The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-02-19

acknowledge the error Of their government
cease to be irritated, and give the hand Of
friendship, a. Of yore, to the United States, and
oil viii be WE'LL
The Pablic Balls superseAfag the
Theatres.
Our public balls this winter have been 60
numerous, 30 popular and 90 we'll attended as
to deprive the most of our theatres Of the
larger portion Of their audiences. All Of our
dancing halls have been engaged for every
night during the season, and at intervals of
about a week we have had grand ball at the
Academy. On the evening Of one Of these
festivals it was no unusual thing to see some Of
our theatres almost deserted. The fact Il,
balls have become 80 popular simply because
the theatres do not furnish the public with
sufficient amusement, and with amusement
Of the right sort There IL no sooiality at
the theatres. They are so CONSTRUCTED that
it is almost impossible to get into your
seat, sad altogether impossible to get out
of it until the performance L. over. Be-
tween the acts there is nothing 10 do but sit
and yawn and listen to the dance music played
by tho orchestra and wish that the theatre
were ballroom, so that you might enjoy
yourself A friend may be recognized only
couple Of rows of seats away, but any com-
munication except by signals Is out of the
question. Now, the Americans are quite as
social q people as the Fronoh or the Germans,
and until our theatres are 30 built that the
audiences are not pinned to their seats for the
whole evening, or until our theatrical per-
formances are made 80 lively and amusing, or
so Intensely interesting that no one will care
to stir, public balls will continue to grow more
and more popular. Between the balls and the
skating ponds most of tho theatres have suf-
fered considerably this winter, and unless they
are reformed we should not be surprised To
find them entirely superseded in few years.
The magnificent masquerade balls given by
the Germans have been the most successful of
our terpsichorean entertainments. They ore
most admirably conducted, and are equally dis
tinguished for their gorgeous decorations and
their perfect order and decorum. Our Ger
man citizens who manage these affairs are gen.
t,emen Of wealth, Of refinement and Of great ge-
niality. Shrewd, quiet and efficient in business
they have fund of wit and humor which seeks
and finds ample employm mt at these masque-
rades. The claborateness Of the details of their
balls is really wonderful. 1t is easy to get to-
gethcr crowd Of persons in fancy costumes,
but this docs not make q masquerade ball.
From the time you enter until you leave the
ballroom q series Of pleasan. surprises are
contrived for your amusement. The doors arc
guarded by mammoth sphinkes. who propoHnd
and answer riddles aud conundrums. The in
terror of the building ia adorned with grotesque
figures, natural flowers and emblematical Pic
lures. Here aud there are fountains of per-
fumes into which the ladies dip their handker-
chiefs,/ At intervals professions emerge from
behind the scenes and parade among the
dancers, caricaturing all the prominent persons
and events Of the day. Napoleon and Maxi
milan, John Bull aud the Fenians, city rail-
road cars and slow ferryboats, crinoline and
waterfalls, the restored Union and the dcfunct
confederacy all come in for mith-provoking
hits; and these tableaa1 vivants have all the
artistic finish and satirical effect of the hes! de-
otSA Az NssSss VI Suu'ttVft AhC RlVSh auAtuco
Of the dancing and of the procession arc
printed in the form of newspapers, interspersed
with jokes, squibs and comical drawings, and
are gratuitously distributed by amateur news
boys From these particulars, to say nothing
Of tho expenditures for dresses, music, car
riages and supper, some idea Of the immense
cost OF these masquerades may be obtained,
and some idea, also, Of the tact and ability dis
played by the Germans in originating and con-
Quoting these affairs. They give the people
rational and agreeable diversion, without any
Of the discomforts incident to theatrical shows,
and are therefore entitled 10 our hearty COM
mendation.
TIE APogTArEs or rfu WHITE RAcz-A
resolution was introduced into the Maine Legis-
laturc on Tuesday by General Shepley in
favor of universal negro suffrage and ap-
proving the constitutional amendment Of the
Reconstruction Committee in Congress for sx-
GLIDING negroes from The basis of representa-
ton in all States where they are not permitted
to vote. IL is. undoubtedly, very easy mat
ter for the State Of Maine and many other New
England States, where the negro forms but .
very small portion Of the population, and has
no controlling influence whatever, 10 insist
upon negro suffrage in tho Southern States,
where The black element is largely represented.
There are about thirteen hundred negroes in
Maine, while there are very nearly four mil
lions of negroes in the Southern States. Con-
sequently, while il Is q matter of little or no
importance whether the black man votes in the
New England States or not, the same privilege
being given him In any Of the Southern States