Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-03-24
A Court BnlIat Berlin.

Court hall at Berlin.
An American lady, describing the an
Lual court ball in Berlin, SAYS: At seven
o'clock stream of vehicles extended
from the Brandenburg gate, at the
lower end of the Inter den Linden, to
the portals of the Grand Opera House.
Mounted police were stationed along
the line 1t seemed as though every
man, woman and child in Berlin who
could not afford to buy ticket, being
unwilling to be left entirely out of the
festivities, was peering into the car
riages to catch glimpse of the dresses
and faces. But no lounging was allowed
about the doors.
The opera-house is large building,
very suitable for an occasion Of the
kind The seats, like those il the New
York Academy of Music, are covered at
such times with highly-polished floor
for dancing; for greater safety this had
been effectually tested by a regiment Of
soldiers. The rear of the stage WIS
covered with scene representing a
forest, while the corridors and stairways
had been hung with garlands of ever
greens and festooned with green
branches; at intervals along the wall
were minute grottoes wherein waterfalls
and fountains made refreshing music,
In many of the windows opening on the
corridors hung cages filed with bril-
liantly-plumaged birds. Across one end
Of the room extended balcony occupied
by an orchestra and company of boy
choir singers, while at the opposite end,
and directly over the royal box, another
orchestra was stationed. There were
numerous mirrors, and it was notice
able fact that the officers used them far
more than the ladies'.
When at nine o'clock the members oi
the court appeared there was hardly
standing room. The emperor, empress
crown prince and princess, with her
daughters, occupied three of the central
loges. Immediately on their entrance
gentlemen and ladies in confused mass
pushed and jostled one another in an
effort to see all of the royalty there was
to be seen. Shortly after their arrival
the grand promcnades began. The en-
peror walked first with the crown prin.
cess, and behind came the crown prince
with the empress, Prince Karl, with his
dnughter-in-law. Prince Frederick
Karl with the Princess Won Mciningen,
Hohenzollern, with other members OF
the court. During the promenade the
orchestra played and the boy choristcr,
sang the kings polonaise.
The emperor, who is in his eighty.
fourth year, looked every inch what he
is-a very handsome old man. He
bowed right and left with as much grace
as his son. The empress, in spite o
her age and excessive thinness, appeared
in a low-necked and short rt-sleeved whit,
silk dress Of most elaborate design, th,
train entirely trimmed with flowers ant
green leaves, while her head, insteat
of its natural gray, was adorned will
masses. Of jet-black hair. Altogether
she was a most pitiable picture of de
erepid old age. The crown princes
looked far more queenly. She wa
dressed in lavender silk, covered will
white lace and profusely trimmed will
white roses and dark leaves. Both tn,
empress and crown princess wore mag
nifcent coronets Of diamonds. Aftc
the promenade the royal party returne,
to their loges, while the emperor re
paired to the box of the diplomati
corps, and entered into earnest conver
sation with its occupants.
The royal family left about eleyel
o'clock, after which the interest tagged
and the floor became less crowded
There was more or less dancing al
the evening, but Of kind American
do not care much for.
Fashion Notes.
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