The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-03-07
THE tssHAM' BALL.
The Curious Fancy Ball Given by the Artists
Of Vienna.

Vienna Correspondence New York Wcrldl
One Of the most brilliant evenings OF the
season was certainly the "G'sChnRS-ball," An
exclusively viennese fete. The word G'sch-
mas exists In the Viennese dialect only, and
means something unreal, something which in
ity 1t is but rubbish. The subject chosen for
this bail was the Flower Of Babel" and
everything-the rooms, the decorations, the
costumes, the separate groups fitted the
subject The old Hebrews Assyrlans, Egypt
ians, Phnnicians. were to be represented, and
yet not d single jewel or trinket, not single
yard Of costly material could be used for the
purpose-all must be G'schnas. will give
you an idea how this plan was carried out by
describing the entrance hall. The walls are
decorated with fresooes on cardboard, painted
by our first artists, who are the chief mana
gers Of this ball. OF course, all the paintings
are In the old Egyptian style. In the centre
sit two colossal idols. made after the pattern Of
ish Museum. AT first these asem to have been
gotten up at an enormous cost; every detail
" them satisfies the eye But when YOU
draw nearer you can SEQ that nothing save
m artists fancy and an artists hand could
haveasproduced 90 much effect with such
slight means. Everything that appears to
be gold is simply straw. The giants hair,
rolled in great rows OF stlff Assyrian curle,
was made Of bundles Of Virginia cigars, his
EARRINGS were door keys. his head-dress was
u
rolls and 80 forth. High In the air we see
the gardens Of Semiramis hanging from the
ceiling by ropes, yet In which you may take
walk at your leisure. On close inspection
these gardens are found to consist Of broom
sticks, potatoes, backing boxes, wooden Ia
dies lamp curtains, babies trumpets and pa
per cuttings, and yet the effect is wondrous
III wa add q few articles more, such as rolls,
fruit, blankets, dried fruit. oranges, apples,
straw mats, horsehair, flax, skins, we have
nt,v
Ing the finest fairy palace ever seen. This
ball Ia most popular with the artists because
they are accustomed to making the most OF
every chance, and because they are endowed
with more fancy and better eyes than
other mortals. Those who like spend
and making themselves conspicuous
by extravaganza always grow desperate
when this ball approaches, for here the best
idea has the greatest success. Thus the
two white sheets, laiG In Grecian folds, sewn
together and joined on either shoulder by a
buckle, which was nothing but a horses bril-
die bit. Makart himself appeared as David,
the shepherd boy, but he looked like o Sal
tan. surrounded as he was by 81 the finest
women OF the capital. There were several
Jewish high priests. whose breast-plates
were beautifully represented BY collar boxes.
The boards and hair OF the old Assyrtans and
Egyptians were represented In cigars or
bMAil 6Hu6Hees. CEoWaS ulIue VI OpauibH
onions shone like silver. those Of yellow
onions like gold. The noble statue OF Da-
vid, copied from the one at the door OF the
Palazzo Vecchio In Florence, which adorns
the largest room, would not have been In har-
mony with the mad scene, so 1t was concealed
In a large bathing cloak, the hood Of which
was drawn over Its head. A small statue OF
Cupid was disguised as an Assyrian street
boy. 1t is useless, however, to attempt to
give correct description OF all this strange
l will but say that II all
the outward show was Gschnds sham
the laughter, the Rayety and the pleasure
were real and unfeigned, and lasted undated
until daylight poured In upon the Flower Of
Babel and dispersed It's builders for another
year.