The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-06
THE CHARITY BALL.
Fashionable Annual Reunion Of the Season
at the Academy Of Music.
History Of the Charity-Description Of the
Distinguished Throng What Was
Worn-The Human kaleidoscope Of
Fashion-List Of the Committees

Fashion-List Of the Committees.
The eighteenth annual Charity Ball in aid of the
Nursery and Childs' Hospital was held last even
ing In the Academy or Music, and proved social
and financial success, nearly on q par with that
given in the year when the Prince OF Wales was
present, and the receipts amounted to over
$4,000. The Charity Ball Is always o success as
It's receipts seldom fall below $4,000, and gener-
ally about $4,000 net. 1t is one OF those annual
unions which are attended by every one who has
sufcienr social standing to obtain tickets from the
committee; and although thousands pay visit to
the Academy on this occasion comparatively few
are really aware OF the immense benefit conferred
on suffering humanity by the receipts OF this one
nights amusement. 1t Is now nearly nineteen
years since small party OF ladies met together,
and, feeling the immediate necessity OF Nursery
and Child's Hospital in the then growing city, or
ganized. ana, with Mrs. Cornelius Du Bots at their
head, established their first hospital in a small
wooden house on Sixth avenue, near Eleventh
street. For some years they carried ON their good
work in those confined walls; but tie demand on
their accommodations made them seek for more
roomy quarters, and they finally located on their
present stand at the corner OF Lexington avenue
and Fifty-n street. The objects Of the Nursery
and Child's Hospital have been the care and main
daily charge OF infants whose parents labor away
from home, and the care Of mothers and their in
fants. The hospital has always been conducted on
the English system as by keeping the mother with
the child they avoid foundlings, an nvariable re-
suit in the French system where the e'Uunt trOuue
is deposited IN the cr'uche. During the past few
years the lady drectresses have been ena-
bed to establish country branch hos
pital at West New Brighton, S. l., which
has proved most valuable addition and
pleasant home for the children during
the summer months. When one comes to
think that 400 children are taken care OF an
nually by this institution an idea can then be
formed OF the extent of their Christian work, to
show what strong claim they should have upon the
public purse and sympathy. The treasury OF the
institution, although assisted slightly by the city
State and private contributions derives its main
support from the receipts Of this annual ball.
Every ticket, admitting one person, costs S. and
the boxes sell at all kinds Of prices, varying from
$25 to $500. The institution is still under the
charge or Mrs. Cornelius Du Bots, who has re-
NAMED Its first directress ever since it was
first established. Mrs. Du Bots has patiently
labOred Tor over twenty years in this noble work,
and during that time several Thousand little waits
have been saved and brought up by her and the
Christian ladies who have aided her In the good
work.
OPENING OF THE BALL.
At half past nine O'Clock the brilliant overture
to "POliutO," of the most sparkling ever writ
ten by Donizetti, was the first musical intimatlOn
OF the commencement OF the ball. long glitter
ing line OF the representative ladies and gentlemen
of the metropolis OF America surged upon the floor,
and as the strains oil Gle Prophte" and Gilmore's
salute to the Empire City rose upon the air the
ballroom gradually filed till naught was seen but
rich toilets and pretty faces. with an equal pro-
portion OF sOmbre suits and mustached lips. Mr..
J. M. Lander gave the signal for the first quadrille
Strauss "Rotunda," and the varied colored
mass underwent q new Kaleidoscope change
Looking down from one OF the boxes IN the first
circle, the coup d'sH was bewilderng. The eye fell
on an ever-restless thrOng OF dancers and prone
naders, and as the sun, shifting through crystal
drops shakes its white light into blue and red and
yellow fire, so in the glow OF the huge chan
deller the many colors OF the rich tot
lets were reflected. Like shattered name
fakes the lances Of light were shivered
on flashing diamonds, on burning rubies, on scin-
tilating emerads, or lost themselves in the crys-
tai depths Of priceless pearls. As the poet once
said 1.-THE metallic lustre that CLEANS upon the
wide blue wings OF the Brazilian butterny-the
green dissolving into glitter of rubles
upon the breast Of the humming bird
the long reaches Of golden king cups in
June meadows, or opal tnts upon wet
shells and blown foam was brought to the mind
when the sparkle OF jewels on bosom, arms
nesting amid luxurant tresses met the eye OF the
behoder. Above al named the simple but ex-
u uass sraas that cssoro Of sns
ing nom polished shoulders and rounded arms,
and riyaiied only by the 9stre OF the eyes that
att aD q QsiOnal glitter a unif0rm
and the general hurry burly, when the ball was at
its height, had an intoxicating influence. Now in
again in the v0uptuous whirl Of the waltz; al one
time in the dash and excitement OF the galop at
made, thus ned the nying hours, and
AT MIDNIGHT
the climax oIenioyment was reached Within
less line OF carriages. Irving pace, Fourteenth
street and Union square were blocked up with car
OF the peace nourished clubs and shouted them
selves hoarse in the attempt to create order
tive steed rubbed his nose against the
window OF . carriage, rudely dispel!ing the
delightful antcipations OF some powdered and
monstrate in pretty little scream. In the am
phtheatre were located the bands Of P. s. Gil
renown. The courly conductor of the military
band needed only the costume or century ago to
matter-otfact director Of the dancing orchestra
was stolid and possessed as usual
THE PROGRAMME OF DANCING.
Overture-"Les Martyrs Donizetti
SelectlOnS-''Il fr0ieta" Mcycrbeer
March-"Salute to New York;. Gilmore
DANCES.
to the Forest acnisssohn
IN Merchants aass
8 Galop-'Lustg i'm Kreise". strauss
Promsnsdss. Blpms nssd". ;Lanse
Promensde@sSussm eii';......:..: Ro:sni
oi'SSd sa1sSss
m WieSans
!. neutrality-suspicious.. strauss
Promenade-'ko bonanza 81 tn Savais". Bale
Gaop-'Von Donaustra ude". .............. Strauss
Promenade-"Aid ........................Verdi
valse-'' strauss
Promenade-''Faniare Aaire". ........... Gilmore
TO- GaIop-"Ohne Sorgen" strauss
Promenade-Airs de Ballet 'Profeta". .Meycrbeer
H. Lancers-"Adella". .Wiegand
Promenade-"Wacht am Rhein". ......... Wilhelm
L. Neutrality-suspicious.: ............ strauss
Promenade-'La Fnle de Nine. Angot" -. Ole nbach
Is Gaop"Nach Kurzer Rast strauss