National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-03-12
KhsQUFs AND FACES.
Fancy Dressed Bali Of the AnOnyma.

faney dressed Ball OF the Anonyma.
On Wednesday night one of the WelI-knoWu
halls north Of Pennsylvania avenue, aud not far
from Twelfth street. was the scene Of one of those
remarkable gatherings which 20 with all the
others in the mad race Of life to make up the sum
Of human existence. 1t was o fancy dress and
masquerade ball given, the red and gold hand
somely printed cards Of invitation said, by the
H. Y. NJ. Association, whoever It may be CON-
posed Of but the unlnitiated, to whom the tickets
Of admission were offered for sale, were quietly
informed that II was to be attended exclusively
by srouymas. In the ranks Of the fallen women,
as in all other phases Of society," there are regular
gradations, and this ball was gotten up exclu-
siVely for the ton and to that end but little pub
lcity was given it, the ladies' Invitations (neees.
sGry for admittsnee) were sent only TO those
whose presence was desired, and the number OF
tickets sold to gentlemen were limited TO hfty,
put when several Well-knoWn persons presented
themselves at the door without the pasteboard
their Ereenbacks were taken instead.
The hall is not large and the accommodations
in the way Of dressing and retiring rooms are pro-
pOrtionately smaller than the hall, but for the
exceptional pleasure offered by attending the Ia
dies concluded to submit to the slight inconyen-
enees, make the most OF the opportunity and ENJOY
them selves as best they could. During the after
noon a rumor prevailed that the police authori-
ties, at the request Of certain persons residing IN
the heighborhoed, had concluded 10 forbid the
ball. but that matter was settled to the satisGac-
ton Of ALL and 1t did take place. Just here It may
be we'll TO remark that the ball continued until
about O'Clock, and that IL was quite as orderly,
and the proprieties were as we'll observed as at
most Of the public balls given in this city.
The hour set for the opening march was ten
O'Clock, but that proved to be too early; for st
that time not one woman was in the room, and
the two or three anxious youths who were present
looked diseonsolste. and doubtless thought that
they had been swindled to the extent Of the ticket
money. Still they fingered on and whiled away
an hour in smoking cigars and drinking, and then
the first carriage arrived with masquers. 1t was
gucceedRd about O'Clock
there were probably sixty couple in the room,
fully as many as IL could accommodate cOmforta-
bly,. The central figures in the party were the
rival Miss LIS, the one dressed In straW-colofed
silk, with black trimmings and the other in black
velvet, also with lace trimmings. Both were
ablsze with diamonds in earrings, brooch and on
fingers, and both looked admirably we'll to their
respective admirers. Among the others present,
there were several with ball-dresses, notably an
intellectual lady, whose penchant is said to be for
artists and journalists, and who, simply for amuse
ment, writes poetry.
This trio were too we'll dressed and teo particu-
lar for the majority, and they, of course,
turned for fun to the masked beauties with all the
freedom and no more than such occasions allow.
The dresses, a rule, were the most expensive to
be obtained Feet were eucased in SINNERS and
boots Of white kid and satin, limbs with silk no.
siery, and bodies with silk or velvet, wrought 10
quaint and picturesque costumes, chosen with
evident care to dist to the best advantage the
style and figure OF the wearer. Amid this ele-
gsnce Of attire, as the Wearers turned in the vo-
luptuOus figures Of the waltz, diamonds flashed
as plentiful as sunbeams play upon the water;
that is, when there is not too much water. For
the time being the Wearers were queens and prin-
cesses, knights, pages, ROmeOs, Hamlets, in fact,
anything in the heightened line of dress you
waited, but there were no burlesque costumes.
Each vented to look her prettiest and beyond
the masks of lace and satin which hid the faces
made no effort at concealmeut.
The men-all Of whom had come lust to look
on, you know, " but who were persuaded to stay,
and after remaining were persuaded to dance
represented several distinct elements; but they
met upon n common footing they were not long
in traternizing. They were composed Of sporting
men, men about town, a few politicians, some
rich mems sons, who do nothing; one or two pro-
fessOnals, several Department clerks and a few
local business men. Some of them were married,
but the most were single, and as the hours sped
on and the excitement increased neither class
seemed to think much of their respective RESPONSE
bitttes, but giving themselves up to tie spirit of
the occasion, caught the inspiration of the excited
women and reveled in the festivities without re-
gard TO home or family.
Wine flowed freely when il had once began to
be opened, and the popping of the coTks and
cllnEing OF glasses was heard steadily above the
strains Of the music during the later part Of the
evening. About a. m. an example Of going
home was set, and so speedily initiated that by
half past four only three walters could be found.
They had lust one more dance" then out into
their carriages back to their homes Of sin, and
the bal masque of the H. Y. NJ. was over. The
names Of the committee as we'll as of the guests
have been omitted from this notice, as for a won
der they had no ambition to see them in print in
connection with the occasion.