The New York herald., 1878-02-22
THE ARlON BALL.
Picturesque Scenes at the Carnival
in Gilmore's Garden.
FIFTEEN THOUSAND DANCERS.
The Largest Masquerade Ever
Given in New York.

The doors were thrown open Al c!ght O'CLOCK, ana
after squad of about seventy-hvo policemen had
, marched IN the guests commenced 10 arrive. Il
looked like success from the nrst. they
tinucd arriving in unceasing stream, II there
had been general dread that they might be late
Tho garden was like fairy land. vertable bower
Of cvergrcens, liz up by thousand lights that shed
their ustre through glass globes Of every hue Enter
ing by Madison avenue the ladies were sent
10 the lett ana the gentlemen the
right 10 their respective dressing rooms. On
tho right there were 5000 pigeonholes arranged
for the reception OF hats and coats which
were carefully checked Tor tho lee OF fftycenls The
accommodation for the ladies the lett, and
after they had completed their arrange ments they
were met by their gentlemen at the entrance
where, in circus times, the grand enlree made
Coming at the Madison avonue entrance passed
beneath arches OF eversreens and then
ronted the fountain. which was playing usual, but
,hc little ball which has often amused habitus
81 the garden gone. Back OF tho fountain there
wall OF evergreen, that in order to get the
danciug floor had pass either to the right to
The lett The comic element OF the Ari0ns was
apparent In the decorations, fancy carica-
lures wore hung all around the building and tho
passages 10 tho seats and boxes all chrstened
with such names 'vaniIy Fair avenue" Grip Van
Winklo street." "Merry Wives avenue" "Pickwick
avenue" 'Stlver Bill street, and The like. The pill
lars that divided The promenade from the dancing
door all cncased evercrcens and all the Mad-
avenue thd OF The building was festooned with
these decorations IN happy manner The Fodrth
avenue end was occupied with Sage shut in by u
handsome drop curtain. uE alter the procession
that portion OF the garden was enclosed In scarlet
and brown drapery. The floral decorations were vol
handsome as beside the display OF plants ana uowers
ol choice pants At the ioot OF every
pillar in ,hs centre OF tho bulldog. Tho
nntadf fhaa fipa of
snu Madison avenue side ot the house, ana the vi
the n.asqueraders beneath iormcd quite y pleasant
In very handsome style with portrait OF Mouquin,
SURROUNDED by bottles OF Munm a. a iron.isDiece.
THE MAsQUERADk OPENS.
Shortly alter niue T.. NJ. the immense building
mcnccd 20 present qui.e cheerful appearance, as,
poxes were pretty well nle0, and there
over Inousand inaskers on the noor. Al the SOUND
Iether, anu in . low minutes tho overture from
"RcDzl'' filled the buildng few selections
ssa a. last .ns commt.ses made their sppers
soming in from the right side OF the Stage. First
came gallant body Of Alconers in advance Of BODY
They were followed ny couriers OF The reign OF Louis
XIV, The royal botiers Of Charles " ana the Press
COMMITTEE, OF scrbes Of the sixteenl III
century.
Tnsss gay masqueraders made their way through
tue throng, and as they marched their ranks were
coustantly augmented BY merry couples IN costume
the party already ON the floor. At signal from
the leader the orchestra suddenly struck up The
"verdlct poonaisc, by Ed. Strauss. Tue phaianx Of
promenaders paused ior secohu ut me sound ana
tnen like u rocket bursting mo stars IN u sumner
sky II shot INTO thousand wnirlipg brilliant SPARKS
each couple lett the line aud circulated 10 tneaveiy
Strains.
Ihe floor now presented a very animated appear.
The gay masquers whirieG around, the diler
ent couples lniugnns one with the o.nsr, making an
Kept entirely tnc alert and put everybody Or the
noor that was no. masked or IN .ancy costume
~. THE PROCESSION
shortly alter ten r. 81. Inc cur,ain was raised from
the Stage and tnere was general rush TO get
rising of tne curtain disclosed a tropical land
scape IN the background, with the long lost Aron
Jying asleep. Prince Carnival then made his appear
ace Ia Ari0u found ms long lost brother. He
invokts the powers OF magic ana transformed The tror
teal plants into Oympian gods that surrounded Ariou.
Tho procession tbcn commenced. First the heraids,
STANDARD ana marshaIs, leading band OF music
ana then came the Floor Committee, preceding Two
heraids. Arion then made his appearances astrde
enormous silver dolphin and surrounded by the
The rear. Inc drum corps Of the Turner Cadets led
the Folly brigade, which was commanded
by General boun. mounted con hobby
horse Then came the members OF the
Beethoven Maennerchor, surrounding their iavoriIc
composer, and alter Folly's colors the New York
commissioners made their appearance under a hat.
They followed by heterogeneous host compris-
Ing trsnps, coiored iolks OF every descriptlon pic
Sen.s. ana Inc wasnee wasneo" decsM,on from
China. Fashion was then represented by deslsn OF
Worth, from Paris, ANA alter a passing vlsw
OF the STRIKE Of tue Williamsburg Ia,Iors The
Roman gladiators came on followed by
IN unraiy crowd 'o ,nas were ere 81, mixed e, up up
WIS ireighted with some members OF the sixteenth
amendment on cruise. The close OF tho procession
introduced tho herads, standard bearers and an
orchestra OF boy musicians, coslumed boys that
preceded The Prince Carnival's bodsguard. ambassa-
dors bearers vi the royal insignas, narequins aud
cviun.ipsa In tho rear came the royal chariot
carrying Prince and Princess Carnival anu their pages
Alter making n tour OF the room tho procession
hated, and Inc spectators had an opportunity TO
catch the bouquets wh'Ea were snowsTsd Win
his throne and by Arion from tho back
OF his mighty silver dolphin. This over
The regular programme dances carried out,
was not until advanced hour this morning tnat
the last Of admirers OF tue Bard OF Lesbos found
The fancy dress ball OF the Arion Vocal Society," at
Gilmore's Garden last night was probably inc
snls country-at least so far as tho attend
ance aud The variety Of costume was con-
cernsd II was estImated that not less Than
eight and ten O'Clock, and white al least halt
OF these came IN ordinary dress and merely
played the part OF Spectators there were enough
in mask 10 nl the mighty floor, which
covers whole CITY square. It's undoubtedly one
und yet there not after ten O'Clock moro than
enough room to dance comfortably. Outside thcro
lines OF carriages stretching along tho adjoining
avenues for ut least half q mile, and each vehicle
brought It's quota OF youth, beauty and picturesque
tho bali, iaken as a whole. was a grand sue
cess, there many details with which FAULT
magnitude is AS yet beyond the skull of Ameri-
cans TO manage. The lamentaDic failure OF the
nrsr ball attempted in that place the Carnival bal
Is still fresh in the public MIND, and, although
those who attended That gwen last night
went away pleased with their entertainment,
thsre was great deal OF needless confusion and
annoyance The large squad OF policemen In
attendance had received no INSTRUCTIONS at all as to
what they do and consequently simply waited
round stood ready 10 hit head upon the first
prctexI The members OF the press and reception
committees set down 10 appear 10 the procession
o'clock, and consequently ihcy had not time 10
attend properly 10 the other duties assigned them;
aud there was general response OF 81 aon't know"
fnan mart nj m o
propoundsd by guests. Despite OF these drawbacks,
however, the Dal was an unqualified success.
OIL A~n