The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1868-01-23
CHICA GO CORRESP ONDENCE
CHICAGO, Jan. 20, 1867.

day in the fashionable circles of the Gar
den City, shall he evermore marked
with white stone, as the orientals say.
The grand event of the season comes off
tonight and it is to be called Gimore's
charity ball. Such furore over social
event has never been known in Chicago.
We are here in an excellent frame of
mind for alnpst any distraction from
the painful dullness which beclouds our
business sky. and even if we had other
things than the ball to think about, Chi
cage people are always alive to the pros
pect of doing anything, no matter what,
better than any body else has ever done
it; SO, as it is promised that we shall
eclipse all the balls ever witnessed in the
United States, we go in, "neck and heels
to insure consummation so devoutly to
be wished. The whole family Of Gunny-
bags, who is worth half q million, any
quantity of the Fitz Foozels, who possess
untold wealth (of aristocratic pretentions)
and in fact everybody who has any just
claims to be anybody, will be there. The
tickets cost only $50 each, so that arrange
ment will keep out the cGn0il!e, the pie
beians. 1t will be glitteting vision Of
jewels. silks, satins, broad ;loth, patent
feathers and white kids,-a glimpse of a
| farie land OF brilliant decorations, daz-
cling light, voluptuous music, odors which
lead the senses captive and beauty worthy
of a mussulmans paradise. Such gor-
geOus affair could only find place in the
Crosby Opera House. If Farwell Hail
had not been burned down, its floor
would have been temptingly large but
then there might have been such hampers
on the fe ;tivites as having to print the
list Of dances and engagements on the
backs of tracts and having to engage the
police headquarters for supper rooms, as
sociatons (Y. VI. c. ~, and otherwise
which would have been unpleasant be
sides, the Y II. c.. y. might have frowned
upon these Terpsichorean sports. All
things considered, the Crosby Opera House
was ''liobson's choice, this or none, U
and indeed the same saying might be
applied to Gilmore, the ge:ter up Of this
huge affair lie is Bostonian; but
good things. you know can come out OF
Nazareth, and he has shown himself wcr-
thy Of Chicago. He has taken all the re-
sponsioiiity and labor Of arranging for
this grand ball.--bringing on here humid
red or so Of his Bost ton band, all firSt-class
musicians and ali the proceeds, over actual
expenses are to DC devoted to Chicago
charities. lie hopes 20 get square" on
concerts yet to be given here by his band.
The cost OF flooring over the great audito-
rum of the Or~ra House, level with the
stage, cutting doors to supper hall and new
cloak rooms, music, decorations, printing,
ETC.. will amour; up probably to eight or
ten thousand dollars. Even this should
leave handsome return fer the charities.
spoke OF The dulncss of trade just now.
1t is really alarming. The prospects are
that the spring trade will open late. In
the interim money is extremely stringent
and business is positively dead. The ac
counts which We receive from all parts of
the country arc equally depressing. Even
as Ear off as New Orleans, there is no i'm
provement met this morning, mer-
chant who had just received from a cor
respondent in that city, letter informing
him that money is now worth three per
cent. per month; that BUSINESS houses
are failing by the score, and that in one
lay, at one leading bank. two hundred
and twenty-five hitherto reputable firms
went to protest.
Active preparations are now being
made for the formation Of Grant clubs,
and already three or four are 10 active op-
Grafton Leading republicans head the
movement, but candor compels me to say
that the people do not seem to back
them up very enthusiastically. 1t is pref
ty definitely decided that we arc to build
huge wigwam for the accommodation of
the republican convention In May next
and until that body meets public iervor is
not very likely to be awakened by Gen.
Grants non .committalism. In saying
this l simply state impartia!ly what ap-
peareth unto me fact, irrespective Of par
ty interests.
Some Of eur modcstes and millin ers are
trying to rush the season" by introdu-
cling already some new spring fashions
not exactly spring, but the transition
state from winter, sort OF "sccond wild
owhood' of the year. Dark colors are,
however, very largely in the ascendant
this year, and even the rich plaids and
b,ndsome cloths in colOrs are generally |