The sun., 1882-01-29
How to Dress at the Charity Ball.

Tho Charity Ball, which occurs on Tuesday
evening, was formerly the grandcet ball Of
tho whole fashionable season. The most
magnificent costumes of the winter were dis
played ut II, and the Academy OF Music,
where II was held, was crowded with the
most brilliant company which could he gath
cred In New York. All fashionable society
looked forward eagerly TO the evening when
it should occur, and the gay season reached
it's elimination with the Charity Ball.
Public balls or balls in public halls which
had tho countcnance Of the society that re-
CARDS itself as the most select, were then
very few. Indeed, besides tho Charity Ball,
thero was not another the whole season
through which was deemed entirely ,cscrv-
ing OF its attendance. Therefore, being 70
great novelty, and being directed by lead
crs Of the highest and most assured position,
this gathering was always the one social
entertainment Of the winter for which fashion
held in reserve its grandost costumes. Every
body who held on wished To hold place in
the circles in which fashion dwrlI, was
anxious to he at the Academy of Music on
that evening.
Now however. balls inpuhic halls H. which
fashionable society lends its patronage are
frequent every winter. lndiyi'unl. have got
into the habit of hiring assembly rooms at
which To give their great entertainments.
They get more space for the accommodation
Of their guest, than their own houses afford
and their balls take place without up5etting
their domestic arrangements. There are also
associations formed within fashionable So
ciety for the especial purpose of giving series
OF balls IN public halls during the gay season,
and these assemblies have IA degree of eXclu-
siveness which conlmcnds them 10 the favor
OF the circle permit ,d To take par, in them.
The supreme fashionable Importance al the
Charity Bail has therefore departed. L. j. no
longer the novelty il was, aud IL coming is
not so eagerly anticipated as it was in for
mcr days. But il is still always II splendid
affair, one of the most elegant and most
brilliant OF the balls given in New York dur
ing the gay season. 1t still has for its man
ayers many OF the chiefest personases of
the fashionable world as represented in this
city. Moreover, the object for which il is
held appeals just as strongly as ever to all
kind hearts and the tcndcrcst instincts OF
humanity.
Tickets for the Charity Ball ON Tuesday
evening have accordingly found ready
sale, and the company at the Academy of
Music on that brilliant occasion will be- well
worth seeing. Great interest, too, is dis
played now, as in the past, in devising CO.'S
tunes suitable for 50 grand an event. Qucs-
tions concerning their garments for the ball,
we find from the following letter, are agi-
tating the breasts Of both men and women:
Sir Your correspondents que stions con
cerning social matters very interesting: VIII you
hO de- To
Charity Bail and who up tn. question
what constitutes fun dress for senemant Black dress
suit know in general is the thing bur should the
pants have stripes down the sesl Should the neekte
be Of white satin merely laSnr Should the pumps be
OF patent leather, or the plain ordinary leather pumps
with silk tesf What colored stockings should gentle
with punps' DO ladies' now wear black clip
pers with stockings of the color' should ladies'
young and old white low necked dresse.' Or may
mstron in black silk satin lowr prompt
your columns VIII confer great favor on one
who is ashamed to show ignorance these ponts his
fashionable friends and thousands let ne tell
you, in the same boat with your subscriber.
"IGSoRAArs"
We will gladly give the information for
which our Brooklyn friend asks. OF course
many people are loath to exhibit their ig-
norance of fashionable customs. To do so
would be to advertise that they are not in
fashionable society; and there is Il very fire.
quent indispostion to acknowledge that.
But why should they mournl Why should
they be ashamed 2 They escape the exac-
tions Of tyrant; they are saved much ex-
pense; they are outside of u competition
which Is likely to prove exasperating, il not
ruinous; and they can find plenty of ways
for enjoying themselves which will be more
satisfactory than those permitted to people
who are under the dominion of fashion. Oh,
no, never be ashamed to confess that you are
not in fashionable society. Never hesitate to
admit that YOU are exactly what you are So
cially, False pretenee in that direction is
snobbery.
Still, everybody who is likely to attend one
ought to know how to dress for Il ball. Once