The New York herald., 1877-02-02
IN CHARITY's NAME.
THE BALL AT THE AcApEMY OF MUSIC LAST
NIGHT

THE BALL At THE ACADEMY OF MUSIC LAST
NIGHT.
When New York extends its hands In charity h
generally contrivcs that the hand shall be goved IN
the dainriest kid. and when t extends its benson
clothes the blessing in silk. Fashion does even more
IL claims The privilege OF garnshing its Efforts win
diamonds, and the ball at the Academy last nigns was
convocalion the eiis the charity entertainment
for the benefit Of tho Nursery and ChiIds Hospital
aIwavs Is II Isl in plain the prospective and onsc-
tive point OF the seasons gayeties Select coteres
wait for the charity aud invariably bring with them tho
outside world. This outside world was In iorce out
side the Academy last night The cold, damp pave
troddcn by thnly -shod feet, standing IN
ssrred ranks OF ndisencc beneath the glare oi the
caiciun--ior. Whatever may be tho accorded priv
ilege OF those who driven 70 the ball IN
their satin lined coaches the belle who shruss her
pretty dinpled shoulders beneath the silkcn CLOAK.
with its comfortable lining OF ur, cannot avoid being
looked by the people whose presence In the street
upon festive nights at the Academy, may be compared
10 tho fringe that borders The garments of fashion
It's consolation for The under world to look up 10
the upper world, and there Is ~ Icast
sign OF lie, gaycty and freedom from care
Ia the haoilimcnts OF expensive texture,
aud gems OF the purest do look handsome, even
70 poor olks' eyes, tho steps IRON the coach
10 the Academy door. and The breezes Of chiii feD.
rary night Nat across Irving place the odors OF the
boudoir and the drawing roou mingled with The scent
OF exotcs in tho bouquets OF fashions iavori.es
simple. Wisdom, perhaps. on the part oi
tho management. dictated the policy Of saving
money when times are supposed 10 be hard and whcn
deserving charity compelled 10 solicit aid with
Renewed vigor aLd well-timcd persistence Above the
typography .uLarity, and beneath IL silver ioun-
tam, three tiers from which the choicest perfume
Was seemingly distributed 10 Impsrcep.ole sprays.
excepting whero the bright eyes ana laces OF
handsomo women made tho view agreeable u bachelor
eyes aud those uf tho Bcnedicts aud nj the extreme
rear OF the dancing loor upon q das raised lew
feet, sofas aud yIlueniis in winch the guests
permitted to take u easy, polite commit man
holding guard with broad Cardinal hueu satin rib
bon ''bar sinister to admission. The uoor
bordersd urns alicd with nowcrs, toward the
front OF the house landscape drop, better than
usually IN the ancient Academy hiicd up the PIC
turc and tells the story o the decorations.
The arrangements Tor supper, served by Messrs. A.
J. Dam son, OF the Union Square HOTEL were CON-
petc the supper tables being arranged IN the supper
room AT the Academy Nilsson Hall not being called In
rcqulsitiona lnct for which of the guests were
duiy thankful to the management The decorations In
the supper and the entire entertainment IN cuisine
aud its serving were under the immediase superin-
tendence OF stewards of the hotel Tho tables were
arranged n the long room aud IN the ioboy, Win ac-
cominodations Tor seaiipg TWO hundred anu 1fty The
Ornamcntaon was appropriate To the OCCASION, each
table being decorated with centre piece aud each
napkin bearing with 1t u handsomely designed silk or
satin lag mounted upon gilt staIi and bearing de-
vice IN colors Evergreens and natural flowers wcrc
extensively used, and the caipeted floors were. Tor
won,.er acceptable the sppered feet OF the ladies
Ih(Ednnouncement that tho procession woold begin
at'sfMrp ten O'Clock was u disappointment Every
body wanted To have glimpse at the ball. tho pcope
and the toilets. but everybody chose 10 come late.
The result was ,hat when starting time came. and
when Graiula aud Lander were both ready with the
muslc there but few hundred people in
the vicinity OF the dressing rooms in the foyer,
the parQuct circle and in the boxes. II was not
until quarter 10 eleven that the knots Aoi people
gathered about the adies dressing room, near the par
quet, began 10 SEPARATE IN couples and tue process
son moved upon The floor, Mr.. Arthur Leary and
Mrs Edward Cooper being the leaders, followed by
Mr.. Clarence A. Seward and Mrs. Arthur Gilman and
about nity couples representing tho prominent man-
ayers OF the bali and the central attractions ot New
Yoiks best society Hall an hour later the from
the boxes and the back OF the dancing Aoor was su
perb.
A vision OF fairy land had suddenly uufolded
and, as II Aladdin with his wonderful lamp had been
unDidden guest brilliancy Of the grandest ball
Of the developed seh Iu display OF toiletcs
!ne sudden M Growdns ing OF the noor, The
oi female loveiness In willing arms the
scene midnight approached was grand IN tho ex-
who had the riches with which, il they glucose, to
good The latent spirit OF the dance had awakenedto
IT'S responsibilities oi enjoyment, and amid
the bright presence oi thousand BEAM
Ing eyes and amid the mazy depths OF athoms
OF lace the dancers dld as best they could despite
gand Meyerbeer, Strauss Lecocq, Mendelssohn, kos-
sni and oiienuach Lander welded the baton TO The
dance music and Graiula revived the enoiies OF tho
"Old seventh" ia his military music and the marches
The selection OF dances comprised twenty-five num-
bers, and tho repetition OF at least hall The number
was insufficient TO satisfy the assembled guests.
Among those who we're prescnt in the boxes and on
ME floor were nearly all the prominent members OF
hecily government and lew military gentlemen be.
onging to our city regiments who, taking
HE privilege Of tho occasion, appeared in UNIFORM
Inn In the belief that at the Charity Ball. as at West
Point, buttons servicesblc IN winning the
nniies OF their partners and OF others whose
hands they pressed during the grand chain IN lies
Lsnciers." Wall street was well represented by the
presence OF nearly all the leading operators
o. Tho Stock Exchange lucky speculator IN
Western Union beng especially pronncnt and an
ex-managng director OF steamship company. looking
very ike groom. radiant in immaculate costume, re-
spicndent diamonds and not yet past his honey
despite the silver IN his hair.
The police arrangements were admirable. largo
force duty outside the Academy and within.
There conflict Of orders incro any
fusion. Captain John b. Eakns Of the Eighteenth
precinct, in charge, and his selection OF men TO
aid hun was noticeable feature OF tho OCCASION
Financially, the ball was successful Careful reports
made tho manager estimate tho receipts be not
less than $l 000 and with every box sold and reports
the large sale oil tickets by tho manager, the
charity indeed well served and the Charity Ball
Of 1877 worthy OF remembrance.
DpnWM rHE MIMI PFAnEp