New-York tribune., 1869-03-31
THE OPERA BALL.

The nroblem of successful American
,nasked ball vet remains TO be solved With sufficient
foreign aid-French. German, and Itahan-we have AT
times riyalled the gaieties ana excltements ol
European carnivals. but every strictly domestic
attempt TO initiate their spirit ana DILL
llancy has resulted IN ludierous or dreary failure
The effort OF last evening at the Academy Of Music, al
though in some respects advance upon its predecess
ora must the whole take its place among the sepu-
chral soemnlties with which the annals OF our
Opera-houses crowded. The fact is, that
America, however quick and fertile in inyenting
sporting conviviaites OF its own, Is not
apt adopting those Of other nations The masked ball
has had only but series Of fair trials, and has
from first TO last been fonnd wanting We do
not understand it, cannot enjoy ~
we plainly show that we are AFRAID VI
it. This. Of course do not confess except seee1 "
ourselves but however, audaciousy We may aSSunio
through familiarity with innemos mysteries we are
perfeotly conscious that we are as entirely astray
as any community that undertakes 10 plunge aD
ruptly and without due experience in'o
popular habits and usages OF another lana can posi-
bly, be. One thing however, must be SAID 10 our oreut'
II we fail IL is not for OF endeavor to succeed We
try our best and reproduce the brilliant and
tue brasen glow Of French festvity and we labor with
saeh unceasing energy TO appear enraptured that
unsophistcated observers might easily be deuded INTO
the conviction that the mrh genuine and the misery
feigned But lit is useless attempting TO delude our
IL
are on the wrong track, and all hnow it, although we
have not yet the pluck it, and to seek some form
OF popular enjoyment in accord with our local
taste and feeling.
The doors Of Academy opened last evening at
the usual hour, and according to custom, re-
mained uncrossed until about 10 O'Clock, when
a langud tide of visitors began TO set In.
The flow was unsteady until IL o'clock, when
sufficient number had assembled to justify the orches
tras manifestng their presence IN the galleries lew
hestang groups gathered about the periphery OF the
dancing floor, and timldly surveyed it with wlsttu
and by means. comfortable glances. In the aD
sence Of Mr.. Lester Wallack, the heroic Winkelreid
Of more than one ballroom Mr. Kingsland resolved him
self for the moment into Rer COnrir and, by his gal
liant example, stimulated the courage Of sufficient
number Of couples TO effect respectable opening OF tne
activities OF evening Great gaps and ehasms never
rheess ntervened between the few quadre sets that
could be convened and it not until midnight that
any approach to veness and excitement was exhibited
About this time, delegations of more or less dis
lGused young ladies from various city theaters,
appeared upon the scene, and succeeded IN Iein-
orariy relieving the proceedings from the threatened
paralysis But the thrill Of interest thus aroused was
was not permanent Tho chilling sense Of severe re-
spcnsbilIty than which nothing be more fatal to
iqde effect OF masquerade, but under which
, even the Atlantean sylphs OF the ballet stroVe
in vain move with freedom, overspread the enure
gathering like film Of social ice, hard and unmeng
yet imparttng glitter TO the general gloom ~
IA almost needless TO cay that there was
crowd at any time. The floor was, at the best moments
about half filed, and the boxes and galleries were
sprinked with a tolerable number of serene ana eau
5lous loOkers.on. Special description OF the parucF
pants in tho various occupations OF the
night il totally unnecessary. There were the ap-
propriate proportion of the gentle fair, with yellow
heecy hair, on yellow feecy thoughts INTENT
the inevitable heavy masses Of awkward dominoes
relyed here and there by sufficiently fantast
10 and incrdinately light shreds and patches,
OF costume the accustomed inharmonious mngling OF
Mrabes Bond Shapes. and all the social incongruues
which contribute TO the discomfort and unwhole-
someness Of such occasions when conuucVeu
upon American principles We searched in vain
for any sign Of genuine qualification. AS early as
O'Clock the spirit which ckered. about midnight
began to fade and that time the ball passed on in
gradual positive dmmuand until the little life 1t any
period displayed became extinct At q the scene was
TOO reary to be longer endured except by those whom
an apparent sense of duty compelled to linger.