The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-11

Were II not notorious fact that intelligent scrioes
have from journalistic time immemor'al declared
comparisons 'invidious'i IN incomrArsoie CASES >.d
that the Twenty second regiment wih ~ po'shed
buttons ana dainty ways. made bold af'syApi last
evening 10 attract 90 its festive sslhering every
rre,ty s,rl for miles around 10 could " safely aaid
that the Seventh regiment reception III the Academy
Of Music last night the most brilliant AMIR OF 10
KIND that ever took place 10 the metropolis u
would be almost needless 10 Gate that the receptions
ar the seventh have always been occasions Of more
Than an ordinary stir IN what 10 commonly called
.polite, society, end that Of last evening was
nv no means zn exception 10 the general
rule For weeks past it has been the theme Of
thought and conversation wherever there was q
pretty lass who had seem heard OF received an In
vltation TO the annual" How many delicate waists
were cruelty placed In vices OF fashionable manufac
ture that manly eyes might glistcn with wonder;
how many lured into GREATNESS compactness 10
rerve the vanity of the hour would task the EXPERT
avulge For days together silks. satins and MORE
antiques were assorted. praised and purchased over
hundreds Of counters and forwarded to drersmakers
with all sorts Of impatient commands: and last hut
by least the hairdressers were bored scold-
ed and called pet names and all, that heads might
be transformed into houeysucklee rass, mice and
other horribilia in which women take delight.
The reception was In every way q complete sue
cess. There was no attempt AZ decoration, no nass.
not even the Star Spanged Banner'' being hung
over the usual banner balcony near the stage: but
TINS was by no means want that was fell, for the
presence OF the ladies supplied the place Of all ar
fcal ornaments Indeed q more brilliant array of
female beauty was never seen even al Seventh re-
ception and the toilets were perfectly dazzling.
Siks satins and vevets OF the rarest value were 10
be seen on every side while diamonds and precious
stones seemed as plentiful az though some kind deity
had shOwered them down upon the gay and happy
throng in unlimited profuson, and regardless where
they fell. There were blondes and there were bru-
nettes there were little beauties and there were
present no woman who was not pretty.
not pretty, In her own estimation at leastf The
ballroom from one Of the balcony boxes presented
scene that was infinitely enchanting. The rich and
gorgeous uniforms OF the military constantly blend
Ing with the manifold hues of the lades' dresses
the strains Of the grand band under Grafula fling
the air with thousand melodies, which, reverberaL
all the low sweetness OF dying echoes the rustling
the dresses in the dance, the thousand jets OF gas
which made everv epaulet and gold laced arm to
shine like diamonds-all formed q combination of
sights and sounds that was almost bewidering in
its attractiveness.
The concert with military precision, began pre-
Cisely at eight and closed at ten O'Clock, the
band playing the following selections-"n Lanlento
del BardOn due Foscari,n Thoughts OF Home,n
sRobert lie Diable,n "Genevieve.n The hop was be-
gun at the close OF the concert and kept mp with
Ill vlgor until the church bells struck one, when the
most brilliant reception ever had by the Seventh
came to fitting close.
During the evening the Governor elect, John T.
HOFFMAN; Major General Butterfeld. Brlgader Gen.
efal Wedges commander OF Fort Hamilton; Briga-
dler Generals Ward, Berrian, POstley, Burger and
Aspinwall Lieutenant S. c. Barr and Colonel Ward,
officers from other city regiments present. The
executive floor and reception committees, although
they had their hands full from the beginning OF the
evenings entertainment, performed their task to the
satisfaction OF everybody, and to their exertions
was due in great part the brilliant. reception atten
dant upon the reception.