New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-01-24
THE FRENCH BAL MAsQUE.

The grand Bat .udSQWe given at the Acad-
envy OF Music last evening under the auspices Of tho
Cerele FrGnrais de pHapOne was one Of the most en-
ioyable entertainments of the The pleasant
recoections left in the memory OF those who attended
the balls of the TIVE previous Winters insured fair de-
mand for tickets and the attendance as large and
select as is at the average Of public enter
tainments 1t is the misfortune OF almost all our
New-York balls whether given under the auspices oil
American. German, French societies, that the com
pany necessarily composed Of such Heterogeneous eie
ments. No public entertainment be made wholly
leet nor is 1t deemed essential that more than ordinary
efforts should be made To insure Its being So AT tho
f"riouslv otherwise eyerybody is satisfied In this
respect the Germans resemble US. rather than the French
Although bringing many of their Partisan customs
prejudices with them, our French citizens soon adapt
themselves 10 our social regulations and coventonan-
ties and ball given by them IN Newlork seldom eN.
hbits many OF the features eharaetenNhg te pest o
these entertainments IN Paris. The Institution OF bail
understood by the Americans Is something different
from ball &c Ia ffupicaS In w-1olk, ioI Instance "A
society that wishes To give one engages Hall or teate
tickets with the full knowledge tn at the ascmbage VIII
coain persons representing every social grade FAR
parties and drawingrooms. The French very demo-
cratic IN many respects do not allow the spirit OF denoc
racy influence them in their social arrangements Ia
the extent that We permit. In Paris ball Is,
in social sense either highly respectable or just
the contrary IL is "a fixed rule OF the Partisan Don
tOn and OF the lower grades which affect it's styles and
admit It's axioms, not to attend ball unless previously
assured OF the unquestonable responsibility Of the at
tendance and the nature OF the social auspices under
stitutions OF the French capital are all ot
the class Of which the annual Bal BHHier IL at
the most notorious and the best repre- senatlse'
There was. therefore, nothing ~ the entertain,
mcnt OF last evening that could pc cohsueiru
dstnctiyely characteristic OF the French Dahs wmch.
despite the supremacy OF the Partisan III me matter Oh
bon govt exist with hut few mOdihcailoiS Oh VIC
style Introduced with the Italian eomreisd-gn " .a.-
ainc dc Medic Like NeW-lOrk balls IN general II CON
sisted OF miscellaneous aSSemblage many OF who were
French seycrally and collectively determined 10 nave
good time themselves aud make as lnuSm lhh loI o
rest, as circumstances would admit OF lie conpai!
assembled AZ am early hour and the dancing commenced
at about oeOek. The usual variety oI costumes we're
seen on the floor, including lhe s;ahusIuu nhaI-
acters seen on all occasions. such Us Johh D, hn-
let stonhclcs rle conventional Yankee. The stage
Irshnan. and innumcnDlc funly cOstunes very prtty
Yut meaning nothing in particular. certain dOdo0",
refrcsh,nr In tho extreme was early noticeable; and
nci was conducted for the fun OF the thing than
i'm strict accordance with the rules usually supposed la
Covern such Terpschorean festivities. A. the hour
ri midnight approached the assenbago
augmented by the arrival OF number
of distinguished foreigners. including tho
one or moro Baron lucks the Japanese many OF our
nrompent actors and actresses and numerous public
men AT u o'clock the commenced and the merry
dancers surrounded by deep circle of unused sc
tators The Committee OF Arrangements were unusuhHy
courteous and oceht, and thing done 10 insure
was found much better suited the occasion than the less
spacious floor OF Irving Hail. No decorations were aGuen
10 the usual ornaments OF tho Dulldlug alu WIN tue
many attractive and beautiful occupants or Tue boxes,
none were needed. The police ALgemehts
were under the charge OF Capis. cameron
and Bracket and nothing was needed To Iakc item per
feet. AT late hour in rho morning the company began
10 dsperse, but the dancing was continued n iVcecA.
We cannot conclude without compmenting he orehes-
ira on the excellent music furnished on the occasoD