New-York tribune., 1873-01-17
aFOR UHARITY's. SAKE"
rgy INFANT ASYLUM BALL THE SUCCESS
OF THE SEASON.


AN Attractive ENTERTAINMENT AND LARGE
ATTENDANCE.
\ The first Of the four great balls in which New
kyork society annually combines gaety with charity
md wealth enjoys 10 the full degree of decorous
firth the sweet luxury of giving off last even
;ns at the Academy OF Music. Ii was not only the
at Of the charity balls hut the initial bali of the
rrra, charity known as the New-York Infant Asy-
Inn and II was not only this, but the first also OF
.he halls in whicrthe real elite of NewYork habit
G.Ilv indulge. What has gone before partook some
that OF the disreputable and common order; this
hal. in spite of the fact that il was by purchase aud
not BY invitation, was exclusive and in every re-
spcci elegant
II was also completely and unequivocally success
al Every box and stall in the house was sold and,
S.spite almost impossible streets and threatening
olosds overhead. stage and auditorium were alike
cowded 20 excess, and so remained long after miu-
o;rht AZ none Of the balls of the season nave 80
many dancers appeared on the stage as Mt TINS IN
the ninth dance the Lanciers-" SIX IN hanu ,
20 sets OF nearly 800 persons, were counted on the
aoor There were not less than 5000 or 5000 persons
uresen, at midnight, majority appearing TO be
ladies.
Pecrniarily the ball must have yielded an I'M
,Do,se sum for the boxes sold at unusually large
ana not one ul tllthl Az 70
;mnossibe Of course, to estimate at this time the
.ctnal sum realized but it is safe TO say that it VIII
90 Car toward establishing the permanent success
- ,be charity IN the name of which the ball
was gwen. ,
In another sense, witch lady readers viii
,oo.t APPRECIATE. this bah was surprising
<aueeess Coming first of the Charity balls
I II had The advantage Of displaying abso-
luteIy fresh toilets. The Charity Bail which gen
sray closes the season is too often distinguished by
erpshed and familiar dresses, which have done ser
vice at earlier gatherings. At the Infant Asylum
hall altogether new dresses were worn. Hundreds
ofthe toilets displayed on this occasion had never
seen the gaslight and many of them were as beau
tifl as were ever seen in this city.
The decorations of the stage of the Academy for
b occasion were special and certainly very taste
fu and beautiful, if not elaborate. special scene
had been painted in his finest style by Lewis repre-
senting the gardens of Versailles; and the wings OF
the stage were nclosed with appropriate set scenes
At the back of the stage single gas jet arranged IN
the form of monogram, embracing the letters l. A"
WAS displayed; and a similar monogram of moss on
the front of the Presidents box completed the deco
ratons An occasional vase of flowers, and statue
or two graced the stage while the arches when leo
from the stage the suppeTroom III Nilsson
elaborate specimens of drapery IN red, white and
blue.
The opening grand march was played promptly at
fen o'clock but the procession was small, ana the
first auadrile was danced by less than twenty sets
But within half an hour OF less the stage was un-
comfortably filled, and in every subsequent dance
the couples and sets were uncomfortably crowded
In delightful contrast with the two balls which
have preceded this was the general appearance OF
the people There was not only more refinement OF
manner and bearing, but more intelligence than was
seen on either of the occasions alluded to. Beauty
too was in greater profusiOn. and many OF the most
elegant ladies of the city graced this ball