New-York tribune., 1874-01-16
MASKED FOLLY.
THE FRENCH BALL.
A LARGE ATTENDANCE-ALL ELEMENTS RTrrEsENIE
-IIIE COsIUMEs. MEsIC. AND pANCING.


Music last evening. From the opening OF the
masquerade to the close there q general
ar Oh Jointly on the part OF the assem-
bled throne which contrasted strangely with the
deeorum preserved at the society balls given In
Academy Al an early hour carriages containing the
masked hrong began to arrive Al the entrance to the
Academy. Irvingplaco a blaze Of light. Despite
tho inteWe cold curious crowd had gathered
near the entrance. and az rich pc
culiarly comical dress would emerge from "A
rage the wearer wond receive q round OF
plause. Untll after midnight the arrivals continued, a
considerable accession being noticeable about the hour
wnen the thoaters closed The throng in the Academy
was decidedly mixed one. The larger part OF the
male portion OF the audience consisted OF young
who were inclined 10 treat the affair a vehicle for
uberant fun carried occasionally verge OF
conduct. There were number OF elderly gentlemen
who had not outgrown the follies Of youth, and who
entered into the spirit Of the occasion with
the younger ones. The representatives OF the other
comprised all classes and conditions. The
boxes were not wen filed until late in the
evening, and the house, therefore. in this
spect, until nearly midu ght, looked empty The floor
well ed early in the evening and the throng
tnucd to grow denser until midni ght. when promenad
ing was difficult, and dancing decidedly uncomfortable
The costumes were exceedingly varied There were a
number OF rich material while Others bore the appear
of having been dshed out from
were few comic characters who created much
hilarity by their antics The majority OF the gentlemen
contened themselves with plain mask for the face
the distortion conceament Of some particular feature
In the shape oi an elongated nose pair Of goggles
and the greater number of the ladies wore masks
and domnOes After supper the hilarity be-
uproarious. Many had drunk wine rathor
freely, aud the measures of the dance
trod with much mere vigor than elegance. To the
strains OF Strauss ana OGenDach the "cancan"
danced amid the applause Of the lookerson the floor
and in the galleries. The efforts Of the committees sup
ported by the presence OF the police prevented the affair
from degeneratng into ore and the scenes OF yio-
and immortality which have characterized certain
masked balls in the past prevented During the
latter part Of the evening the Mltons, the Zgzags
and the Rynor family gave spccmons OF their peculiar
icats of agility.
Tie absence OF decorations was hardly noticeable
from the bright and varied appearance presented Dy
the number OF rich costumes The part OF the hall back
OF the boxes covered with canopy like tent
with IN The representing an open balcony
q mountain background and appropriate side scenes
The society had expected to embesh the stage with
the words Ninth Grand Masquerade Ball of the Cerce
Francais EIarmonie presented in gas jets 1t was
found necessary dispense with this late hour IN
the preparations, nterfered with the placing Of the
orchestra.
SOME OF COSTUMES.
The costumes represented citizens every known
nation, everybody who has achieved fame and who
could be identified by the outward appearance. with
fair shrinking fairies aud beasts. large proportion
OF the gentlemen in evening costume. many with
out masks. and many in dominoes. The committees
generally IN evening dress, with simply rosete
Distinguish them Sentries were posted at the en-
frances and the iioor. all IN com
plele suits OF Conspicuous among the
guests was the Shepherd OF Mt. Ida. looking in
vain for Helen, who, If she was present., was
hidden under some perpe king domino: King Henry
htst pf al.
panied him Night, with golden stars h0atDg
upon black gauzy dress was in company with fairy
checkered jackets aud trousers, and clowns with every
variety traditional dress played their antics among
,ented in all the glory OF pant and feathers.
The Moorish maiden. with only her eyes dlscoyeraDe,
conurted with of Olden school. III ull tOntl-
mental Tho stage notary, with ms blaek tights
aud elongated hat, looked discon>oatey through hs
mask while . courier IN blue and gold carried on
village maiden in pink silk and Lace and Icd-srlped
-tockings Kingdom of China sent one Of i,s clti-
VINO had all her stock disposed i'll clusters upon
heF dresS and and IN nr d,faroed hn the ape "umser
antics a couple OF bears-one white and one brown
and all three seemed leag1ed IN s od Gi
Grandmother bobbcd about with her cane dressed IN
steps OF waltz c0urtly gentleman of King trtnciSs
time with a very red nose, went through the
Inrk m blue and the Shah OF Persia seemed
perfectly acquainted with the customs oi civizeu ne
The number of pages was innumerable and III bewder-
ing variety pages in blue pages III green, pages III
pink The fancy costumes which have name and in
erpretatiou to the wearers hut less inteSDe 10 he
were in number. Many oil the ladies'
were IN evening Dress and there were several rich COS
tunes.
The music was under the direction OF L. W. Itulg,
who for IA months the leader OF the orchestra of the
Amee troupe and lately OF the Park Vhcater OF Brook
Ivn The orahestra proper sisted OF G0 musicians,
INT added TO this was chorus Oi 80 al under e super
vision OF Mr. Zuig The music OF the orchestra was IN
The case OF each gIadre panied by the voices oi
chorus giving % pleasant ana unique expression
The combined orchestra was placed upon raised plat
at of the stage. No pOlntnaut music
int4rpOcd between the dances at most OF the Das
aud not single Lanciers. The orchestra was composed
the members Of the Philharmonic Society Inc chorus
comprised many Of the well known singers VINO nave
been an .cled 10 the different opera trOupeS.
The Committees Of the Cercle Francais he l. Harmonic
were headed nv Mussrs A. SaimOnd. L. Courchct L.
KINDER H. A. Chalyn, A. Fiauraud aud j. VI. Dubois
Yhe supper was served IN Nilsson Hail. communicating
with he Academy.