The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-20
THE BOUFFERS.
A Great Gathering CT Domi-
noed Fantasticals.
THINGS TALKED OF.
Wonders OF Night at the
Academy.

Public dissipation waits till midnight. This &C.
counts for the Bal d'Opsra BouGe getting itself
into positive exertion but few minutes before
We have gone to press.
Everybody Interested in the a1air had other Dish
to fry before proceeding to the bali. The three
companies of Thespians who repeat the dulcet
compositions OF OfYenbach and Herve had to play
before they could dance. The reporter could use
truly Scriptural phrase. therefore, waiting oil the
evening, when he said:-
1--WE have piped to you. but you have not
danced"
The Academy OF Music wore Its usual appear
ance last night as at all balls OF renters. me
parquet or pit was roored over in sections.
scene was set OF snowy mountains, perfectly IN
keeping with the snow out OF doors The bird
cage lamps over the stage end OF the flooring
blazed as usual. The white sides OF the balcony
and tiers relieved the dark color OF the walls of
the edince.
Many policemen were drawn up at the street
corners adjacent aud around the DOORS They
even penetrated the building seeming to provo
that vice, more than Anything ese depends upon
authority, The police were, as usual, sturdy and
no respecters Of persons and Kept the aises clear
OF the supernuous men while "rhe ladies'" came In.
AT half-past ten there were gathered together
about twelve guardsmen on the rim OF the noored
OF theatrical men-at-arms and the arms OF mum.
mics. Tin spears, with turned, wooden handles;
helmets from q tnner's shop, and bright, thin, tin
bits OF armor. the faces OF these gentry, greatly
at variance with their martial attire, looked like
the surface OF so many cup custards. 1t seemed
that their warKe eOuntenances II properly nut
haved irreguIarly. Some stood Ike Knights;
some Ounged, like excrescences; some seemed to
be mere theatrical "supes" uninterested as TO the
play.
The city, meantime, was very much excited on
the subject OF the Bal dOperd BO,eDe. Many very
virtuOus women have passion TO see how many
very unvrtuOus women look on close inspection.
Many very careful husbands, reasoning out the
matter conclude to give their good wives the sight
They suppose tnat, on the wnOle the propensity to
LOOK at the impure Will be the pest cure. 1t gene
rally is There is no great dignity or placldity
about the BAL d'opera 5o,lte female She is either
very bold or very crude. she sees her occasion IN
Ine ga, mssqae ana WIZ ane aeSperate nope OF
large public occasion-sOme fresh boy, some su-
persenstlve man, something unhappy or eXacting,
which will I'LL the void spaces in her erratic life.
Last night the attendance oil women was almost
wholly OF three kinds.
drew the multitude; three companies, all Compel
Ing in acting wnere performances are oyerdone..
Iaey came The IN ae nsy requred inc mo cnange
DOsons undressed to the more noble ex-
tremiues. Ihey greatly attracted the fats.
stage, paid IS to see them in the ball
room. These ladies entered the court room without
either embarrassment or in.modesty. They took
care to wear no more than the usual drapery, and
as much less as could be allowed. They rejected
no acqalntances, having few or none previously,
and re AIMED only those who were cOngenlal ana
profitable. All paraded, they presented very
superb set oil physical extremities, and, being
both French and English, afforded good contrast
to the large number OF resident Americans who
belonged 70 the two following classes
SscO,td-Beloved ones, attributed to a single
spouse, but alleged to De variable These came Dy
affinity. They saw the great opera market OF tho
word in the Bal u'Opera BOufie. They mad been
invited and were no lnLruders. 1t was their oc-
casion. But why should we linger on thai topc.
They fingered and gave our reporter no chance.
While our presses are crashing and buzzng, SO are
they wnoIn we expected to describe.
TtTd-Tne neutrality-suspicious. who have but
They came Many IDEAS may not be derived pat
riotlc to feelings from this sad class, but as 1t
was their gaa night let 1t pass.
To these were all classes oil curiosity hunters en-.
terlng. The place was crowded at one O'Clock.
Before that hour 1t was feeble performance,
SHINY attended. After one O'Clock the
array OF stalwart legs, outre costumes and
iangulshing eyes, were more Iudicrous tnan In
wing. Opera company after company entered
successfully with grand eclat put the sober sided
American audience took little interest in It all, and
sat and watched.
There was power OF money taken. Out OF
twenty pieces OF music Ell Int were OnenDach's,
three were Lecocqs. three strauss and two
Weingartens. The eccentricitles OF the occasion
must be reserved Tor another day.