The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-06-27
THE JUBILEE BALL.
An Ocean Of Brilliantly Arrayed
Humanity.
Gorgeous Floral Decorations Strauss First Qua.
drille and Entrance Of President Grant
Grand Sight Of the Ball In Fun Blaze
Tho Dresses Curious Impromptu
Compromises Greet Crush,
but All Good Humored

but All Good Humored.
.@E BOSTON, June 70, 1874
One Of the few redeemjng features OF the Jubilee
has been the ball Of this evening. As the adver
tisement read, 1t wes to be q grand inter-
national festival, the music to be performed
under the personal direction Of Herr Strauss, and
the occasion generally to be made one OF the
grandest affairs which have ever taken place In the
world. The attendance was, as might have been ex
pected after the glowing advertisements Of the Ex
ecutive COmnittee, very large, and the whole
AFFAIR, generally. considered, passed OF in
capital way, but there were serious draw
backs to tho financial success OF the affair, cor
rohorative OF the accounts previously published In
the HERALD, and sundry petty meannesses which
illustrate the spirit Of the managers OF the concern
among the latter the attempt of the Executive
Committee to double the prices OF several articles
which we're offered for sale at the refreshment tables
For half an hour previous to the opening OF the
ball prices increased fifty per cent; but when
great howl OF Indignation was raised at the out
rage the committee dropped down from their high
chooses" and issued orders for the resumption Of
the original price. Then too, there was
NOTABLE EXHIBITION OF sNoBBERY
at the ball tonight. This selEsame Executive Com
mittee, not satisfied with having their names pa
raded in double columns in the newspapers, were
bent upon having their personal presence made so
conspicuous as to attract public attention, and
therefore exhibited themselves in professional form
directly in front of the orchestra for half an hour
before an Initiative was taken in the promenade
concert The display was greeted with mingled
cheers and jeers by the audience The
hall Is magnificently decorated. Along
the front OF the balconies appear three
1R nssvhk
along the upper edge thereof, another correspond
ing at the lower edge, and the third hanging in
short and graceful festoons midway between the
other two above, and on line with the front o.
the balconies is a similar festoon, gathered up high
midway between each post with
SUSPENDED BASKET OF FLOWERS,
and sweeping down on either side 80 as to be
caught on the gas brackets.
Midway between every post on the balcony front
is another large Moral basket and two continuous
lines Of flowers are attached to the upper
and lower rows of wreathing. The centre
posts, Of which there are two rows, of eleven
each, have their two opposite sides facing the bal
comics completely covered with the flowers to the
Brackets DISTANCE of twenty feet from the
Is large Of Movers Tweny nss
imitation chandeliers, SIX feet in diameter and the
same In height, hang suspended from the roof be-
They are filed In with flowers Of various
kinds, and are decked of with smilax in every
Enclosing these posts hangs festoon Of
wreathing, and heavy strings Of simlax, COW
cred with bright flowers, also depend gracefully
runs spiraly down around each post, and also
hangs down each OF the four corners.
TWENTY-FIVE FLORAL CHANDELIERS,
In size corresponding to those previously men,
toned. and dropping to the same height. are
suspended rss.u eng5hway Of building and midway
Around the three statues are pots Of plants
the fioor about the base Of the pedestal, while at
MOVERS Suspended over the statue at
the main entrance Is chandelier of
OF peace, hanging beneath it. OF notabes present
at the ball there were hundreds-almost thousands.
General Grant and his crowd and all the foreign
plenipotentaries were there in full force: They
came in when the ball was at Its height, and o re-
snectlal audience showed respect to respectful
THE SCENE INSIDE THE BUILDING
was remarkably brilliant and animated From an
early hour carriages were arriving In rapid success
sion and depositng their freight Of bedecked hu-
manity and rushing of In quest OF more. Long be-
lore the hour appointed for the promenade had
damned to an extent that nterfered considerably
with the freedom OF locomotion. But every one
men jostled each other IN the common effort to
make Roadway soft glances were exchanged
attempt at concealment. In the vast crush,
amid the huns of voices and the pattering OF feet,
every one felt himself isolated from all except
those with whom he wished to commune.
Under the brilliant light of the gas jets
there was as much liberty as could have been
found under the greenwood shades. The people
were eminently conscious of this fact and the
oging and billing and cooling fraternity pursued
their pastimes to the full bent of their inclinations.
THE ASSEMBLAGE,
though brilliant, was not gorgeous, although there
were scattered through the vast space toilets as
they were lost amid the mass OF those who were
simply well dressed There was something of
an impromptu nature in this ball Most of those
ball. hence they were not prepared to shine at their
best. Full dress was not de ygeair, but was pretty
general. Some compromises were effected that
would have startled the propriety OF the
Fifth avenue or Belgravia, but these in no way in
Where wn aae sa Oh e
passed about the room in a good-natured way,
waiting with what patience they could com
they moved about in ever-changing groups,
intermingling new coors and new faces, the hall
qup. While the promenades moved round in cease
less streams, Others more careful to husband their
strength gathered in the galleries to look down on
the scene, gazing and gazed at. It was certainly
curious and pleasant sight to watch these pass and
repass, with no shade Of sorrow on their brows, as
presented the appearance OF huge Kaleidoscope of
ever-chang1ng human life. Some chatted galy;
Others it must be confessed, laughed in sup
pressed kind OF way at some curious figure
that hove in sight, or In response to pleasant
II they lived and moved In a new Elysum. For an
hour so interested were the people in themselves
and in the study or admiration OF one another that
lay which occurred in the commencement OF the
dance.
OPENING THE BALL.
At last the signal was given, but the floor was so
crowded that considerable time elapsed be-
fore arrangements could be carried out
for the first quadrille, with which the
ball opened In the best way they could
the sets got together, and the light fantastic
part of the proceedings was inaugurated without
nrther ceremony The scene acquired new ANNA
ton and interest as the dancers moved about in
measured time twrling and serpenting about the
room ia seemingly neverending maze Of bright
ribbons ana blooming flowers. The spirit Of the
dance In the shape OF little man, with flowing jet
black hair and bright, fasbing eyes, dressed
I'm blue swallow tail coat, with brass buttons,
swooped down on the multitude, and the bali en-
tered on It's robust existence. As soon the
quadrille was ended the orchestra breathed
forth Of those dreamy yennese visions
that sent the mind whirling about In
a dreamy halfconecious state OF existence,
like the rustng OF wings, noise OF silk dresses and
nuttering ribbons mingled with the sound OF the
orchestra. As the group swept round In cddyng
circles IL impossible to resist the temptation