The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-17
INFANT ASYLUM GRAND BALL.
Last Nights Display at
the Academy.
Charity Wearing the Mask Of Fashion, and Be.
nevOlence Arm in Arm with TerpsichOre.

tace OF q crowded and brilliant ball. Such sight
was that presented last evening at the Academy
of Music on the occasion Of the celebration OF the
Infant Asylum grand ball, festival which, having
MIR. A. B. Stockwell for President and Mr..
Chauncey M. Depew for Vice President, certainly
would seem to possess elements necessitating sue
cess And the result was brilliant in strIcter
and more legitimate sense than applies to nine
pai's out OF ten presenting equally large preten-
SONS All balls that are attended largely by peo-
pie OF refinement and culture are very
much the same differing mainly in their
accessories. That of last evening Justified the
quotation with which this description begins in
the varied expression 1t gives to that bright and
opalcscent phase of life which goes by the name
OF society. No philosophizing waif Iraversng the
moor which covered the parquet and dove
tailed with the Illuminated STAGE could gaze upon
the brimming tiers and the arabesqued figures OF
the dancers without realizing that here, perhaps,
pain was for awhile forgetting itself, and that not
even the confirmed pleasure seeker contrived to
actualize his ideal in all its funess. But, after ALL
this Is sentimental view, which would have been
quickly banished by the glow and whIrl of actual
participation. 1t was pleasant to remember that
1t was charity that was kneeling before the shrine
Terpsichore, and that with every fresh arrival an
infant asylum was being sustained. Fur
Their on will be found descriptions of
the more unique and salient toilets and
the names OF those participatOrs who most
widely known to the community. 1t will be enough
at present to sketch the general spirit OF the at
tendance. Most balls OF this character seem to
enjoy the presence of q social Winkeried, who
breaks the ice of the programme and makes way
for liberty in the shape OF the lancers. But last
evening the movement was spontaneous, and the
Interpretation Of the programme became general
about eleven O'Clock. Wandering through the
maze between the dances might be spied those
exceptional jewellers who heighten the contrasts
OF every ball. There was the saturnne lrollcker
with a lace as sour as the smile of q Puritan and
as sedate AZ the editor OF comic weekly. There
was the victim to mauuaise homie. looking as
though his legs were both let's There was the
partnerless youth, as lonely as u country lane in
one OF Wllkic Collins novels, and as melancholy as
q moated grange by Gustav DOre. There was the
impossible cynic, Us grim as Dominican monk
CamerOnian elder and there Was the triumphant
cOquet, with an expression which seemed to say
that mems hearts were billiard balls ana she meant
to carrOm. There were faces which looked spirit
ual enough to partake OF the Joy OF the Lord and
others sufficiently worldly to relish what Isaiah
somewhere termsithe 'Joy Of Wild asses" There
were artificial men and women, who appeared to
belong to sort OF gyro- pigeon humanity, in which
all the springs of action were Steel But faces such
these were exceptions; and scrutinlze closely
as one would, none could be detected whose owners
looked stated from the "cup OF devils and the mess
of satyrs." or whose ruling principle appeared to
be devOut BELIEF in the great eleventh command
Dent, 'srhOu shalt not be found Out.n There was
enough admixture OF worn with happy faces to JUS
THY the suspicion that the ball was not totally
lacking tue oXyme OF life-that ubiquitous bitter
sweet which tlnctures every human enjoyment.
Little or nothing was apparent, however, to ratiIy
SIR George Cornewal Lewis epigram that life would
pleasures. But We all know that when
little colony of Esquimaux was taken
by to
j0yments OF mat city of luxury-we all know that
the dazed visitors finally le upon their knees and
besought their patron to shut them up in the dark
and feed them on dried fish and tallOw. Even so
the eye OF the ball descrber tires and requests
lief, and the assemblage OF last evening was quite
brilliant enough to promote this sort Of fatigue. The
angular and eccentric specimens we have men
toned we're as we have said the rare exception.
The atmosphere OF the entertainment was pure,
sweet and brilliant. Pleasure was dissolved IN re-
spectaDty, like opium in wine. and the sensuous
langu0r OF enjoyment was In contrast with a. STIR
THE DECORATIONS, ETC.
The decorations were simple and chaste, vet ex-
pensive. Gaudy trapping was dispensed with, and
the back OF the stage was set with scene pain ted
expressly for the occasion by Lewis and represent
ing the gardens at Versailles. This scene contained
much rich color and an effective and artistic con-
trast OF light and shade. 1t was recognizable at a
Der OF chandeliers gave all necessary light. The
following is the list OF dances:-
Overture, III Conte d'Essex" .Mcrcandante
Grahd March. o orauia
fromenadc LA Donna del iIago,' Kossini ''s""D
'''''' Promsuadc, aTMartir" Donizctti
From @d oulsHscp seventh regiment Gfala h
'"''' Pro@enade, ii lombard" Verdi .'''
o''' fromsnade, "Lescl und Grctc Faust. N''.','
o. s""'P Promenade, 'ranhaaser' Wagner.
" '" froms%sde, ,camp sherman Grafaiia
Prone made, 'scheden und Leiden," Iruhn
Lahc'ers DIN ~, ,.;,an. i,,.
Promenade Don sebastano," Donizetti.
H. 'fP' rGmenade %or.on commandery wesan 'Au''
vase 'i P4s%snsas r.ii. Verdi '"a"s'
~ rromsnaae ia Chaieiainc,' Faust w..
ls rrois Temps afiaSss zaassl M .ssrauss
:. .,., pfo% Hs, ;;Tr"rtan'" seIlin n,,s.
Promenade, ..rraumbuiidcr," Lumbye.
H. 'A'''' Promsnade. Taaihea. Ma.ssc. ''aA.''
10 oA0PP romsSsde. Prospect Park wiesand;; .'s
10 Laneier' MeamMs 4roy.torc verdi "esa"d
20 Deux Temps "Acsdsmshe surgern Strauss
o''''' Pro%ensde, srourisicr," zlkoii. s...
'A'' pronsnsde, Fist.erysis.er," ricfKe. ,, ''.
- promenade. rreischutx, Weber.
"a Gaiop. On Picket. Neibg
THE DRESSES.
These are always interesting to q large class Of
feminine readers, and i is pleasant to be able 10
say that the costumes of last evening compared
favorably with those Of previous balls. Mrs. Van
Auken was dressed IN moonlight on the lake"
silk, and this costume with accompanying pearls
and point lace, well became her beauty. Miss c.,
her sister, was noticeable for an exquisite toilet.
Mrs. william A. Budd, observable Tor her. stately
carriage, wore her famous and valuable diamonds.
The Misses Estele were present, retaining the
charms by which they have fascinated SO large .
circle OF society. Mrs: William Farnam was attred
in an elegant French dress OF pink silk and valen-
ciennes. MISS Van Kleeck created great deal Of
sensation, this being her first appearance since
leaving Pennington. Mrs. Theodore Moss evoked
numerous expressions Of admiration. Her rich and
chaste attire consisted ofmauve satin point lace and
diamonds. Miss MOler wore a white embroidered
gauze. MISS Willie Dinsuore was ylisn In light
pink Miss Blodgett wore white tulle, gracefully
ooped with Ivy leaves, Miss Maude Estene made
her debut in pale blue. MISS Gould appeared in =
gorgeous toilet draped with lovely flowers. Mrs.
q X Garrison opened the ball with Mr.. StOCkWe!l