New-York tribune., 1880-01-06
GENERAL FEATURES OF THE BALL.

One result OF tie change in the management OF
the Academy of Music which marked the advent
of Colonel Mapeson as director OF the Italian opera
season in this city. shown last evening III
the reYival-and the manner of the reyival-ot the
old opera balls. 1t was formerly the custom
in this city, as it has ever been III
Paris, London, Milan and Vienna. TO mark the
close OF the opera season. which abroad Is ldehllc
with the close Of the Carnival season, by a
grand masked ball at the principal opera house IN
other countries it is under the direction OF the
manager Of the opera; here 1t was formerly,
as now, under the management OF the
Directors of the Academy. There they
marked the close Of the Carnival; here for
reasons partly meteorological and partly Social
they take place little earlier. On the Continent
these . balls are invariably of the most
general character. everybody being admitted with
ont regard to social position. private character or
associations. Here such state OF things w"uid pe
Impossible. The opera ball in New-fork ID
Tue past was essentially fashionable ana
select. Last night, in spite OF all announce
ments TO the effect that it was not intended
to Ire exclusive, the gathering more fashionable
and select than ever. Formerly the presence OF
many local politicians Of little repute with com
paulos Of less led to the resolution 10 abandon the
balls but last evening there was marked absence
| Of well-lsnovu characters.
Every iuducemel4t was held ont in the announce
ments of the masquerade to lead the ladies ana gen
| tIemen for whom the entertainment was al
ranged to feel that the utmost freedom com
patible with proprcty and a regard for the rignt
of others woald not be out of place The lncognito
| of every lady and gentleman was to be strictly
| regarded. There was no demand, as at the
| two great German and the two French
masxed balls that at certain hour all persons
| L IN no risl
supervision of characters. The only requirement
toward the establishment Of character was good
4 behavior under all circumstances. The directors
even went so far In the selling of boxes as TO con-
cea from purchasers the names of the persons buy
ing the boxes on their right and left This did not
4 in the end prove a successful device. for 1t
happened as always does at the principal balls in
this city, that most of those occupying boxes were
| well known TO their neghbors.
Bat in spiie of all these inducements to gayety the
ball was not Fiotous not lively that is, hardly
ever lively On the contrary. circumspection pre-
vailed even in the wine-room. Ii is evident
that the American is not masquerader
1 He Tor she) has not the abandon of the
Frenchman nor he jOviallty of the German. Pos
s,bly little more free and easy and piquant
than their English cousins the Ameri-
can woman never goes beyond the strictest
| propriety even at masked ball. She will
lndulge in as much mischief one likes, but no
absolute wckedness and her Irritation Is for the
| night only and not for all time or for
| any serious purpose. Hence the frivolity Of the
wlne-room the license Of the dancing floor, the in
discriminate Irritation Of the lobby and the prom
enade were missing; there were only such indica-
tions of the ordinary levity of the masquerade in
the fete-at6tes of the boxes and mprOvised Moorish
| and ElIzsbethan paviliOns
The doors were not opened until ten o'clock, and
# WAS not until after eleven that the boxes were
| fairly filed Dancing did not begin until very
\ late hOlir.
Characteristic conversation occurred shortly
ater the opening of the DOORS on the part of August
Belmont and gentleman who had choser tocome to
his reserved seat without a dress suit. As
he was looking for usher TO get q pro-
eramme OF the music, Mr. Belmont came
nm 70 him, and in a voice distinctly audi
bic half across the Academy. said: What
are you doing herei' 81 am here because
l have right to be-" was the reply. "In what
capacityT AS gentleman-who has paid for
| his ticketn "You have no business on the floor
| without dress suit" said the irate man
ager. "when go upon the floor yon may speak to
me; but now you impertinent." said the gentle
man. And'Mr Belmont went off and instructed his