during
the very crisis of the national sufferings we
have taken astounding strides in luxury and
extravaganza. Americans have yet to learn,
however, how to manage great public balls.
AT present such entertainments appear to be
mere fashionable mobs, composed of gallant
gentlemen and superbly dressed ladies' but
mobs, nevertheless. Compared with the stately
and orderly assemblages of twenty or thirty
years ago these balls are open to just and
severe criticism; but everything that lavish
expenditure, profuse decoration and too
luxuriant taste can do has certainly been done
to render them splendid and enjoyable,
and we hope by another ball season to find
that order and regularity introduced which
will enable this city to surpass even the
Partisan capital in this form Of popular amuse-
ment The welcome presence in the metrop-
oils of many brave officers OF the army and
navy, of numerous distinguished civilians, and
of not few foreign notabilities, has added de-
cided eclat to the season which il now clos ng.
But while the pious keep their fast and the
gay and giddy dance out the winter, and Con-
gress persists in dividing the Union which we
have sacrificed so much to restore the masses
Of the people begin TO look eagerly forward
to the enjoyments Of the future. Spring is
coming. Already the bright sun tempers the
chilly air, and after the storms Of February we
catch something of the balmy breath of April.
Soon all the vexations about rents will be
settled for another year, and the troubles and
annoyances of the May moving will be happily
or unhappily over. Soon kind Nature, more
practical and less expensive than Mayor Hoff-
mans contractors, Messrs. Brown, Devoe &
Knapp, will give us once more clean streets
and comparatively healthy city. The sun
shines golden key will unlock our ice-bound
rivers and release the graceful yachts that now
rest dismantled in our harbors The New
Yacht Club has held its annual meeting for the
election of officers, and Mr.. Z. A. Stevens,
much to the regret Of his associates, has with
drawn from the position of commodore, which
he has filed SO long and 80 ably. Mr.. w. H. Nc
vickar is now the Commodore of the Club;
Mr.. Alexander Major the Vice Commodore, and
Mr.. Anson Livingston the Rear Commodore.
Several new schooner yachts are being built,
and the club, thus substantially reinforced, has
every prospect of a season more brilliant than
any which have preceded ii. Instead of the
annual regatta in the old style, which was de-
signed to please the ladies but only succeeded
in making them seasick, the more admirable
idea of a review at the Horse Shoe, which was
inaugurated last year, will be again adopted.
Tho squadron cruise will take place in the
month Of August, when the yachts will proba-
bly, visit Boston. Hitherto only the owners
Of the yachts and their intimate friends have
participated in the delights Of this cruise;
but arrangements are now being perfected to
charter steamer for the members of the club
so that they may accompany the squadron upon
this excursion, as they do at the regatta.
There can be no doubt that this will vastly
increase the popularity Of the club and the
enjoyment Of its members.
II is, perhaps, too early to announce the
preparations which are being made by the
base ball and cricket clubs for the outdoor
sports which will soon be in order; but il is
fair to presume that these games, which have
become as truly American institutions as the
bald-headed eagle or the skating pond at the
Park, will flourish as healthily as ever. The
spring races will be unusually attractive.
Trotting races, which have maintained their
place in public favor for so many years, are
apparently about TO be suspended by the
more exciting and faster running races to
which our sportsmen are devoting their at
tention. Courses are now established not
only on Long Island, but at Bath Gates,
wes'chester county, and at Hoboken and
Paterson, New Jersey-all within easy distance
Of the city-and private tracks are to be
found at frequent intervals on the Harlem
road. Before long we shall have our
Derby, our EPSON and our 81. Leger,
and the contests here will prove to
be sunc.sntly famous and remunerativc
70 induce Englisi and French turfmen to bring
their studs to this country, as tho American
turfmen now take their horses over to win