The New York herald., 1866-02-01


&c.. " b DO. ~, &e.
The rccsption BY the rssment, National Guard
of It's cmbers who have served m tho regular and
iunleer army and navy Of the United stss during the
great rebellion took place hast night n the Academy Of
Music and Irving Hail. the two buildings forming for tho
nonce immense edince devoted 10 the worshippers
of Tstpsichore and . host Of heshen detes Balls,
hops and soirees OF the past sink into utter
insgnidcancc whom compared with tho festive gathering
remarkable for beauty and fashor assembled within
palace on tho decoration Of which art and wealth had
iavshed genius and gold tho signal recklessness.
Never even in the memory Of that onipressnt but In
tangible individual the oldest nhabltant has affair
the kind been truly noteworthy for combina-
of magucence and good taste on the part of the
organizers and for display Of beauty and toilette as fur
nlshed by the guests.
THE PREPARATIONS.
The idea OF this reception II is generally understood,
originated with Captain George Moore Smith, chairman
of tho Acting Reception Committee, and was received
with enthusiasm by the members Of the regiment II
then formally proposed TO hold grand fashionable
evee at the Academy Of Music whereat the five or six
hundred soldiers belonging to the organization who had
served during the rebellion, should be "wel-
coined home'--nguratvey of course, at this
late day--in an APPROPRIATE address to bc do
introduction Of this suggestion and It's adoption tho
committee and members lavc worked xcaousIy to in
sure the success Of the soirec. The result Of their
labors was clearly set forth by the unanimous vote
of few delighted thousands whom dawn found ploddng
on their homeward way after nights soourn in fairy
land. f F ts} "a va
BRFoRE THE BALL.
For a parties nterestcd-and who In the fashionable
world was notsyesterday occasion fraught with
excitement Would the committees prove enicisntf Would
the DECORATIONS be worthy Of ths esas Would tickets
be at all obtauable for those who had conddsd in pro-
crassinaton that thief Of amsf No answer could be
given these interrogatory remarks save request
20 be patient and await developments. This plan
accordingly rcsorted TO- and the anxiety Of all was
vastly reiieyed when seemingly endless flo Of vehi-
cies--largs and small, private and pubc-lined Four
teonth street. without surng any apparent dminution
in length Of the constant disappeaance q tho
foremost csrriAgeA
THE OUTSIDE SCENE
wasons OF eminent practicaiiiiea There was neither
ronance in the cold nAesing upon which the sxpeoant
aud wondsrng gussts landed from their carriages nor
yet In partially shAwed leo and snow cngng around
the boots Of the patient policemen who Stood ready to
open the doors and help the vsants through the over
jealous compuuy q spscators There was nothing un-
usuaIin the exterior Of building No extra covered
ways had been prepared had carpets been provided
ou the wsika People they wont 70 como 70
tho opcrs and under similar circumstances only that
tAcy rushed up Il the main entrance they suppossd
tho orchestra had wound up with its grand flourish and
tho curtain had certainly wound up after IT.
rHE FIRST CARRIAGE
rolled roand into Irving place precisely six O'Clock.
and stood patiently the head Of tho line for upwards Of
two hours At seven O'Clock tho carriages Of the com
mi.,ee Gly one IN number began arrive ard deposit
their precious burdens the second entrance or Four
teeplh To prevent all confusion, give satlsac-
speedy es;s & Of the eonlnsr, Captain nrscket oi
the Twenty -sixth precipct had provided shom with
red card which enabled the" 70 rss the en- noe and H,op
door Az balfpast ssven O'Clock tho limo Of carriages
extended through foureenth street to Third aven'le
the line had reached Thriieth street, the cross
streets being crowded a. well. From this time until
mi iznieht they came almost without cessation
Until one thousand carriage loads had been deposited
This was accomplished only BY sdherng to the ADMIR-
ous BY himrcIf and sergeant Robinson and twenty Ave
men from the Twcniysxih precinct For the nrsi
six per minute on the average, all feeling satisfied
hnt they had been set down at the earliest possible mo-
resaarity and order were observed al the conclusion OF
began 10 assemble with the carriages. II was good
natnrcd orderly crowd Of curiosity seekers fcse and
f q the shisss way o. the enou d ana ooa Fo, ,cns
inward 10 Irving place and extending up TO lhe pe
lcelines about the Academy door This crowd, like al
others had its preferences u critical crowd ~
wc ard dd not hesitate express itsef IN load terms
OF either commentator condemnation. a. the fancy
took t. The prices Of fabrics the taste of the ladies' The
the hafr of the person. briliancy OF the
Jewels and hundred other points were discussed with
familiar freedom. ono after another OF the guestl
sish.sd and passed q gm The r"o,e ~ gaze wa, va,
codd not Get Ia at the ball then u regretted that
cid not ABs and ride I'm carrisrrr; hut ts mos
sincere and dnal regret was that 10 waz necessity On
apnin Bracketts part that should get back and givs
gangway TO The company. .t.-..s
TINE roLrcK
were everywhere Captain Brackott had arranged h
ruen IN detail that nothing could 30 amis The haci
inspectors furn shed every carriage driver with card
tnaf would enable him 10 come into line at the clos
Of the bail and take up the guests In regular order Any
carriage that could not pass inspection was denied
ticket aud thus shut or THIS system insure good car
rage for evcry one. Dearhments Of police from th'
Tenth. Eleventh, Thirteenth, Fourtocnth Seventeenth
Twentieth Twenty eighth and Twenty ninth precincts
ard the Broadway squad under Captain Copeland ver
prrcnt who had The sntre charge o tho insids Of th
house. and assisted BY Sergeant Nosburrh, OF hi
precinct u thess men wore de>asled outside bu
oSrra si0n ,ne and hsy wer rsvod and detained
othor quartess The Bsoadway squad observed b
All parties and received Communications all sides
Thsy pcser looked liner. Thc arrangements Of th
rol,ee altogether have never besn surpassed an,
PREVIOUS snsr al this house, either inside % CUT
THE EIDE SCENES
are worthy OF passing word. the calcium light TIM
earod ouf 70 suddenly from The haicony the -Four
entl srcct side sont srcam of light up Fourtscnsl
street. to Fourth avenue Illuminating Irving place
diselsrrg thc rnyrisds cf heads looking out Of IN
oven windows OF The houses frontng thc Acadcmy
,sovss tho o '''ss ss G @o ana .as ' s. n's
wotk had be been 80 disposed The bnico
MICS aud door s,oops Of the adjacent houses wer
VI ~ ~, 49,, ss,h1r tbc ryesfs who ha