The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-03-18

TIE TURNER Mask BALL.--Tho masque-
radc ball given by the German Turner's on
Monday evening at Sauor's Monticello
Hall gave additional evidence of the SUI
perior fascination of this style Of festivity
over all others. Mask balls are certainly
more amusing than others, and should be
more gratifying to every one who partici-
pates, inasmuch as he is not only enjoying
himself, but is adding to the pleasure of
others; and yet, in Richmond-though
they are elsewhere popular and fashion,
able-were it not for our jewish and Ger
man citizens, mask balls would scarcely bo
known.
To return to the subject-the ball on
Monday night was successful and brilliant.
There was q large number of maSkers in
attendance; they showed, with scarce an
exception, excellent taste and much talent
in the selection Of costume and the carry
ing out of characters and, like all good
Germans, enjoyed themselves in manner
worthy of the occasion. The Germans are
q great people, and what they don't know
about enjoying themselves wouldn't do
anybody any good. The ball COM
menced OF a seasonable hour, and it
was not long before pleasure reigned
among the weird personages who
seemingly hoated into the ballroom. On
and on they came, one by one, couple by
couple, mockeries, parodies, allegories of
all beings human-a grotesque gathering,
which lent its wits and persons to the whims
of that most whimsical god, Comus. Kess-
Mich was there, and number of his master
musicians, and his delicious strains soon
set these strange creatures to dancing,
and gave some method to the fantastic
humors Of these players in the petite
comedy of life.
Whilst the strange buzzing of voices
from beneath the strange types Of human
oddities has ceased, and naught save the
music and shuiiling of feet has ceased,
we will endeavor to see who is who. Our
task is not an easy one, for these people
wear their masks so well that it is hard to
tell where the mask ends and the real be-
gins. However, we will try. The scene
can be better imagined than described !;
so we will not attempt description. Among
those participating we note the following !:
Andy Johnson, with his smoothing board
and shears. Upon placards on his back
were: "I'll be your Moses; I'll meet the
issue, and if fail, l will go back on my
trade" This important being was well
personated by Mr.. F. LIE. Dabney's
Band of Minstrels, composed of six per-
formers, was so excellently represented
that we failed to find out who they were.
Fop, with stripes and buttons all over him,
Mr.. Sd; Appolyon, Mr.. J. S.; Esqui-
maux Prince, Mr.. S. B.; Pierrot, Mr.. s.;
his wife, Master W. G.; Pedler Woman,
Miss j.; Jubetta, white Fawn style,)
Mr.. E. NJ. E. ;.Lucretia Borgia, Mrs. L.
M. E.; Page, Mrs. S.; Nun, Miss B.
Romeo. Mrs. - "a Petersburg LADY, s;
Landry Barbault, Mr.. On; Irish Lady,
Mrs. D.; Tyrolcan, Mr.. J. L.; Harlequin,
Mr.. X: Jew, E. J. E. Besides these
were Scottish girls, Swiss peasants, Span
ish girls, and variety of other representa-
tive characters impossible to find out.
In good time, and just as the idealistic
was becoming wearisome, when each
masker wished to become No. again,
and when curiosity to know which was
No. l was at its height, the masks fell
from the faces of the jewellers, and where
the comedy of ideal life ended the mask
of real life was taken up. The romance
was gone, strangers found themselves u's- a.
vis with strangers, friends with friends,
and though oftentimes disappointed in
their calculations, every one seemed glad to
know who was who. Supper ensued, and
it was good one, too. Mine host Sauei
knows how to get them up.
After supper, the new and dullel
comedy, in which everybody knew every
body else, was taken up, and continued
with sufficient spirit until night hat
nearly ceased, when one by one the cou
Piles took themselves homeward. Err
long they were all gone, and the TurneI