The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-02-05

sistent and so obstinate. The enemies
OF the measure took advantage of every
| parliamentary tactic that could by any
ingenuity be brought to bear upon the matter,
and actually succeeded in consuming over an hour
in getting one motion to be put to the House. As an
evidence of the efforts made to weary out the pa
tence Of the members, it may be stated that the
roll was called to record the votes of members no
less than thrtynine times, and only one of these-
the instance where the vote upon the final passage
of the bill was taken-wss demanded for any
other reason than to consume time. But ''the
coloIed troops fought nobly" and quorum held
out to the last roll call, which was gone through
with at about baf-psst six O'Clock. In addition
to this session of six hours and half, night
session was attempted by some of the members,
but the majority thought they bad earned their IS
''per diem per day." and therefore declined TO do
any such thing.
The ball given at the Opera House by the Opsra
House Club on Wednesday evening. surpassed our
most sanguine expectations, and must have been
source of congratustion to the gentlemen under
whose auspices this brilliant affair was conducted.
AS early as eight O'Clock the auditorium com.
meDced filing with the prudent fair ones who,
taught by experience. knew of the difficulty of OBJ.
tanning seats in of delay and ere nine o'clock
had struck >very box and seat in the dress circle
and secondes was occupied by such an array of
beauty and fashion rs wOnld defy any attempt at
description.
The stairway on either side leading to the dress
circle had been tsstefnlly converted into garden
of evergreens, through which the guests we're
ushered under q canopy Of drapery, thence by
another pair Of stairs down into the ballroom.
As usual at the Opera House, the psrquette and
stage had been placed on a level and afforded
spacious room to the dancers. The illumination
on this occasion had been considerably increased
by the addition Of FIVE gilt chandeliers upon the
stage, and another and larger one suspended from
the center of the ceiling of the auditorium. and
here and there Chinese vases supporting elegant
csndelabrss, from which, together with the GUS
tomary apparatus, from six to seven hundred gets
of burning gas cast their refulgence upon the sur
rounding scene. The decorations were simple
al grand, and consisted in endless streamers of
evergreens suspended from the center of the
ceiiog TO the secOndes and along the outer edges
of the boxes. and every where we're suspended
floral baskets, which gave to the scene an air of
freshness and gsieiy only comparable to the
youth, beauty and attire of the guests.
Two magnificent bands of music were in attend
ance-the first infantry band composed of twenty
five performers on brass instruments, and Carlo
PATHS brass and string band of twenty-five mu-
scisns the former occupying the right extremity
of the secondes. enlivening the interludes with
choice selections from the principal operas, while
The latter was placed Immediately over the canopy
and played the music of the programme of
dances.
At 10 minutes past 9 o'clock the house was
already so full Of spectators and dancers. eager
to enjoy the festivities, that the FIRST infantry
band announced the opening of the ball by per-
forming q grand march, which was Immediately
followed by tha prelude of the quadrille of
Bsrbe Beue" by PATHS band, and the ball
commenced in earnest. AS dance succeeded
dance and the ball progressed, throngs upon
tbroDgs of people were crowding into the Opera
House.
At baf.psst ten dancing had become almost
impossible, as the assembly was dense mass; the
individuals go closely huddIed together that faces
were the only portion of the body discernble, CIV
ing to the scene the appearance more of mutual
admiration society than of a ball. This state of
affairs continued for an hour, until halfpast
in the parlor in the rear of the boxes was opened
and relieved the ballroom of the excess of people
who we're called upon to psrtske of the delicacies
which were laid out on a side board. about sixty
feet long, extending the whole length of the
paflor.
The scene was now doubled. and it would re-
qure the imagination of a Milton to give an so-
proximate idea of the chdSsez croiSe, and tumult
which ensued. Dancers leaving the ball room to
repair to the refreshment saloon, jostng against
and collidng with returnin ones; the prattling Of
tongues mingling with the clatter of dishes and
spoons, hearty laugh blending its tones with the
tinklng of glasses. The crash of a tumbling pyr-
amid of nuga contrasting with the ripping of
silks and tarltons; in fact, scene that would
have done honor to PondemOnium. We wouid
here like to give some idea of the msgniicence of
the buffet, gotten up under the superintendent of
Col. F. Dumonteil, the prince OF caterers, corner
of Canal and Bourbon streets, but that we did not
get more than glance at the spread, so thick was
the throDg which assaulted the dainty cakes and
creams. We have only a recollection of some de.
beious oyster patties and excellent punch, of
which there was such profusion, that at the time
the ball broke up, they went begging.
The small hours of the night were now being
reached, and slowly, but steadily, we're groups
of ladies to be seen directing their course to.
wards the club room, which had been placed at
their disposal for dress room, and Of the twenty
five hundred souls who had visited the ball during
the evening, barely half remained but Tsrp-
sichore. far from losing cast, now counted among
her devotees the more thoughtful of the guests.
who had preserved themselves fresh for q genuine
enjoyment, and launched themselves into the
mszes Of the delirious valse deux temps or the
voluptuous evolutions Of the mszurka, with a zest
that did the heart good 10 witness.
Our readers will easily admit that il would be
too onerous task to attempt to Jenkinsize upon
the toilette OF Miss So and So, or how many thou