The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-15
FOR SWEET CHARITY'S SAKE.

THE INFANT ASYLUM BALL-How sATINs AND
DIAMONDS IN THE ACADEMY OF MUSIC HELP
THE LITTLE oNEs-THE SCENE AND THE
MUSIC.
At half.past ten O'Clock last night line OF CON-
I mitteemen in faultless evening Dress with blue
badges pinned TO their breasts. filed on the smooth
dancing floor OF the Academy and officially opened
the third annual ball for the benefit OF
the Infant Asylum After them came an endless
thrOng OF dancers whose feet responded TO the
martial strains or voluptuous measures or the
bands, which poured forth waltz, galop and
quadrille until the very Chandelier in the centre
seemed Instinct with the spirit OF Terpschore.
The beauty and fashion OF the metropolis were
there, and many name distinguished in every
sense OF the word graced the list OF patrons to
this most worthy charity. Army and navy officers
IN uniform, from the starred general and plethorc
commodore to the unbearded lieutenant and
timd "middy," State officials from the next to
highest to the lowest, municipal officers OF every
grade, the various 'sets" on the Avenue and its
branches consultations OF fashion and NEE -ey ed
Charity herself in Worth's latest were there to do
honor to the little ones. From an early hour In
the evening the muddy approaches to the
Irving place Opera House were thronged
with carriages In fact, after the ball
opened, the line OF carriages extended to the
northern limits OF irving place and nOwed over on
either neighboring avenue as high as Twenty
third street garing calcium threw shafts OF
light across the Irving place entrance and re-
nected back the sheen OF many an elegant
"The finest police in the world" resolved
OF cabmen and exchanged with them the
courtesies OF the season, especially when on
nnn q n n No
attempted to fnd out what the lady IN the clar-
ence beside him wore by poking his nose into the
curiosity. but the drivers and the adjoining po-
licemen did not argue 1t out as such and conse-
Very energetic discussion as ' to the n,"' right
OF way between TWO vehicles, during which
the n and
Louisiana question. AS midnight approached the
scene within became more brilliant and interest
ing. The huge chandelier that swung over the
heads OF the dancers twlnkled over toilets that
would have made Eve ashamed of her fig leaves.
Let us glance Tor moment at few OF those
wonders OF fashion.
A tall, graceful blonde was most charmingy at.
tired In q toilet which harmonlzed admirably with
her youth and peculiar style OF beauty. The dress
was OF delicate India muslin, trimmed with rich
and o o. see my OF
nots scattered at random, as II dropped from
fairy fingers the skirt was a demltrain, the
with lace and surmounted by punings
disposed dsiagonally above = deep. nOqnce
dered the skirt On the back was sort OF half
overskirt. 0raped by o sash OF white silk which
MOVERS. over the low Josephine corsare was a
Marie AntOinette nchu made OF valencennes lace
and insertion ana edged with fringe OF lilies OF
the valley, headed by clusters OF fOrget-me-nOts
garland OF the same flowers proceeded from The
cOrsage boquet and was carried over the lett
shoulder, from which 1t fell low down on the
skirt. Clusters and sprays OF the same flowers
completed the couture and the jewelry was
the c1Gperon OF this Youthful beauty was a re-
markably handsome lady, attlred In very dark
blue velvet, which harmonzed 80 admirably with
the toilet OF her young charge that they formed a
most lovely picture. The dress had long,
pointed train the apron of white satin. putied
graduated in width and lined with white satin.
The ''cuirass" basque was fastened with hand
finished the neck with high Medicis run, with
an inner run OF point lace The sleeves were
sashed at the outer seams with white satin
puts inserted The jewelry was OF diamonds and
pearls.
white crepe liSse. The SKIRT was gracefully
Of the laiIle over this was taoissr Of the crepe
headed by garland composed Of roses and light
blue velvet. At the back was q trained tunic
on the apron, the heading .turban" rouleau Of
crepe llsse and blue velvet. At the sides
tins In mic was disposed en- cascades garands OF
sides, and gracefully tertwlned at the back. so
as to support the voluminous drapery. Hali-ngh
style, the crepe lisse pulled perpendiculary, back
and front, and the bottom finished with lace and
flowers to match the tablier. Broad blue velvet
necklace, with pearl pendants. Couture orna-
mented with wren.
white satin dress had plated nounce,
beaded by pufllngs extending half way up the
skirt In the back, the front covered with q long
pointed tablier OF tulle embroidered with white
beads ana edged with row OF bead embroidered
lace headed by a 'bouillonn6 of tulle. This
tabler was draped high at the sides
and met full overskirt IN the back
OF the same bead embroidered ma
terial, trimmed with several rows OF lace and
corsage OF satin, covered with beaded tulle, the
bottom edged with tulle ana the neck finished
with lace and tue puffings; black velvet neck
lace, with diamond ornaments; o large black vel
vet bow In the hair, confined by diamond star
and an aigrette.
A handsome brunette wore with exquisite grace
toilet OF ambercOlOred faille, the skirt trimmed
tulle, Topped with deep crimson roses.
A faint cream-cOlOred silk, trimmed with Chan
lilly nounces and garands OF autumn leaves, was
universally admired. the disposition Of the Garnt-
ture being cidedly unique and artistic.
umiere blue SILK, combined with crepe lisse
was worn by a charming blonde. well known IN
literary circles
toilet Of light gray tulle looped with roses OF
all cOOrs, most artistically disposed, was one OF
the loveliest toilets noticed.
When the witchlng hour OF midnight was passed,
and the dancing tnrong was swayed beneath the
batOns OF Bernstein and Grafulla, the scene be-
resolved into one glittering picture OF jewels and
bright eyes, and to the strains OF 100 instruments
the successful appeal OF charity went up TO the
blue vault OF heaven outside and the kind hearts