New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-08-29
GRAND BALL At LONG BRANCH
BEAUTY AND FASHION AT THE CONTINENTAL
THE AFFAIR OF THE SEASON.

BEAUTY AND FASHION AT THE CONTINENTAL
THE AFFAIR OF THE SEASON.
LONG BRANCH, Aug. 2S.-The Continental
Hotel has the high tide Of Long Branch sea
son by the grand civic and military ball given ongh Ny
great array OF distinguished citizens in compliment 10
the landlord william b. BOnows. No such gathering
so far as numbers and celebrities are concerned, mas
been known at any other watering place TINS seasoh
The fame Of the affair has been widespread ana 'ou"S
amazing hrong of people came I'm from all the Eastern
resorts, well from New-York and Phladeiphi"'
The invitation cards stipulated uniform for the military
guests, and. a consequence, the immense ballroom
alame with the dazzling attire of the NeW-fork anu
Ncw-Jersey military The 9Th Regiment Band supple
mented by several others, came In full dress'
and the music from this great body OF lhs'ru-
ments almost matches the humorous neloues
Of the Gilmore Jubilee. The last uaih rom
New-York had upward Of 20 coaches, all niled'
drizzling rain began falling early in the evening, aud
the scramble and scattering from the station to the Var
ous hotels were like the inroad of warke horde Care
less Of the rain however Col Fisk pacidy arranged his
gaudy battalion and with fine martial bearing they
marched TO the Continental At this mammoth hotel
the whole internal economy had been revouonized and
the tremendous thrOng, swaying backward and
forward, fighting toward the desk, seemed 70
stand poor chance Of accommodation. The parlors,
diningroom blliardrooms indeed all the large apart
ments COnscated to the purposes of the dance The
great central elaboTatey featOoned and EN-
bellished, is turned into ballroom, and the hungry
meantime frd in the blliardha which after
fashion for this important incident of life The entire
open nclosed by the hotel quadranges covered
with immense stretcher Of smooth plank and a
mOdOus promenade thereby obtained within easy sound
the music One hundred sets form the spacious
floors without inconvenience.
The doors were thrown open at Q, and ceaseless
stream Of guests poured through the halls. Conspicuous
before all strobe the chieftan OF the 9th, arrayed
in all the gorgeous panoply OF war, and glitter
ing with magnificent accOutrements For time lie car
ried the quizzical interest OF the assembly, which
numbered at least 5000 people. At 10
grand march from 100 instruments began, and
the dancing continued thereafter without
ton until the grand banquet announced.
Major Gaul and Capt Watson Of the Second Battalion
Massachusetts COlored Volunteer Militia present,
but were refused Abundance. Among the many dstin
gushed guests present Gov. Randolph, and Gems.
Sherman. SchOteld. Peters. Hatfield, and Robinson.
The triumph Of the evening, however is conceded to
the ladies' costumes. Suchav display has been
witnessed in an American assembly. Nor would 1t be
safe to attempt the description Of the trailing silks and
cloudy laces The ballroom vast panorama Of light
and shade flashing jewels, and 1eecy gauzes. As the
night the came out brilliantly, and the
green sward filed with animated figures keeping
time TO the strains OF Strauss and Oenbaoh The reve
continued In full ardOr until long after midnight and the
jewellers who had TO leave too for the
train.