The New York herald., 1867-03-29
THE PURIM BALL.

jewish Feast Celebrated the Academy
of Music-The Masks. Music and Mummer-
ies-The Close Of the Carnival. &C., &c.
With dawn to-day the reign Of Prince Carnival, who
during past winter has held sway the bagoers
Of the city. TO end Having viewed the festivi
ties Of the Lederkranz Society," and looked in upon the
subjects Of Arion, who but day since assembled
In mirthful concave, the Prince, ere resgnlng the
sceptre until the Of fross and SHOWS ordains
resumption Of the caps and bells again gladdened the
Academy OF Music with his presence. and yesternght
graciously smiled upon the guests at the Purim bali
THE PuRM ASSOCIATION,
organized some years snce formed with q view TO
celebrating the Jewish festival Of Purm by annual
masked balls which, although gotten up scale Of
great extent and hberay intended TO be family
gatherings rather than public assemblies It is not
however, to be presumed that the members Of the
ciaon were particularly erudite in biblical lore by
son Of their discovering Jewish holiday whereupon to
hold their reunion, when 1t Is known that it has ever
been the custom OF Israelites the world over TO COM
memoratc the fourteenth day OF the Hebrew month of
Adar by assuming DISCUSSES and paying friendly
visits to such OF their coreligopsts as kept
open house. This Fashion Of private masquerades,
which has existed for centuries past, has not been
seriously interered with by the grander gatherings Of
the Purim Association and up the present time the
Jewish residents OF New York interchange calls and
who, under masks and fancfu garbs put to the test
their hospitality The origin Of the festival recouned
at length in the book of Esther perusal Of which forms
part Of the religious services Incidental OBJ
servance of the holy day. With its principal features
are all familiar often has the story OF vasths
pride and Esther's beauty Haman's viany and Nor
decas shrewdness been recounted, commencing at the
earliest stages Of the drama when the Kings favorte
commanded the destruction Of the Jews and concluding
with the somewhat unexpected finale Introductory Of
gbbet Of uDwieldy dimensions. Further explanation
to the origin Of the festival therefore be dispensed
with though must be stated that the fourteenth day of
Adar Is still duly observed in the synagogues
Grafton Of the deverance Of the Israetes The Purim
balls which have been held at the Academy by the
sociaon during the past ase years. have always been
among the events Of the Last night the aqu
still the Purim Ball. albeit the date Of the fes
tival coincided with the 21st OF this month post
ponement of the carnivalistic celebration unavod
able because Of the Of the Academy by
the Liederkranz Society
PRnMNAREs
of the Purim Ball differed not essentially from those
which marked the planning Of the reunions Of previous
years. neatly engraved invitation, coupled with
ticket adorned with plate representing the crownng OF
Queen Esther in presence Of the Of Ahasuerus
the talismans which gave admission to the Acade
introduction Of the purchaser to member Of the
committee and the endorsement OF the candidate by the
latter Official The order Of dancing pretty speci
men OF conception and design. An oblong card board
bore on its face wood cut illustrative Of unroIed
megdh, or scroll Of the law, the surface Of which
were inscribed the selections Of operate and dancing
music. Around tho table upon which lay the
parchment were clustered the members Of the asso
citation. embodied in skilfu carcatures wherein their
prominent features easily recognizable. On the
Of the cardboard printed the Of the
members Of the committee Mr.. Adoph L. Sanger
oficiaed chairman OF the floor committee and Mr..
Arnold Tanner acted as chief Of the reception
mttee and these gentlemen, With Mr. Myer Iaacs arc
deserving the especial gratitude OF the guests I've very
effcient committee erctacio whose absence on any
occasion would be deplored alike by ball givers by
their patrons also hand, although their
not embazoned the order Of dancing These
Captain Cameron, OF the Eighteenth precinct and Cap
Brsckct Of the Twenty SIXTH the latter gentleman
having charge OF the outodoor arrangements and tho
former taking command Of the officers within 1t need
not be said that their services heartily appreciated
by all who attended the Purim ball last night
AT NINE O'CLOCK |
Irving place, which is not generally q very NOISY
borhood was startled by the rumbng Of carriages
and At that the spectators drawn up Of
The Academy and awaiting the arrival OF the maskers
gratiHed by the appearance Of the nrst
long line Of vehicles extended through Fourteenth
the brilliantly lighted structure, whence At in
levas the sounds Of music and although IT'S component
parts constantly vanishing the line appeared
10 decrease In length Hundreds of ladies in dominos
and ball dresses hundreds OF gentlemen In
gaudy costumes aghtsd and hastened into the Academy
Through the vessbule the sairways thence to the
ladies' room and hat room and again down the sairways
into tho sae de bal hurried the throng. An unoeasng
patteing OF tiny feet heard inside the house, an
unccasing rumble Of advancing and receding vehicles
the arrival OF reinforcements outside From
The inner vestbue into the ball flowed the many.
coored tide, ebbing on into boxes. sackening It's speed
In corridors eddying around INSCRIPTIONS |
group Of maskers who held their ground, stirred not
under pressure Of circumstances, and finally finding
outlet in aisle leading to the floor, which still
kept free and clear OF all the committee men who
were giving hna coup doii 10 the arrangements.
rHs DECORATIONS
neat and effective but sparse to afford little
groundwork for description. The stage, usual.
canoped By white tent, and landscape formed |
It's background. Detached from the back scene |
blazed In gas jets the monogram Of the association
and their welcome. "A Merry Purin." Behind the
myriad tongues fame. and, though the hanging 1
garden Of Babylon had been transferred this colder
clime tiers Of shrubs and nowers whose fragrance
with that Of founts or perfume at either
side tinged the heated atmosphere. This floral mise en-
sesne chaste and expensive constituted the decorations
Of the Academy Inasmuch the members OF the |
Purm Association devote the proceeds Of the bali to
charitable purposes IL was deemed incxpedient TO make
the oulays a. heavy as in former years
THE orxxIxG or THE BALI.
Al half past nine o'clock the cornet sounded, and to
the strains OF the Purim March the corege OF maskers
invaded the parsuct and like huge serpent wound and
unwound its variceated coils TO the rhythm Of the
music Characters OF every description ned two by two
on the floor and Joined in the PROCESSION, |
here and there an unruiy harlequin or q
rerot with unusual penchant for gymnastics /
broke from ths ranks and hassed the more sedats by
sudden usurpation Of places; impromptu ne wsboys
leaped upon the stage and hawksd about moro or less
witty samples Of carnvastic journalism, and when the
nnai notes Of the march had fallen from the perchng
place Of Graullas band the body corporate was dis
banded and the chaos OF the dance began
TEE PufuM 0AzHTE,
which contained the PROCLAMATION OF Prince Carnival
sIszsis