New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-01-19
GRIND BALL OF THE CERCLE FRANCAIt
DE UHdRNONIO

In January 1866 seven wise men of Gotham, French
| by BIRTH Hebrew by faith, Solons 10y nature.
tered into solemn league and covenant top ay open
court to Folly month. Theirs musical AZ
ISOLATION dramatic association, dancing associ-
alton, but first last, and always, laughing associa-
ton. Once q MONTH though stocks fell and storms
rose, though kings abdicated and Congresses
wrangled, though the land of their birth was
disturbed and the land Of their adoption distracted,
these adyenturers who had discovered the Fountain
of YOUTH met to felicate each other thereQpon, and
to take fresh sip of its intoxeatien. In January.
1867 the Harmonio's Circle has extended its bonds
to include sixty philosophers, and last night its
| tomary place of meeting in HOuston-st. could not
hold it, and it overflowed shakespeare mixed his
metaphors into Irving Hall, with many rpples
of wives, and pretty daughters and friends
outside tho primary ring, while the Harmonious
were themselves made. This French Masque and
fancy ball was the first grand ball of the season. and
decidedly the best for several seasons The decora-
tions which were the inevitable flowers, and
wreaths, and bird cages, and much bunting French
and American. were tasteful enough the music good
the atmosphere agreeable.
Nearly all the dancers were masked. they should
have been and, though the floor looked always full,
there was no crowding of the sets, and no fatal
disaster to garments.
The toilets were various, brilliant, much more
original, andrch than usual and generally tasteful
That inexplcable law of conrarineSs which forces
maidens with square ankles, and splay feet
into peasant girls dresses aud insists that ponderous
matrons shallwear baby waists and galoon sleeves
in an insane attempt to look like mkmaids, and gyp-
sies and mandolin players; which persuades certain
lean and pinched anatomes of the other sex to as
sumo the close integuments of the courtiers of his
most gracious Majesty King Charles the First
1 IL, af I.,.alaN and
drives the stout men into the fanciful raj.
ment of Mercutic. or the abbreviated costume OF
q page-this mysterious but absolute decree pre-
vailed as MISUNDERSTANDING which fatality the
general effect was good Mary Stuart through the
interposition of some most clement fate, not
trotted out-not to speak it profanely-during the
evening. How she and her pearls, and her black
cotton) velvet hideousness, and her preposterom
sleeves were pretermitted we were too CRATE
| full to inquire There was rather scarcity
| of peasants of natiOnalties unknown to travellers
and geography, and acknowledged only OF the stage;
not than forty-wth the usual short red petit
coat the usual black lace flounces the usual uhsoi
trimmings and the inevitable gaiter boots with mug
| rosettes-enlivening the Caledonians ana o'no'
dances familiar to the peasantry of all coun'
| tries. Night and Morning POLITICALLY expresseo
in metaphor of taretane and tinsel; Gretchen ana
Greek bird fancers and harlequins Circassan beau.
ties and Othello with number of his brothers. no'
mentioned in dramatic annals; soldiers OF all poeus
nations whose distinguishing characteristic seemea
to be very wide trowsers suddenly suppressed at inc
knee, land an inability to carry whatever weapon ap-
| pertained to the costumes, noble sNss0'
| q pride of the harem, seven uouoauo
| five Rebeccas, and Rosinas nineteen revoiu.ion"'
| heroes and three marchionesses, Madame 10 iV"p
dour Louis Quatorze, three nuns I'm no0P'l anN
Faust, 80 stout that he seemed quite to nave soten
over any little disappointment no might nave nas
| in reference to his future peace,-an 'ho0.
and hundreds more spun round and round snu
| round till the kaleidoscope made ones eyes 49,
Noticeable among many others was lady a''neA
in blue silk with ornaments of embroidered ho's~
shoes, costly founce of point APPLIQUE tiny VIZ,
boots, and jaunty cap marked Jockey CLUB ,n'
usual procession Appeared at,the usual time ana IN,
appeared at the usual place leaving all the a.
| to wonder what is meant Then tho supper We a.
nounced and no one wondered what that nleah" .hsa
it was Immediately evident that 1t meant mufn ,S
reconciles to the struggles OF existence 49,
which the poet prophesies wherein the nataeh ttsd
the mystery of all this unintelligble v9fld are -
1t is probable that this French ball has no. 80
ended, and the Cercle Is still watnhg tnc me-, tce
away, for shortly before dawn " Looked o GUILE
harmonious to think Of dividing atset INTO gar
This new claimant TO public favor has resly g,he,sS
delightful party and deserves 20 be well repelpei"
eli iaseytl pppaa'