New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-12
FEATrprs OF HE FCsTIylIY.

FEATURES OF HE FESTlNllY,
Outside the Brooklyn Academy Of llusic was col
ected last night shivcTing, scan-ily clad throng
watching eagerly the richly dressed and carefully
draped figures that aligitod one after another from
the long line of carriages and passed into the bril-
lianty lighted interior. 1t was the animal Charity
Ball an occasion when most of the people p"'n-
nent in Brooklyn society meet to dance III ad OF
local charities. Although the cold unfortunates III
the street apparently failed to appreciate the oUl'c1
of the ball in the warm perfumed air of the Acad-
emy and amid the clusters of tropical plants, every
thought of discomfort was lost.
The ball though not especially largely attended
seemed 10 be Il success far as the comfort ana en-
ioymcnt Of the guests were concerned. Tie plants,
prOiusey scattered about the rroscenium boxes ana
stage. formed rich and effective decoration, con
tlasting finely with the elegant rugs hanging over
the front Of the boxes. "Chlrlty' in blazing gas
lets served 0rccall the thoughts of the dancers from
an examination OF Jewels aud Partisan costumes to
the object OF the ball. The early arrivals scattered
themselves about in the boxes and llsc ed 10 the
Introductory concert by Eben's 2Jd Regiment Band.
From the entrance pretty scene was offered. In
the prosccnium boxes, framed By leathely
palms and broad green Gala leaves, shone the
silks ard laces of brilliant costumes. The paIquet
boxes nearly filed made band OF light coors and
ilutterinC fans, stretching around under the BAL
cony Opposite was the orchestra. concealed III
hinge grove Of ferns from which came, occasionally.
a CLEAN Of hight r"1eclel from the bald pate oI
German musician or bcaunng from pair of spccta-
clcs The great clusters OF lighted globes SC TERED
among the green grove lent picturesque and unreal
appearance 10 the whole. There were the usual
ucsijatiou and quict AT fast. which always brtrY
themselves before the first dance. Men struggled
with their gloves for an unnecessarily long time IN
the dr-ssug-rooaIS. ana LINGERIE b. the cosy Ncst-
bue. The members of the floor committee rrcciV-
lug white Ilbbors, rushed Importantly about com
plotting the last arrangements Ihc upper galleries
4. Kan 20 be dotted with opera c,oaNs AMI manly
forms in full dress. Occasionally lonely i-urc
crossed the dIcaIy cApansc OF carpet.
About 10 the military band struck uQa march,
The people in the boxes turned cxpcctutly toward
fhe door, wbcr, slight &c. motion VS. noticed
Four Of the Executive and Floor Committees di,-
tn.uished hy hlre and ID, white badges, appeared
heading long procession of the lady paironcss'
and their escorts Tie long trans swept gracefully
around tie h,or, their wea' IS uoddlne
aud smiling to friends the boxes.
linen sets were formed for the la"ccls. Tho
floor wa, filled. and as the first notes rouldcd from
the orch, stra the scene became animated There
was no crowdiuc; in tact there WIS room for more
dancers than appeared. There were May elderly
persons present who contcntcd Themselves w'h
watching the tc.rivItic nom the boXc7 and rn-
lr;t-. These places formed CONVENIENT retreats
also after each dance. The comfortable lit" Nc,u-
bul- also found favor a lettering place.
The ball began in earnest with the ,ccond dance.
| q waltz 10 the music of Strauss There had been
more arrivals; the Mnsic WAS euicing and everyone
seemed happy except the inevitable wall Hover.
The Acarl.,st euj, Nom was simply from synp"-
tLy. and seemed to be- felt by a crowd
of ncg1o walters in the upper gal cry,
the cleaning Of whose eye and teeth coui'
bc distinctly seen from the floor beneath.
Some of their women friends had been smugg"d
IN 20 see the sights and the comment, on oh,rnt
STYLES OF dancing were frank and amusnc.
The entrance from the ycstIbulc to the floor was
unfortunately narrow, so thtt considerable cIowi-
ing was caused by ia, passing III and out bctwtcn
tbrdauces but 50 lar as space went, Tie lJor was
i'm the right condition for daucInG. II W.|
| generally agreed that the Attendance WIS
mnch smaller than last years bali.
! INT # WAS invariably added that there were just
! enough present 10 make the affair success The
| members OF the Floor Committee seemed Indciailg-
| able and their efforts kept the floor filed III The
.nuare dances although the wajzcs had evidently
| the greater popularity. 1t was during thc "alzcs
that the floor of red h" most be- ',titui siglt The
pure whie. delicate blue and ro8c color Of
the costumes, and the bits Of rare lace
contrusted with the PLAIN lines Of mems evening
dress Portlp matrOnS sat IN the boxes clad in
rchaut costumes but of subducd cOurs. Watching
with complacency the flushed faces and sparkling
eyes before them. Now and then some unfortunate
| dancer caromed heavily against a fair Walter, OF
| Dlantcd an unlucky foot upon sweeping train.
| Then four pcrsons were immediately made unhappy
and II seemed hard TO tell which Was the most So
| But such slight misfOrtunes as this trains were
easily repaired, and The general enjoyment seemed
unmarried Between the dances, Ehclis band fur
/ nisned promenade music, so that a harmony of some
| kind was constantly heard. The waltz"s werC ny
| Stranss with the exception of two by Walstcnicl,
one by Bernstein aud by Resell There were
twenty dances in all, consisting only Of he Lam
GERS waltz q and galops.
| Toward 1880 the intervals between the dances
| were a little longer. Thoughts of refreshments be
gan TO recur to the minds of the guests and soon
| general movement began toward the supDcr-r9om
| wnlch WAS on tbs second floor III the rear Of the
| balcony Two Dv two the dancers assembled the
stairs, and recruiting their wearicd energies re-,
turned TO the h'or. -, hen the music proved
| went the evening seemed only begun, for thO.e who
were young and fond of the fascination OF dancing;
but the parents the matrOns and patrOncsscs who
| had TO content themselves with one or two prone
| nades had Stunned the supper in holy horror OF
| nightmare and had spent the latter part
| welcomed the arrival of IL o'clock as elgn that
| O. tud would some time come. Bnt thcy were
forced TO he martyrs lOf long time alV "dIt LOT
the ball continued until all carly hour this Inorn-
ing. -
| THE DECORATIONS.
| Tie efforts to make the Academy more beautiful
than ever before proved entirely successful In
passing from the main entrance to the lobby. one
was ushered into Il Persian room decorated and
drapcd with Ogental Significance The walls
| and ceiling hung with cloth Of gold, with
| costly rugs for panels. In the centre, be-
| meath the brass chandelier, stood n JdrdiRieTe
| of peGcOck's feathers flied with rare plants