The New York herald., 1876-02-02
THE CHARITY BALL.
A woNDEoUs CONGREGATION oF BEAUTY AND
FASHION, BELLIES AND BEAUx DANCING FOR
TIE SAKE OF TIE poor.

A woNpRoUs CONGREGATION OF BEAUTY AND
rAsmoN-BELIEs AND BEAUx DANCING FOR
THE SAKE OF THE POOR.
Long before the birth Of the Messiah charity at
tractiye. From Genesis to Maccabees, in the Divine
word in the muttudinous writings Of Confuoius in
the learned times that present the life Of Bud
dha, in the Koran and the Book oi
Mormon, in the theological poems Of shiraz,
whence the Fire worshippers draw their INSPIRATION
whether with tho fierce Bedouin Of the desert with
whom the wandering wayfayer breaks bread and
thereafter invioate; the red the plains, who
despite his Ishmaelitish character; the wild kurd OF
the Asiatic steppes the Bushman OF the Antpodes
and the anthropophagis Of the Pacific isles the spirit
Of charity pervaGe the entire human family
The spirit of charity permoates everything that can
boast OF human origin For twenty years an associa
tion-if the quiet unconscious amagamation OF char
table elements in the empire Of Mrs Grundy can be
classed under the pebeian name OF observation-disclosures
themselves to the noble cause of charity. The Nur
sery and Chd's Hospital where the little and helpless
call Tor assssnce and where their utter inability TO
help themselves demand from the kindly heart special
recognition, has become the synonym of charity.
For this deserving institution Mrs Grundy summons
her fair cohorts for It Worth labors ndustrousy in
the gay capital for many poor seamstress tolls in
herattic and many q rouged modtste ponders
fashion plates The assembled genius of the Normas of
tho Casta Diva Of fashion is concentrated upon
toilets for chartys sake, and on each fair form
the ransom Of prince tsee medi@va records brig
and tols) may be found. The hands Of the clock in
the lobby Of the academy gradually neared the hour
sswhen churchyards yawn," before the creme de Ia
crle OF the patronesses of the bali arrived Then they
A drilling rain, very uncomfortable for the police
men, who vocierated IN every Key Of the gamu direc
tions TO the obstrcperous drivers, descended as
If npo mi
well as the street lamp in front of the Academy yet
the long and seemingly nterminable line OF cars
riages blocked Irving place and Third avenue.
Never before known such concourse
Of vehicles at ball. and many guardian of the
peace will report the sergeant's desk this morning
with voice scarcely over whisper UP the stems OF
the Academy tripped hundreds OF daintly shod feet
and as the carriages rolled away ana the PT2fGnaH
uRis congregated around the entrance, probably 10
find a species OF Lethe from personal discomfort wit
messed the scene there was one consoling thought
''for sweet chartys sake. " Outside the scene was
dreary enough Inside it the quintessence Of bril-
When the last theatre closed its doors on the depart
ing patrons there evident attraction for all the
fair theatre goers toward the Academy. There was
perbaps an hour or SO lost in exchanging theatre Tor
ball toilette, in many cases they were
identical People may have wondered last night TO
in the parquetle at married in Haste y
an unwonted display OF toettes and jewels, but the
mystery is explained when 1t is considered that many
prronesses OF the ball wished to visit theatre before
the ball and cared not to so to the trouble OF gong
home the meantime. The ball. although not as
crowded have seen IL previous occasions, was
a genuine success. financially and fashionably Nearly
5000 people present and the Nursery and Childs
Hospital was benefited to a large extent.
The toiettes numerous, so varied and so be-
widcring that IL difficult TO make distinction
among them. We only note few as they passed
in tns lobby in front of the ballroom proper dainty
little brunette of the Pauline Lucca type of beauty
high boddice, sleeves whereby her beaut-
fully shaped arms were displayed to the best
possible advantage the skirt nearly plain and cut Ia
Princess in front back very much pointed The wealth
of diamonds that decorated this beauty was brilliant
setting to her magnificent toilette. Next came tai
blonde of the Nilsson type. She was attired IN light
blue velvet the corsage beng OF the half neck kind the
sleeves very Short the folds Of the long train cngng
around her form like the drapery On Greean antique
statue the light hair swept from the low forehead and
pierced at the back of the head by golden arrow.
A literally brilliant evening toilet was a dress OF
lavender SILK made with plain corsage, short sleeves,
and demi-train skirt trimmed with narrow silk rules,
edged with black lace and disposed in unique but |
hardly descrbable The overskirt of |
black lace, embroidered with jet, edged with !
deep trimming lace TO match The design
Is entirely novel. The apron extends tar
back and forms deep point reaching
nearly 10 the bottom of the skirt. The back is so
looped as to form other deep points large lavender
bow supporting the looping. over the low corsage was
a short loose Jacket, with dcmi-long sleeves, made in
lace to match the oyerskrt and confined at the waist
with lavender silk sash tied loosely and carelessy
one end connected with the bow which supported the
looping The entire efcct was very beautiful - =
And thus the ball went on, ana the beaQufsl spirit
OF Charity dye with loving ondness over the scene
Lander and Gfaula supplied the music and charming
music II Wis. The progfanfne ofdancng enticing
enough for a ST. Anthony Theodore Moss the
presiding spirit of the scene and to his able manage
ment the success Of the ball is mainly due.