New-York tribune., 1884-01-03
READY FOR THE FIRST BALL.
THE HOME OF FASHION AND THE DANCE.
| FITTING Up THE METROPOLITAN OPERA HOUSE,
TIE ASSEMBLY ROOMS AND THE DECORATIONS.

FITTING Up THE METROPOLITAN OPERA HOUSE,
TIE ASSEMBLY ROOMS AND THE DECORATIONS.
The significance OF the bustling activity IN
the vicinity OF the Metropolitan Opera House at all times
Of late and In all weather. and the midnight inmina-
tions OF the Broadway front which have frequently eA-
cited comment will be tonight when the building
will be opened for it, first ball Notwithstanding the I'm
finished facade and the ungany fences and sheds i'
mar the block the Assembly Room which VIII be the
home Of nearly all the fashionable public balls III the
city, are practically completed and will be thrown open
10 the patrons of the Charity Ball This ball VIII call 'he
audience room OF the Opera House into use as wen a' 'o
Assembly Rooms and the latter Will serve ohy Is to
ception cloak and dining the dancing Dels uoo
in the m gniacent theatre. There the arrangech'S are
also in a satisfactory state Of foFWardhess' INC u"5
floor has been laid from rim Of the horseshoeshaeu
ortrro about foot below the tier front to the back
wall of the stage and .ts surface is unbroken except by
narrow pIaform which ends with the side entrances anu
the dais which raised the back part OF te stage
The floor Ia, been waxed aud ready for the nDe lee
of the dancers; it Is built in sections so tht II can pe
taken apart and slowed in the lumber room when mol
wanted This evening all the opera entrances 10 thc
buiding will be Opcn but for the smaller balls when
will need only the Assembly Rooms. there Is separate
yestibue on the Broadway side between the man Nes
bule and Thirty y-nnth-st.
Beginning here, the bathrooms unite WIN he opera
parlor and foyer in a wcllarranscd suite The small
as one enters is a waitingroom, heated. ike tie Fesu-
bue with radiators incOsed in covering OF tennessee
marble with cross-barred openings Of polished brass
handsome feature is the metal stairway starting be
tween the two cloak on the ground floor. Inc
oruamcntation like all that in the building Is In the
stvle of the italian renaissance, aud landing when
breaks the ascent has a buging balcony that has
striking effect The head OF the stairs Is at the entrance
Of small reception room between the parlor and the
grand assembly room, to which admission Is gained
through openings that will be hung with curtains as soon
a the color decorations given to the walls and cell
ing Now the color dead white, but there talk of
lavish outlay this feature next season The recep-
ton room Is in size twenty-five by wenttour feet the
paror (which has been open during the opera seasOnl
twenty-five by sixty. and the assembly room II the
corner -eyelty-sx by fOrty-Onc. This room has been
made the most elegant in the building. IL has "a
pauecd Ceiing and tasteful design IN the prevailing
stylo d. each panel. The design Is carried out In
nluieT-macLe moulded by hand from drawings by the
artgittct J. Ceayeaud Cady. Two Of the pilasers are
sllr,uoIutcd by musical CuVdS, and rows OF winged
above thc entrances The floor is OF hard wood III small
strips laid diagonally, with border Of oak and alog-
any IN squares There Is balcony Tor musicians with
concealed stairs in the west end. all OF iron.
From this IOOm entrance Is had To the i0Ner 10 ne ed
tbi. evening As diuiug-rOOu an west Uf this Is the
serving room with duck Kitchen over IT, Entrances
To an the rooms had also from the corridor around the
partcrre boxes.
Opera House though they have an independent system
q shafts and machinery.