The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1869-08-05
me Grand Bali at Long Branch.

A grand ball was given at the Stet-
son House, Long Branch, on Monday,
the 26th ult., in honor Of President
Grant A lady correspondent of the
N Y. ltorti, furnishes that journal
Sish d graphic account Of the fete.
sThe whole day long the sullen rain
dripped into the lashing sea, soaked the
green lawas, and transformed the red
sod Of Jersey into clinging, staining
Maud The surf broke with thunderous
peal on The sandy coast A foggy
night succeeded taking all the curl out
of the ladies' hair. Calcium lights
CLEANED upon the lawn; the Stetson
House was all ablaze, and carriage loads
ofbeauty and valor crowded every nook
and corner. Grant was there, the Gym
osure Of all eyes, and actually danced
the Lanccrsl Bat aseoffcrs sneered
at the performance" The fair writer
adds:
Il Is absolutely unfair thas such u,en as Grant
and sherman, who have had other things to
do In their lives besides dancing, should be
forced 10 do what they evidently don't like to
do, and feel they do not cut graceful figure
in doing. Louis Napoleon and Eugenie, whom
have seen open court balls scores Of times,
never do II with the lancers. They use the
piainest, most old-fashioned quadrille. For
ward four, ladies change, set to partners,
promenade all round. Voiia tout And as
sure you Louis Napoleon's game leg, stamping
through even so simple thing as this, is very
y far from being a marvel Of grace or abandon
Alter the quadrille, the band struck up one
Of the pleassntest airs from Faust" and the
crowd closed about the President, who stood
ready for the attack, with his right hand in
chronic position Of extension to receive the
grasp Of the on-coining hundreds. Ihave read
IN private annals that George washington's
hands alter his levees, was often swollen with
thong ntless hand-pressure from admiring vis-
tors. Thinking Of this, whom my name was
proneunced in the ear OF his Excellency i gave
him one OF my pfettiezt curtesies and refrained
from Offering my hand. With perfect grace
he responded in bow and with an apropos
word. Raising ny eyes, then, took him in
at q glance. y, Carlyle, where art thou, that
may say to thee how wonderfully clever thou
vert to write Of the Philosophy OF Clothes r.
tell you, Grant dressed in neat evening suit
Of black broadcioth, and white neektic, and
spotiess linen, is no more the Grant whom
saw a. the depot, than chalk is cheese. He
even looked AeAdsoms: For, observed man
IN bis position has so little near him OF that
divinity which doth hedge about king. He
can't wear the grand Gordon Of the Legion Of
Honor, or Of the Bath. He can't even use a
lewelled garter or diamond-hiited sword
Ne has absolutely no externals, and yet people
expect him TO take on al once all the beauty OF
Turveydrop.
said the other day that respected Grant.
But mark you, there are some of his perform
ances that must put out Of my memory when
linake this announcement. Prominent among
these Is his leading bis pure and lady-like wife
@ theatre TO gaze upon nude women and the
gy!mnastic indecencies Of the French masked
ball male dancers. But for all that l wish to
be Just, and have no hesitation in saying that
General Grant behaved like gentleman--aye,
and looked like one--at this grand ball, which
was given solely in his honor.
The stolidity which is so prominent feature
With tho Presidentwas observable in the rather
humorous fact Of the same persons being intro
drced to him two or three times within half
hours time, and be never seemed to be aware
that be had ever seen them before. "General,
allow me TO present Sir John Darlington
said dignitary In his ear. allow do You do,
M. BarIington7 responded the President
The supper was positively the handsomest
spread have ever seen out Of palace Fancy
atabie almost two hundred feet long laden with
fragrant tuberoses, pansies, mignonette, camel
lias, Andgeraniams; with gilt candelabra, with
twenty arms; with gas chandeliers above,
shedding their brilliant rays ON such delieacies
q gslautine of Turkey, with Truifles, oysters
In ice, supeame Of chicken, chaad froid; on
SALMON which Richelieu might have enyied,
served entire, garnished with slices of lemon,
The whole embedded in Montpensier butter -
And then the dessert-ihe fancy kisses, the
and sorbets, the berries, the pineapples lean
no more After the supper the Presidential
party returned 10 the ballroom and dancing
was resumed.