Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-02-23

| RICHMOND.
c. H. southard, f. T. Hatch.
sKobHEGAy
c. futile. ID. C. Robinson.
FREEPORT.
Capt. II. Green, Capt. G. p. Soule.
| Mr. j. +. Pierce was floor director, as sisted
by the following aids: A. W. Hedge, ]. G.
Adams, C. B. Morton. W. B. Leighton. Maj.
| l. Boothby, w. NJ. Thayer, A. J. Pierce, S.
W. Wyman, 6. H. Harrington.
| The managers did themselves great credit.
Under their careful and easy administration,
everything passed off with few mistakes.
1t was very difficult yesterday to obtain
tickets to eligible positions in the hall, or in
fact to any position, as the popularity and
brilliancy of other balls of this character, had
created great demand for tickets. This was
particularly agreeable, as it insured financial
success. Many who came to attend the ball
as spectators were obliged to assume cos
tunes and appear upon the floor, because they
could not obtain the positions they desired in
| the audience.
| At the opening of the doors, seven o'clock,
goodly number of ticket-holders made their
appearance, and from this time until eight
o'clock, the hour appointed for the grand
concert, there was a steady stream of people
pouring into the hall. The attentive ushers
performed their duty with grace and correct
ness. The disagreeable sensation that runs
from a mans toes to his head at finding him
self in the wrong seat, and seven or eight
persons claiming it, had no just cause of ex-
pansion last evening. The main floor of the
hall was reserved for those who were to ap-
pear in costume; the entire gallery and the
floor under the north gallery for those who
came to see.
Under the hall were apartments that were
brought into requisition for dressing rooms
for the masqueraders. A substantial supper,
gotten up by w. NJ. Thayer and J. G. Adams,
was served in a room on the same floor with
the dressing rooms.
The grand concert by Gilmore's Band of
Boston, commenced promptly at eight o.
clock. The rich music of the Band was in
deed feast, both to those who could drink in
the sweet sounds with heart attuned to the
artistic, and those to whom classical music
was a tangle Of incomprehensible mysteries,
but who could enjoy, even without the power
of telling the reason, the ''melody of sweet
sounds" This, the preliminary and intro
duetory portion Of the evenings entertain
ment, contributed to the great delight of all,
as indeed did the exquisite performances of
the band during the entire evening.
| But as the hour of nine came the door Of
the hall opened to admit the masqueraders,
who filed in pairs from the dressing rooms.
As they passed around and encircled the hall,
the gay throng presented spectacle seen only
once a year in this community. The entire
scene was novel and interesting in the ex-
IRENE. In the flashing splendors of the gas
lights, the beholder was led to believe the
fairy land. Allnations and peoples were repre-
scented in the gay throng; strange companion
ships were formed; extremes met last even
ing if they never met before. The rcpresen-
tative of the Emerald isle appeared to be en-
joying social chat with a fair Spanish lass !;
flower girls of striking beauty of face and
form waltzed with club footed demonds; an
cient trappings of noblemen and warriors, who
have long since slept in silence, were resur-
rectionized and sported with the fair daugh-
tiers Of fashion; substantial and sensible
looking Monarchs glided in the may dance
with Flora Flimsies and butterflies of fashion,
(not real butterflies of course, but sin play') !;
Might" and Morning" joined hands most
cordially.
The comic element was conspicuous, rang
ing from the jolly Irishman to the irresistible
Yankee and representations of the ranktank-
erous peder.
The costumes were furnished by the
well known Mrs. Vincent of the Boston
Museum, and were rich and varied. We
never saw better taste displayed in the selec-
ton of costumes. They were exceedingly ap-
propriate and seemed designed for the different
individuals who filled them. There were
historical costumes almost without number,
picturesque national dresses, the rich habits
worn in the reigns of Henri ii. and Francis
L., and the court dresses of Louis XVI and
XIV. Many of the ladies appeared in full
ball dress, elegantly attired. Our list of char
acters will give an idea of the variety and
richness of costumes.
The ladies were dressed with great taste
and elegance. We shall not attempt to par
ticularize in this respect Ifthe fair reader
of this mornings paper lays aside the sheet
with feeling of regret that her toilet which
cost SO much time in arranging was not spec
tally mentioned, we must beg very humbly
her pardon, for an impartial notice Of the va