The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-06-16
The Grand Hop.

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The Grand Hop.
WEST POINT, June 15-Midnght.
The grand hop given by the second class 10 the
graduates came on tonight with all that ecat which
has ever been the distinguishing feature OF like occa-
sions in previous years. Perhaps 1t would be out of
place to say that for many weeks past the ladies'
have been making the most extensive preparations
for the brilliant event tina. delicate waists have been
cruelty placed. even against the desires OF
ca Iet'oving hearts, in vices Of fashionable
manufacture and laced into breatMess cOmpactn ness;
that silks and satins and MORE antiques have been
assorted and praised and purchased over many a
city counter, and then sent Off 10 che dressmakers
with all sorts Of impatient commands that this
evening hairdressers have been worried to DEATH
and bored and scolded, and called pet names, that
heads might be transformed into rats and mice,
and waterfalls and honeysuckes and many
other natural and artificial shapes; that
pretty little feet have been confidently
placed In the rough hands of vile
shoemakers, with gentle request to put them on
trial In slippers that would not look gly IL they
could, with such little reminders of bea uty within
them; that In TACT, mamas and papas have been put
they wanted wished for or cried for and that ali
their wishes have been gratied and that every good
looking girl IN almost every part OF the Union has
received dozen invitations and d0uby as many
more for her female friends.
THE CARDS OF INVITATION.
They have very excellent practice here when q
grand hop takes place which might, at first MENTION
set the heart of certain ball-goers in the city In
glow Of economic qualification There is no entrance
fee and invitation cards are ony parchment OF form
are not w virtually 10 act the part Of open
he muster Not can enter b provided
must have certain color OF kid or pecu-
way you meet soldiers armed to the the teeth eeHa'
who look at YOU beneath lowering eyebrows and in
a second decide your fate. They are keen fellows
n fbnv
tell you, decide whether or not man Is eligible to
view Of the ball room dongs by the mere "cut OF
their eyes be mistaken in your 'cut" card OF invi-
tatlOn would satisfy them at once that they had
know And a word about these - cards 81 ' in.
yitation. They consist Of finely tinted paper
about the SIZE Of lady's note, with a magnificent
rased-wOrk monogram OF the title "United States
Corps Of Cadets" the initial letters OF each word
being interviewer in manner rs intricate 1t was
chaste in appearance. On the left hand side of the
monogram, amid various fanciful adOrnments. the
figures '6S, and beneath it the word "from," and
directly beneath this the figures 49, indicate the orr
gin and design OF the cards. At the bottom OF the
monogram the words OF the invitation engraven.
more tasteful card Of the kind has not been seen
at any previous hop.
THE BALLROOM
There Is no such thing here as u ballroom-that is
to say ali apartment built for the special purpose Of
dancing. owing to this fact, at the annual hops Of
the graduating classes the cadet managers have to
building and the mess hall. Last year the former
place had its day. this year the latter favored,
although, on account or the presence OF the mid
shpmen, the second class had TO form their German
In the academic building this morning 1t will thus
be seen that there were two distinct hops. The
mess hail. at least that part of 1t which is understood
to refer simply to the room In which the cadets
ordinarily take their meals is u large room
gddy maze Of waltz. and IS in eve ers
way the best apartment calcula' ed to be found
IN any OF ,he public buildings Tor ball or hop The
daily appearance have been OF course removed for
the occasion and the floor well prepared for the easy
la nArlf faaf vha xa1lS Nnat
FULLY hung with nags and by various ornamental
means made to look as much like regular ballroom
proper commenced at eight O'Clock and the Germans
at eleven O'Clock.
Long before the hour the hop was announced To
begin the room more than comfortably filled nv
could wei wish to see have just left the ba loom
and speak from what have seen when say that the
toilets OF the ladies are all that could be desired in
the way of taste and elegance, and they themselves,
without using a stereoiyped phrase, exceedingly
beautiful; and what makes their beauty more OF an
attraction and delight to the eye Is It's
naturalness, the hateful powder and paint, SO
often the prominent feature OF city ball. being re-
markable in this instance only by their absence AS
for the gentlemen of course their attres do not de-
pend upon choice, but military regulation. The
cadets with their neat gray coats bullet buttons,
dark blue Jackets set of by their small brass but.
TONS and the uniforms Of the officers OF the army
gaslight, form pleasing contrast to the general
light color Of the ladies' dresses rhe music is fur.
nisneu ny Tue excellent strifR anu luu band OF the
post and that alone, to any person who has ever
been here, Is sufficient testimony that 1t is of
the highest order. To the least a coup d'uu of
the ballroom is very brilliant-more So In fact than
persons used to balls In the city readily imagine
There Is not 50 much gaudy hue about the dresses
TO be sure nor such plentiful display OF jewery;
but there Is more solid attraction In beauty
OF face and feature and better taste dis
played In the toiets-an elegance with
out loudness, plainness without absence OF
solid richness. IL thought there would
be at the ball great jealousy between the cadets
and the middes. Well, there is but IL il OF that
friendly Kind which admits of no dispute, wrangle
no Ill feeling, no action that could give offence.
Each cadet and each MILDLY Is doing his utmost 10
act out his part WELL and Is ready to obge the
other by fair exchange Of partners partners being
willing, and dance all round with every girl I'm the
room. The West Pointers evidently endeayor-
ing, even at the sacrifice OF their own en-.
gagement, to make the Annapolistes feel perfectly
at home and when blue jacket Is espled alone in
a corner he Is pounced upon by a cadet, through |
whose good graces he Is soon In favor with some |
brighteyed damsel and dancing about the room with
her lively and az chatty though he had known
her from childhood In many instances the courtesy
OF the cadets Is finding Its immediate reward, for
many Of the mddies have hade their pretty friends
come to the Point for the hop, and so during the
evening nearly every cadet has found his female |
acquaintances increasing in a very agreeable |
manner.
FINS coRoNlr OPUS
n may be that dancing at hop IN not labor. II |
this he true this heading Is Ut fault: but feel Ger
tain the cadets and middies in their enjoyment OF the
evening far consider their efforts to please the
fair actual labor OF love. In fact there can
be doubt that many OF The fair ones take this not
by any means disagrceabls view Of the evenings |
pleasure and their companions attentions, " soft
glances f0m downcast eyes and whisperngs lost to
nattentive ears during the intervals OF the dance 20
to.proye anything. But all pleasure here below has
IL I'M tiaiC lyiy forth ita