Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-03-24
A Paris Masked BalI-HOw French
men Act hs Maskers.

/
Paris cor. London Morning Post.
have often observed that English
friends, who observe what we may call
almost religious propriety at home,
when in Paris, under the influence of
some evil spirit, become elastic, restless,
loose. They want to do something halt
improper, and are continually apologiz.
ing to themselves for determination to
depart from their usual principles OF
morality. So it occurred isst night.
Heryey Turton proposed that we should
all 20 10 the Bal de pOpera. Rev. Mr..
S., one of our party, who is on his
way to join the faRaHs gnti-slavery mis-
sion, said there was no harm iH witness
ling scenes OF vice IL we did 50 to
strengthen our morality. ] Veutured to
suggest visit to one of the many peo-
nle's masked balls as far more amusing
and novel than the Grand Opera Carni-
| val midnight. fete. Ere long couple
of carriages aorveyed us to a distant
! quarter of demeeTatie Paris, not far IRON
the fortiication walls, and We alighted at
the Star saloon ball room. 1t vas pearly
midnight. We entered lamp iiihmi-
mated broad doorway, and on paying ten
sous five pence) found ourselves IN a
spacious hall, hung with glittering chan
deiiers. which were reflected in a series
of mirrors which rea aected the whole in.
terror. Under q Gallery Se;e seats and
round tables, where people VIZ gre
spectators in&Viged in coffee, anslnue'
the many coloFeG sweat drinks OF Paris,
beer, eau.de-Yie, and cherry brandy.
The orchestra, of circular forE, oecu-
pied the center of the commodious room;
The general effect was gay, lively and
dancy. The costumes of the maskers
and dancers we're generally representa-
tons or familiar life caricatures OF cooks,
pierrcts, sAd costumes of no period or
country, aud sSich simply represented
the grotesque. Very fsF jDdulged in Il
dress which demanded an expenditure
Il money. Some of the ladies' we're
elegaSt toilets, which looked very much
ike extracts from the mistresses
wardrobes. We wsgS among the ar.
tisan world, and that fess.G world
"a whom the female aristocracy ia
Paris Sra slaves. We don't call them
servants, SGt The gems de maison oi
Nine. la Baronne, &c. Nmle some u
the ladies we're overdressea, c.kers had
almost forgotten to veil certain besaI.
fui oatl;ses of form we are only allowed
by the eees1aEic laws Of propriety to ad.
mire in marble. Cue masker attracted
much attention. He sprssrad IN the
dress of a gentleman going 70 bedL.
night cap, night shirt, aud, being cold
weather. drawers. He was frequently
eheered BY lAc ladies' What struck Us
as very admirable a. sone half dozen
Young fellows who had very eiegerly As.
sumed the dress, walk and movemeht ot
6ns ladies'. Some cunning artist in hair
had suppi.el the head dress. some clever
artist in paint sad FeEder had worked
with success on the face, sHa the deco
lete bust was artistieAlly veiled. These
young fellsws must be servants in fami-
lies where they have watched their mis-
tresses sui possess the gift Of iuita-
ton. Two olzgacters. representing
a newly married colPis, A2ordod great
amusement The bridegroom IL hal,
white cravat aud white gloves. The
bri5e youth in gauzy white toilette,
orsngs blossom wreath, and white satin