The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-04-17

Scenes and Incidents of the Occasional Bril-
Iinnt Congregation Of Beauty and Fashion.
The preparations of several months eliminated
among city bellies last evening, as did also the
festive of balls in the grand reception of the
Seventh regiment-an entertainment gotten up for
the benefit of the able and accomplished band mas
ter of this favorte military organization. The an
nual reunions of this favoritc command have been
noted for rich display of costume and the assembage
of the most beautiful women OF the metropolis, and
Tor these and other reasons which are equally
wcighty with the jeu''esse doee OF Gotham tickets
for these festivals have always been in great demand.
on arranging the last of these enjoyable balls, now
ever, the managers very wisely sought means to re-
lievc the occasion OF many OF The inconvenience
which have heretofore been thought inevitable in
such grand gatherings In the first place the num-
Der Of tickets was limited TO the capacity oil inc
be crowded by the curious or by parties OF prone
nadcrs in bonncts the order was issued that full
dress alone u be the feature oil the bright par
terre and that on account would this rule be de-
parted from. The result was most happy in assuring
comfort and enjoyment where otherwise there would
have prevailed Il grand crush and vain attempts ut
impossible Terpsiclorean exercise would have wrung
the hearts of lair oevo,ees OF the light fantastic.
The preliminary and outward signs Of the ap-
proachiIg festival fully worthy OF its grandeur
and gave due note OF the brilliancy and enjoyment
likely TO result from the aggregation OF so much
beauty and richness under such favorable auspices.
The Academy aglOw at an early hour IN tie
evening" the glare OF gaslght gushing out INTO the
gloomy night and the rolling OF long lines OF car
rages giving note OF an unusually brilliant gather
ing. Tie concert portion OF The programme was
begun at eight o'clock, that, during the excite
ment of the arrivals, the sounds of music poured
forth from windows and doorways and added to the
life OF the outdoor scenes on the OCCASION. Tie
carriages were ably directed the inpetuouS
Jehus restrained within the bounds OF dccorum by
The able police force on duty the direction OF
Captains Bracket and Cameron and the process OF de-
hosting The fair visitors at the grand entrance
passed or with even unusual smoothncss. About
the main entrance, where, across brilliantly lighted
area the splcnddy atrcl beauties and their attend
ant cavaliers were tro Iping IN squads, an admirlng
crowd chung in solid mass, hanging on the very
edges OF the lighted space, but repressed in their
anxiety to view the fair spectacle by the stern COM
o. e P3TG a fair faces and Sr
liant toilets, viewing IN panoramic shape tho
scene which within burst upon the sight in grand
combination, in which every element OF beauty and
brightness appeared IN one rich mass.
The seats in the house were all taken at an early
hour, and the obbes were well filed with clusters OF
Indies and gentlemen in fun Dress coquettng, nirt-
ing and cattering mcrrily while the concert wilcd
away the tmewh those who mad secured seats within
the house. No confusion apparent, the arrange
mcnt Of the hat rooms being very good, ana the at
tendance in every respect adequate to the necessities
OF the grand occasion; so that although the visitors
continued to arrive ~ great numbers ,indeerred ~
the rude breeZes, rude followers or the storm WHICH
had prevailed out Of DOORS there not the slight
est Inconvenience within. The music was selecte,.
with taste ana Judgment comprising many IL
miliar DtOrced,T and novel arrangements by Ora
fllla whose fine orchestra never eriormed bctter
than on this occasion. The dancing however,
was the popular feature OF the evening, as It
always Is on such occasions when fair ladies'
have fine toilets to display and the social spirit To
enjoy the May convolutions OF terpsichorean ng-
ures SO it is not wonderful that on the first sig
nal the broad parterrc was speedily oversprcad by
the gay tapestry of powdered cteretures and rare
combinations OF colors in satn gloss or sken sheen.
and that the spark-like diamonds fared in the gny
gaop or nuttcred Ike stars in the midst OF each
evoluting squad that essayed the stately manuNvrcs
OF the lancers The rules adopted by the committee
at the outset we're RICHLY observed, and the bene-
fetal result apparent In the UNMARRIED beauty OF
the scene and the evident comfort OF the dancers.
There was crowdng, crushing OF head dresses,
tearing OF costly skirts. Although the assemblage
was grand In numbers rs IN magnifcencc OF toilet,
Fashion had abundant to display herself to full
advantage and without the fear OF soing her most
delicate feathers. Among the distinguished persons
present were number OF the Governors star MAJOR
General Shaer, with Colonies Oakley, Mcmillan and
Fowler, of his stan; General Varan, commanding
Third brigade, and stair the Mayor and his lady:
Lieutenant Colonel Rockefeller, of the seventy first;
Colonel vcrmye Colonel H. G. Schumway, and quite
a number OF captains and lieutenans OF the Eighth,
Twenty second and Fourth artillery and other regi-
ments OF the National Guard. The gay assemblage,
the most brilliant of its kind this season. diu not
break up until one O'Clock In the morning.