The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-22
FRENCH GAYETY.
BALL OF THE cERcLE FRANcAIs DE LIAR
MoNIE-A CROWDED HOUSE AND NIGHT Oh
REyELRY.

The annual fancy dress bali OF the Cercle
Francals de pHarmonie came or last evening az
the Academy OF Music. 1t was well managed,
well attended and may we'll be declared success
1t was an attempt, not wholly vain. TO give US
masquerade performance. with some spirit and
marrow IN it; not the ordinary llleiess,
tawdry entertainments TO which Americans have
been so long accustomed. TO 90 this Without
having recourse to indicate suggestions in dress
and behavior was what the inane caterers Tor the
public in this branch OF amusement could never
hitherto understand. and as a consequence we
had any number Of so-caled French balls where
the hDertines thronged to see woman's modesty
dshgured and womanhood disgraced The aaair
OF last evening proves that the esprit OF mas
querade performance is not necessarily dependent
on Black Crook devices, and that decency Ia pos
sible along with madcap fun In domnoes.
the Academy threw its doors open ut nine, but
1t was midnight before the phlagm OF the company
wore away and the run flowed spontaneously.
The police arrangements were made TO contribute
materially. to the easy working OF the ball ma.
chinery. Confusion was avoided in the CLOAK
rooms, and whether visitors came as spectators
or active participants In the ball they found seats
and ELBOW room without trouble or anxiety. The
members OF the Cercle In the various work.
ing committees floor, reception, &C., were
aierr lively and polite. They were here,
there and everywhere. They anticipated wants
and satisfied every practicable demand with an
Overlooking zeal Inc liant, voluble, crisp French
tongue permeated the building. IL rlpp!ed along
the corridors and made itself heard rom the en-.
trance 20 the rear OF the stage. the gentlemen in
swallow tails ana white ties who stood within the
street doors were handsome set OF fellows. sell.
complacent and nappy They smiled by turns on
the ladies', on themselves ana on mankind In gen.
eral.
source oil immense attraction The outsiders, IN
position 10 look on and make on inventory OF the
dresses, considered their opportunities worth the
price or admission. Kings, cUurtlerS and charac-
ers OF all kinds continued TO arrive until the small
hours OF the morning. It was harvest time Tor the
caob!es, Tor no Louis XIV. or Charles l. had the
moral courage to brave the pubic eye by walking
10 the scene OF festivities Cabs were q necessity
and the caDmen realized the lact.
IN THE GALLERIEs
sat an audience OF many hundreds. They had
come to crafty taste Tor nne effects IN color.
was that . bail under French direction meant
Jardin Mabllle-a wild scene OF revelry
sufficiently spiced with what the Span
the jaded appettes OF the bass votaries OF Venus.
AS seen from the boxes and galleries the spectacle
on the door was bright and enliyening. At mid
whole, had a happy effect OF light and color and
Tue waves o. delicate music rolling round the vast
a SsseH saroasS .ns eye H.
hands-notnins gaudy or glazing. Harmony and
simplicity in ali the equipments. The coup d'csa
OF the dancing floor was very beautiful. me
Interviewing Of the multitude OF varying
tunes made picture OF charming interest. Few
spectacular stage plays could mold the vision
The characters were an endless study, as Well w
reason OF the fidelity representation AZ
by the uncommon richness OF the fabrics
in many OF the more notable costumes. SUIT
representing o courier OF the time Of Elizabeth OF
England was strikingiy fine. II was perfect Ia
details, and was borne by a gentleman above the
average height, whose dignity OF carriage was as
natural as 1t was impressive
BEFORE MIDNIGHT.
At ten O'Clock the seats surrounding the dancing
platform were flied. Two-thirds we're in fancy
apparci. Foreign faces predominated. The dresses
OF The ladies were In many instances noticeable
Tor their taste and expensiveness. Yankee phys!-
ognoInies were lew and lar between. They were
Around the rim OF the platform stood a
score OF mail-cad sentinels with vsors up aud
in leudal trappings. and stood the badinage OF
the idle spectators with splendid fortitude.
closed the lnscripon cercie Francais ae liar
monte, 1875" and above this was arranged the
root OF pavilion and hall dozen gas canuelabra,
that made pretty show.
ALL THE USUAL CHARACTERS
were represented; sailors. soldiers, clowns, snoe.
blacks monks, dancing girls, Uncle samuels negro
Ministries, Cinnamon, pedlers, wild Indians, &c.
A sprigntly young girl as "Becky Sharp" carried
Oh the donors for fidelity Of dress and acting She
looking. Some said she was Partisan. but the cor
rect suspicion was that she was healthy Boston
growth.
The sensation OF the evening was the appear.
ance OF the 1rouiat family, imported specially
males, but dressed to represent an equal number
OF males and females. The costumes worn by this
sxtraord!nary gang were the very tptop OF extrav.
Chariuar1 Cnam's grotesque Iancies In pencil
THIS LIVELY FAMILY
of brothers would have done better II they
had been Rtven little more room, but just
as they were about to open the ceremonies
ClOreau gymnastics the mob maaQu1raGpra
crowded on to the platform and lett little
space for free and easy ,ng on the part Of the
more elbow room, ana then thev made tue dust ny
and the legs wnirl till the sight grew dazed and
FEATURE OF THE BALL
was the distribution Of prizes The tickets this
year were the nd pree Of last $40 IN
TO reconcile themselves TO the advanced rates,
numbered coupons were given with the bail
tickets and i've such coupons drew the i've prizes
offered. The prizes consisted of $1,000 set OF
diamonds. $500 solitaire ring, one Renleman's
and one lady's watch and chain and three diamond
studs. The winning numbers were 1,44s, 977
l,312, 40, 7i8. The NUMBERS won IN the order OF
the prizes as mentioned above.
KING KALAKAUA.
At eleven O'Clock King kalakaua, personated by
French merchant OF Beaver street. with q sweep
ing ermine mantle and q crown as big as p0r.
ridge pot, entered on the scene, surrounded Dy
suite In dazzling tinsel. The king" was In good
OF the bona dde ruler o! the Sandwich Islands.
THE PROGRAMME
embraced, apart from the dancing, the follow.
Ing -
At ten o'cock-Overture dedicated to the Cercle
Francois de pHarmonie by Professor Zaulig
At hali.past ten o'cIock--"Dianen .Grande
Marc5e des Chasseurs," arranged from popular
French airs.
AT eleven o'clock-Reception OF Hts Mljesty
King KGlakaua.
AT naltpast eleven o'clock-Presen sation OF the
grand prizes.
At twelve o'cock-The great Partisan sensation,
Lies Girls Crls" nouyeautes trombino SCI piQueA
executed by the Family Truuillat.
At one o'cock-Fech. ton-Kan, fan TASTE carne.
valesque by the Irouilat Family.
ire last rendered inro English, meant ''Rtt up
and git, 4" and was extremely fantastic
THE SUCCESS
OF the ball was assured alter midnight. Despite
the lulness OF the house and the surging mass OF
dancers on the platform, order was observed and
a genuine sense OF enjoyment Tell To the share OF
most people present. IL was true carnival-not
a funeral-iiSe most or our masquerade peri0r-
mances and 1t might be given again during the
season.
One little cOnyetenaps disturbed The harmony OF