Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-11-29
MAs0UERADING.

y
The Exposition Hal Masque-Its
SucceBaful Celebration Hum
dreds Of Maskers Indulge In Rev
eIry-What our Lyux-Eyed Re
porter Saw and Felt.
Thanksgiving eve was duly celebrated
in our city, the great masquerade ball
at the Exposition building being the
affair Of the night; nay, in fact Of the
season. By ten o'clock the revelry was
ct its hight; the hall was filed with mas
kers and the galleries with spectators
who looked down upon the weird scene
that changed with every turn like the
kaleidoscope Our reporter went en-
costume. Immediately on entering the
building a pair Of brawny arms was
thrown around him. seemingly in fond
embrace. 1t was thrilling in the extreme.
He was felt for around the waist, for
pistols, shot-guns, columbiads and dag
gers. Arms, said the searcher. I'VE
feel them" said our representative as he
passed on. Again he was clasped to a
beating heart. Heavensl what a sensa-
toni He gazed into those dreamy
eyes, but they belonged to another hor-
rid male monster, who twined his snaky
arms around ours" as he whispered for
arms" The clasp was highly electrical
and our blushing representative repeated
mechanically, "Arma virumqua cano,"
etc On being released, "our man" be-
came so used to the fond embrace that
he had determined to stand it. even if
he had to be Rugged by the multitude of
masqueraders and spectators. The thing
was becoming interesting but like
vision celestial or pleasure beatific, it
passed away, leaving no impression
save that produced by the soft, exquis-
te music of dream" or desire for
more "arms." Soon the music struck up
and the dancing began. 1t was a scene
worthy the Arabian Nights or revels at
Camelot at the court Of King Arthur.
There were representatives of the styles
grotesque aud arabesque, the 'turbaned
Turk, the Mir-haired Circasan, the rep
resentatives of all nations. Chinese, pi-
rates, monks with cowls, Spanish maid
ems, pantomimic 6ends; but the rough
oostumiug of Mardi.Gras seemed to
overwhelm the elegant and artistic.
In the latter styles there were many
happy and charming maskers, the ladies
with their more refined taste seemingly
avoiding the rougher styles of dress.
Pages abounded, and displayed beauty
of limb only equaled by the ballet. In
ma NY instances the costumes were costly,
and diamonds, rich and rare, sparkled
from fairy hands and swelling forms, At
II O. clock the spectators in the galleries
were admitted to the freedom Of the
hall, and then commenced the masque-
rading Hirtations between the masked
and the unmasked, aud many a
prayer was breathed by the latter for an
announcement Of the name Of the I'M
known fair one. 1t would be an impos-
sibility to designate the costumes worn,
Like all public masquerades, it was cele-
brated by the people, rich and poor, the
elite and the opposite. It was a grand
reunion Of classes under mask, and it
is with pleasure that we state that
nothing occurred to mar the pleasures Of
the evening. By two o'clock the spec
tators commenced retiring homeward,
and many weary "masker' followed
their example, in order to seek balmy
sleep, that restores tired nature. To
sum up the masquerade ball, it was u
success, rejecting the greatest cred /,
upon the Exposition Board of Director s,
and the committeeman having spec ial
charge of the revels. We understs md
that the Exposition Association real .zed
over $4,000 by the affair. Long liv the
masquerade