The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-01-22
Cercie Francais do i'Harmon!e,
1873


Upon tho spacious floor dotted with ushers IN the
glteriug garb OF Swiss habcrdicrs. thousand fair
women and handsome men In picturesque, fantastic
and gorgeous colored costumes Of every imaginable
fashion, swept TO and fro cleaning dazzling, kaeid
oscopic mass, swaycd by music OF entrancng sweet.
ness and the rsrest hohouse blossoms IN the ladies'
toilets flung their incense into the ianguid air.
GAyETY AND MIRTH.
II was q scene 10 intoxoato the susceptible-stir
the pulse OF a stole. Two or three dances and tho
spirits Of the jewellers began to esrvosce. and sn
ness and Formally were banished, Though decorum
unresraned laughter filed up tho pauses in the music
and the assomblase gave way 10 enjoyment with irue
Gallo abandon. the gentlemen we're gallant aud
subtle grace that has left It's mementoes on tho heart
Of many an impressionabie swain. The side
,ans glance the oog droppns of tho gaze Tho
saucy closing OF tan and tho daring look
bal, al xsrS ss0v w.1s p.S
between the dances with knights and ''maydens
fsyrc," who, under tho shelter OF their incognito,
exchanged soft nothings, regardless of the gances
and witty remarks ofthe laughing simpering, flirting
joking, sportive, happy. debonair stream OF hu-
mainly that flowed rayly by them
While tho costumes were vivid AMI picturesque,
few werc original or striking IN themselves. The
gentlemen vii seemed ond OF the dcvil ever, and
the Inevitable red cap Of Mephistophces was conspic
uous in every part oil the building. There were
rounded calves colunbines sailors negroes Indians
and the rest Of the characters familiar TO hose who
attempt the part OF the wearers Of costumes to
carry the characters they supposed repre-
sent and the effect was produced by odd juxtapositon
Of personaccs and the laugbabc anachronisms pre-
scented.
pair OF costumes which attracted much attention
were complete suits of clothing manufactured from
copies OF the Courier Suisse newspaper worn by
gentleman and lady. good deal Of fun was caused
b. several ladies' alfred IN costumes which made
them like the two young gentlemen in the COMEDY
The ono so like unto the other
As could not be distinguished but oy name.
and as the hspiess youths, with whom they indi.
vidually made engagements did not know their
mui,ip.ser,y Of masked young ladies in wh,ss, and
ended by believing they mad distempcr which fol-
lows drinking OF much champagne.
when the "wee sna' hours ayant the twal" arrived
tho effects OF tho supper and VINE and music began to
be felt and fun grew last and furious that wit
messed by honest Tam " Shanter in ..Holloway's
Aud Haunted KIRK" at similar hour OF the ing.
And the latter dance could have boon moro fan.
tastic As Tor the equity ssrks they were numcr-
Gus that they would have made honest Tam cry out
again. "weel donel"
At about hall past ten The foor was cleared, and as
as the grand 'Marcne Triumphale'' pcalcd out from
grotesquerie OF the masque, came tbrougng up IRON
the boxes ana corridors and took their place upon
the foor. Louder sweled the strain. ana soon
seats 10 the glowing stage gorgeous with
lights and painting became filed with picturesque
crowd IN every manner OF attire and Ia every de
formty OF mask that tho fancy OF the could
devise. Gallant cavaliers Of the days OF Charles OF
Engand courtiers OF the Ezabethan age, knights
OF the Crusading period, all appeared there mingled
with Grand Sachcms ia war panopy, negroes dark
Ercbus, and hundreds OF nOndoscrIpts that
lion or country could claim. OF course the inevita-
BILE McphistOphcles was there, as dabocal as rcd
flannel could make hun, and haricquins ana clowns
In scores disported themselves and made their
customary desperate efforts to be ridiculous 1t
would DO quito impossible 10 convey
idea OF the characters assumed by the lady masquers
Sunce TO state that nearly every young who
msde her mark in or out OF history had some
dnncor essay role at all events 10
as nearly assume her attire possible Az
the conclusion OF tho grand march there
a temporary lu in the proceedings to allow
the throng which now came streaming Ia IN even
greater numbers than bciore to take their places.
Then were formed and as the enIivenng
strains OF. ''Barbe BIcuc" f0aied down from tho
musicians gallery, the entering swarm put
itself in motion and went gliding ana
revolving through the figures oil the quadrilIe. No
more dazzling sight can DO imagined than what III
Brilliant grotesque throDg presented, as In all the
glow OF color aud glitter Of metal they went prouct-
ting about tho PLATFORM and the picture further
enhanced by the porferre OF beauty and fragrance IN
thc boxes and Stalls around
ORDER OF DANCING.
The regular order OF danciug was next taken up.