The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-02-05
BROOKLYN FIRE DEPARTMENT BALL.

BROOKLYN FIRE DEPARTMENT BALL.
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A Gorgeous Scene Of spIendor-The Eiite OF
brooklyn Society Assembled.
The ball season eliminated in Brooklyn last evening
In the bail Of the Fire Department Of the Western District
Of that city This event usually the most brilliant OF
all the festive gatherings held a the Brooklyn Academy
during the year but this It's gorgeousness OF
show, Its crowds the richness and even sxravasance Of
costumes displayed far all expectations and left
far In the shade any similar occasion .of show and
menymakng that has marked the present season in
either this or our sister city. ~ ,ss ss la
Preparations had been made for weeks In anticipation
Of this event. which is always popular and Is always
taken in hand BY the first citizens OF the city, for what
ever may b the pous notions a the S they md excuse
sucent b the fact that the mOaey received devoted
TO charitable purpose, warrant their appearance on
the dancing floor once year the occasion of the
Frs Department ball. So last evening the spacious
building was crowded with the ste Of Brooklyn soci-
ETY. and hrenged with the exclusives OF the Heights,
Clinton avenae and other arstOsvsc quarters and their
presence In fierce could not fail give sas 70 such
occasion. 4s8t -8 est
~ about eight O'Clock the visitors began arrive In
many ine coach with emblazoned arms or the more
democratic hack, guness Of srstocratc ornament
Tho business In front OF the building speedily and
comfortably transacted through the management OF
Hack inspector Jones. whose experience served to
organize order from the chaos into which Jehus
naturally run, Mating, laid from the vestbule OF
the Building out TO the curbstone Of the sidewalk,
afforded good footing for the tender fair who trip
ped lightly from their carriages aud hasened by therows
o. gaping oamHs and critically scrotnizng youths who
the front q esdss On ssss
were set down In the garng light Of the Academy 'front.'
and followed in quick succession one the other until,
what with the constant streaming by OF laden carriages
and the pouring OF visitors, the building fairly
overlooking with finely alfred humanity.
ias THE DECORATIONS
Within the building was in its brightest Dress halls
vestbule and spacious lobby being all agare with full
burning lights But the interior Of the building where
the dancing was going on, the parque being ooed over
as usual for that purpose presented scene OF unpara
eied beauty in the glow Of lights and glit,erng show Of
The decorations OF the interior were exceedingly neat
and appropriate and moreover were the work OF nte
gent and eaborative effort on the part Of professional
decorator, who engaged with his assistants Ia
ing up the building from early hour Saturday
ming until late on Monday afternoon. Al the extreme
back OF the stage was new fiat painted by >gnor
Calzo representing modern street very effectively with
very fine perspective to aid the illusion Directly
against this scene placed the Of Engine
Company No. IA, and very beautiful new and light
carriage belonging TO Crystal Hose Company No 4 The
steamer was especially ornamental and although it has
been used In running to fires for the past four pre-
beautiful in general appearance. notShs,aad,
was enclosed with scenes representing pillarcd
hail. and all around the stage ran arc OF hundred
auu Ouu gnLS oacn shaded with frosted globe, while
dropping the OF the stage chandelier
draped with fsto0ns OF flowers evergrcens dotted with
silver stars In profusion and bearing eighty -four globes
chandelier canopy ccniered, formed Of over forty
pieces Of many colored bunting which In graceful sweep
were gathered up above the gterng chandelier From
the centre Of the canopy again to different sides Of the
scenery bounding the sage there were suspended In
graceful curve strings q flowers and while
beneath the gaa jets that encrced about the back Of
the stage there dropping festoons Of bright red
white and blue bunting, which were very effectively
the auditorium From the pfoscenium front wers sus.
pended vertically several large national ags while In
e tie % nss Are
days sssicsy pscsS and folded add IL I'M sddIiios to
ss sss ss'afss 81 pss ss. a e ds
the Stage pcsd % that tbey might be seen advantage
VIZ o *: eS's 81 81
tho house was si:e vesy a.sluly ornsmseied Around
was ornamented By national days on stais crossed
each other ali aroupd the two circles And finally q the
extreme back Of the amphtheare, plainly visible from
with towers and bearing he names Of the various ars
companies Of The sy Additional gas lights were put
@
advantage, from scenery boxes Or gallery.
rurss under tns direction Of The dsccrssns
| Of nremen consisting or Nsssrs Andrew A. Underhu
s xyn & Ensae NJ sH,s' Crystal Hose
The guests continued 70 arrive up % hafpast eleven
- asSs =: s g ". Srsa
s; ne q: &. ;sss sss ~
tm rrr soxxr attH ef
- viewed At midnight nom The elevation ofsss anphi
beauty. A thousand figures seemed 70 b whirling
esther h time 70 the notes Of most en-
sn'nnE .ens r' ' d. a.ss q snd s srps sss
or wandering dreamily through the mszss Of
quadrile, and forming slowly and deliberate fresh
lancen The glitter OF lights the nutering Of many
colored banners and the bewdering mngins Of bright
for rsrs beauties within il the walls Of shs Academy
THE DANCING
was begun promptly ct nine O'clock, the hour named
beforehand and entered into BY great portion OF
the company with rest that gave proof that their in
tenton perfect enjoyment Of the pleasures incl
twenty dances siIernstedwith proensdes the dancing
music being furnished by lonnors Thirteenth regiment
band and that ior the pru%sn,dss sy The band q the
The latter music consisted mainly Of fine selections from
popular operas The supper, which served in the
sssn Ss who d xoSSsl IN ~.
way Of providing decaces for the large company A.
'en0's0 fs rur y,oo. m &i
was ably managed oy Msssrs. Joseph Reeve Peter H.
Taws j. W. underhiiI, Edwin Hillyer, c. g. Lsngdon
Ao1SS W
s. Soaring, Nicholas I. Petit and Fred g. Aymar and
their efforts contributed much to the grand success Of
the occasion. ~
There were present on the floor numbers Of the celeb
rifles Of Brooklyn. Lawyers, judges, merchants, pot-
ciansths leading men intellectually, commercially and
nnanciaIy-mght be seen minglng on the broad waxen
floor with their wives and daughters, constituting the
FIRST families Of Brooklyn and giving creditabe show Of
their ability at 'the light faniastc.' Such being the
characteristics OF the OCCASION II could fail attain
for Its real enoyments and decorous pleasures, higher
standard than has been as yet attained by any ball ibis
The beauty Of the ladies Of course could not fail
to DO remarked The pre-emhent beauty OF the fair
sex in Brookyn has long been remarked and on this
cason the reputation or the city fully sustained by
the assembage Of extraordinary number Of beauties,
whose claim 70 admiration from even connosseurs was
positive and admitted Of not single waverng doubt
THE FEsT1vITIES M.W
Of tho occasion maintained with growing fcrvor
throughout the evening. and carried Is usual
on such occasions Ar into the morning. when day
light family sreakng the east and smling through
the Storm the last weary couple reluctantly abandoned
the floor, the gay company melted away like FAIRIES
under magic SPELL and the grand Fire Department
ball the successful and really enjoyable that
ever occurred in Brooklyn, came TO an end In addition