Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-01-15
Hall Giving.


oulge In this form OF entertainments; bur tn
achieve this result there are many points to he
considered. which are too often overlooked by
those with whom expense IS no object Many
givers or large balls, aptly termed crushes In
the height OF the season, are under the impress
sion that II their rooms are not crowded aim ,st
10 su11Ccat1ol with painting humanity yney
t VIII rot De considered sufficiently run balls:
hundred frlends.' Invitations are accorded 10
their T1endS' friends frieuds-people the b,iI
gNerS nave never seen before. and whom m ,st
probaciy they would not care TO see again
The reverse OF this Idea Is the pivot upon which
experienced hoStesSes work when making ar
rspgements for giving dance: they limit their
lnvit alton list TO given number OF guests,
and, having determined this number in accord
ance with The size OF tfier rooms or the spsc,
at their disposal, they cannot be persuaded TO
Ball giving is on the whole a very expensIy,
form or enteri aiming, and one from which The
most hosp1taoy incnned not unnatur4lly
sntink; THOSE who aspire to give a grand bali
not unfrequently spend sums ranging from vo
thousand 10 five thousand dollars upon one
pail, and oitener than not the verdict OF their
friends and acquaintances is every Uhiny was
very well done, but it was great crlsh' Tue
ho"ftdnt riches are more especially Inclined to
this lavish expenditure In bail giving as iC
oners scope for spending money, ana for carry
ing out the arrangements in such a style as
Shall Indicate the possession OF great wealth.
wealth upon which they take their stand Ia
society; and therefore they gladly take Al
vantage OF this outlet for its display. BIt
what is now termed .dauce, has in
society almost superseded and put out of coun-
tenaEce lis elder brother. the oo ball At
these fashionable dances the number OF tn
guests ranges from egnty to two hludred
Which latter Is the outside number of rea.I,
enjoyable dance; but when the number is eX-
tended from two hundred and nfty to three
nenced and easy going dance giyers, the eie-
ment OF enjoyment is eliminated, the space at
command not being elastic In proportion to the
demands thus made upon It. Experienced
and free circulation through their rooms but
they also allow for the possibility Of dancing,
the Tatson d'etre OF the gathering-Just the
one point In the entertainment which so many
or overlooking. They provide. with no
lack of expense or trouble, music, flow
ers, lights and supper, and the numerous
dscetera s which 60 to swell the cost OF bail or
oali or dance success and a pleasure Is
omitted, VIZ: sufficient space to gyIate In the
round dances which are the dances OF tue
perlod. quadrille might, perhaps, be danced
upon hearthrug; but the lanciers require a
given space, without which they are divested
ot elegance and grace, and the movements OF
SUN. II not absolutely awkward. There are
other desagre1sens in a crowded ball room be
sldes want OF space for dancing, and the lncon-
most of which is the overheated ami close
atmosphere OF the rooms, and the conse.
quent 1nh2ling of vitiAted air by those pre-
sent: the result OF over,croNded rooms, and the
partial, II not total, exclusion OF fresh air by
means OF closed windows on the one hand and
covered.in balconies On the other. There is no
doubt that the lassitude and fatigue often
experienced Dy ballg are attributable to
breathing this pernlcious atmosphere, rather
than to the beautiful exercise OF dancing, or
TO the attendant late hours This Is equally true
OF ball or dance. Wherever an extra pressure
Is put upon space by the congregating together
OF number or individuals Immensely over
and above the legitimate number that the room
should contain, these results must inevitably
enSue; therefore, as the necessary breathing
space cannot perfOrce be given, it Is Imperative
Tor the comfort and health OF the G tests that
the atmosphere OF the room should be con
stantly renewed by the admis- Ion OF fresh air.
The ventilation OF q bali room by means of
open windows offers the objection OF causing a
dIaught more particularly felt by those persons
occupying seats beneath and near the windows:
ana this Is no doubt the reason why the win
COWS OF ball room are so persiStently closed,
reside Whlch the draught from half open win
DOW causes The wax lights to flicker and gutter
IN most unpleasant manner to the detrlment
OfgeBtlemen S coats and ladies' gowns. The ven-
tllatlon OF ball room Is matter of such lmpor-
lance that, instead OF being completely over.
looked, 1t should be one of the first II not the
first, point for consideration. One simple and
successful mode OF ventilation is TO remove the
windows from their frames aud to replace
them with draperies OF muslin or lace and to
place large blocks OF Ice on the balconies, that
the fresh ar may De still further cooled before
passing into the ballroom Itself. In giving a
ball or dance the supper is looked upon as the
one paramount expense to which all other ex-
penseS are subordinate. Indeed, these minor
expenses are SO little considered after the one
great ex pense has been effaced. that ball-givers
are sometimes not little surprised at the sum
total these expenses represent when the various
Oils are sent In.
To commence with one Of these minor ex
penses, but an a;l-impOrtant one IN Its way, the
moor OF the ball. room. The drawing rooms are
Inc rooms usually converted into bathrooms,
save in those stately mansions when boast OF
all especial ball room or picture gallery Of no.
BILE proportions, wherein these festive enter
tainments are held; in these handsome apart
ments the flooring is kept In highly polished
condition, and only requires little extra pol
ia.hoing on the occasion or ball being given
Dancing on polished floor, however, whether
1t be fashionable dance or the most modest
little piano dance, means the displacing Of all
the movable furniture Of drawing room, and
taking up carpets, and consequent 1nconveni-
ence to the guests in general. Thus. when the
number OF tnvitedg guests Is under 100, dancing
pecially done when dances are given In the
winter months, when the inconvenience caused
by taking up carpets Is more felt than in the
In allowing for seating of guests at bali or
dance, seats for one third OF the number I'm.
vited would be sufficient, as two thirds of the
or going to and FRO to the tea or supper room.
Thus, for party OF one hundred and nifty. fifty
feet of seating would Ge the proportion In which
would be included Settees and chairs.
When more accommodation Is required for q
supper room thar the dining room of q house
Affords, marquee or temporary room is erect
cd. The cost OF a temporary room varies ac-
cording to the manner In which 1t Is fitted up.
A Temporary room or marquee 30 by 20 feet,
would be large enough TO accommodate aparty
OF one hundred and fifty guests at q sit-down
supper. allowing half the number of guests to
be seated at table at one time.
The prevailing idea with most people is that
hall room caunot be top brilliantly lighted;
these who can afford IL indulge in positive
blaze OF light, and, in addition to the usual CEN
ter chandelier or gasalier OF q drawing room,
hall circles, containing from nine TO twelve
wax lights, are suspended from the walls at the
most convenient points, 1nterSpet Led With CIR
andOleS with from three to twelve lights. Others
again. consider that this blaze OF light should
lie Judiciously toned down, being softer to the
eyes and more becoming 10 the ladies' THUS,
tue wax lights are shaded with cOlOred shades
and the glooe5 OF the chandeliers and gaSalierS
With cOlored gauZe muslin. Balconies conSer-
vatores, and out-of-door corridors and gardens,
are usually lighted with Chinese lanterns and
eolored lamps; the former are usually placed in
conserVatorles and corridors, and the latter
among shrubs and trees.
The extent OF the floral decorations of a ball
room, staircase, or eRtrance-hau Is entirely q
matter Of inclination. Wealthy ball-glVers
aGOrn their rooms with the choicest roses and
eXctics, and convert their entrance-haiIs and
corridors INTO leafy bowers by the aid OF stately
palms, eVergreens, and foliage plants. In small
rooms, as well as in large ones, 1t Is always
a1&1 t,f-