The New York herald., 1867-03-01
INAUGURATION BALL
1 A S 7 NJ G II T /.
Benefit Of the Widows and Orphans Of
the Old Fire Department at the
New Academy Of Music.
&c. &c. &c.

Of s ancient ggy the occasion Of the annual ball fo
the benefit Of thu WidowS and Orphans Fund OF thu
gallant old department Always potent in giving color
to otherwise glomy precincts and powerful in making
brilliant and successful whsiever eccaslon might be
under their dasng auspices the nremen could not f
ia any undertaking Of social character although ie
might be even s. onerous task that undertaken ass
evening Of inausurating the Acade.y building In
Fourteenth street. The prestige OF the old de-
partment howsver, had all to do WIN the bril-
liancy Of the display, the hustle Of csngregating
conveyances ard the gay scene that was begun
In the vicinity that building throughout tbs evening
H. great train Of oonvsyances and crowds Of npourins
pedestrians, and carriages dragging their slow
along and depostins their freight Of gay bellies dash
ing beaux at the door in ceaselsss progression Crowds
Of curious spectators gathered upon the periphery Of the
bright circle Of light cast upon the pavement BY tho blaze
Of gas Jets In front Of the house All characters to be
met with in streets there assembled shiverng
crones, with rags for rxent clung 70 the edge OF te
bright CIRCLE chattering snd mumbng In their glec
the sight Of the fair Company depoyins before their
eyes, passerby OF the better class-hdies and gentle
men on their way to theatre Or concert, paused and
curiously watched tho bustling outside prellm-
naries Of the festive which being 50 favoraby
inaugurated within Tho arrangements In tho mont OF
vehicles and visitors were systematic ana credtabie to
Captain Bracket OF the Twenty sixth precnct police
who had charge Of tho as iu the front Of the building
within which all was soon scene OF surprising vei.
ness and beauty.
were OF tho usual character level flooring occupying
tho whole space Of the auditorium with the exception Of
outer tier OF the main entrance had been
acconmodaton Of q couple OF hundred % persons M ons
for q single German Numerous sofas were arranged
along the wall IN front Of the proscenium boxes BY way
OF concealng the rough edges and artiseay bounding
the outline At three o'clock the flooring had been Lard
but at sevon various preparations going on sofas
and the committee still busy with the last ing
details for the evenings festival
At seven o'clock the building cleared Of all oiter.
er by squad OF policemen detailed FOR the duty OF the
night; and yaving couple OF guests In OF the pro.
sccnum boxcs-a brace Of ladies, who graced the
cason a earlier hour than Is usuathe squad OF
comen, some members OF the committee, among whom,
as President, exMayor Gunther and the solitary
ticuar banquet hall mentioned in Tom Moore's poem
Cupids and Tritons-the last winding their painted
herns : :, sat tt demurey along the tiers. With no
to set thom aknbo with the gayety Of the hour while
policemen, like drowsy sentineis with blue coats and
shields and uskets paced to and fro and kept order
where there nobody disorder In fact
ing that the building arngy lighted and that the
no hint in tho general stiffness Which prevailed at seven
O'Clock Of the dnnce and music and ect which prevailed
at nine In the meantime,
I s9ts THE DECORATIONS.
which, though few, were finely conceived. had been
completed, and sif things were In readiness for the
sene was formed BY IN appropriate painting Of rather
Gothic ensspsc, representing solitary castle upon the
top OF lofty crag, and lighted u the windows cata
yacts OF hre about 20 burst herefrom and noed
the Academy within with weirder and nercer lumna
tion than that OF tho garsh gasghts which ared from
hinge brackets erected exactly in front Of II Beyond
this the whole decorative system conceived and
sd out upon the single idea OF the modunton of light
and the compelling Of the gas imp 10 wreshe fantastic
forms and In red letters which should be
pressvc OF the purpose OF the ball and OF the
aim which had called the guests together.
II In frontof this painting over the Stage that the
principal device Of illumination located. From be-
neah ahuge gas pipe had been caused TO RISE like the
body OF serpent through the flooring. and, az II fol
the head Of this serpent as point ten feet above the
Of which. wrsathsd and twisted together, wa,
formed an engine OF gas jets, which, A
hour later, nicksfSd and bazed uneasily upon
tho moving forms OF the dancers beneath them. The
effect In degree bewderng, the glare Of the
gas seeming to BE- stirred by every gust OF music, and
swaying continually with . slow motion 10 the slight
breeze created In The proccss Of ventilation, II In
fact the whole spectrum OF c0ors had been 70 the
gamut Of sound which filled the building.
But this not all Of this device for out Of the
wreathng serpents OF blaze that formed the outline OF
tho fiery engine caused to sprout and uprse single
tail column OF pipe upon which set another portion
for which the guests had been assembled. And here
again the slender shaft Of iron caused TO dvergc
into two smaller shafts, Of which twisted
70 form the setting OF motto and the other OF which
wreaihed TO form within the first the motto Of
tho night Both were punctured At intervals for the
insertion OF gas burners which, when lighted, should
spell out the words In faring capitals