Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-05-19
sENCH BALLS OF NOTE.
bsTS NO ONE KNEW AND THE
HOTEL DE VILE AFFAIR.
fifteen = undred Guests Bidden-seventy
Thousand Dollars for the POOr-FaVors
and Flower rs Assaulted,
From the Ne,o York Times.

Thousand Dollars FOR the POOr-EaVors
=. and Flow rs Assaulted.
IL From the Neao York Times.
n PARIS April 15.-The famous Gaillard
ball kept Paris in whrl for several
weeks, but this was owing more to the
audacity Of the venture than to the inter-
est in the hOsts-tOr, to be very plain, no
one knew them. During the exhibition of
1873 the family-who then lived in Verv
modest hotel in the Rue de BOulogne-
h began the construction of the Place Male.
n sberbes, which excited, as it rose, Pho
pix-like, no end Of satire, comment, praise
and censure, according to the fancy or
E taste Of the critic. 1t is said by some to
he a copy of the Chateau de Blois: bv
others it is asserted to be nothing more
than a pale limitation. In any case, it is
Renaissance with all its delcacy Of cary
ing. its mixture of brick and stone and
its charm of decoration. AS to the in
Il side the woodwork alone is unique, but
this was naturally almost unnoticed in
the light and glare of a ball to which some
1000 guests had been hidden. Some say
more were hidden, even 5000, but it is
quite certain that not more than half the
first number were present, and the roomi-
ness of the hotel made the numb appear
even less. The entertainment was gotten
uD to introduce the second daughter
Mile. Glanne. and fancy dress was obliga-
tory. The magnitude of promise almost
frightened conventional Paris, and many
who half meant to go Tefraned at the last
moment from the feared prOmiscuity.
Strange as it may seem, there reigns more
and more each season a taclt understand
ing That the work OF exploration shall be
resigned to the artistic wOrd-to the
painters especially. Received every
where, with a tiptoe at least in every sa-
& lon, artists venture into the newly rich
regions of developing splendOr, and their
final verdict as to permanent adoption is
usually considered with a great degree of
Difference. Hence it was that the most
sumptuous costumes were exhibited by
les peintreS. Jacquet, as a Seigneur
Henri H., rode up to the inside door of
the chateau; the Count Guy de la Roche
fOucauld appeared all In white as figure
of the old Italian comedy; ARGOS, made
up with Aublet the cOrtege of Turkish
marriage-the Binder family assisting
this being one of the sensations of the even
ing. The bride, Nine. de Kermaingant,
appeared under a canopy, followed by
band of musicians. Detaille appeared as
the fac-simile of one of his recent illustra-
tiOns of the "Armee Franchise" The
Count de Brlailles wore the costume of
al OAnCGl VI JuG lbEl iAlGlb VI my al Nudlu-
payne. Nine. Munkacsy had a superb
Marie de Medicis costume. There was
scarcely any historical period of note that
had not one or more representatives. The
portraits in the Louvre seemed to have
stepped down for a frOlic. Ophellas, of
course, were there by the dozen, but to
make up for this superabundance of
buXOm lOvesick damsels-fat women al
ways choose this dress, and no one knows
why-there were fewer peasant girls than
usual and a comforting lack of Nights
and Mornings. At O'Clock tiny tables
brought in a perfect supper The host
wore a wonderful Henri IL. costume of
violet satin, and Nine. Gaillard wore en-
broidered black velvet of the same period.
The mise en- scene was the most effective
at the grand staircase, in itself a gem of
Btonew0rk and fer forge. 1t gave setting
to the flow and tide of the descending
groups, who in their turn lent picturesque
coloring and really made the combined
effort and hit of the evening.
Another success of a more popular ma
ture was the press ball given at the Hotel
de Vile, and which, with the subsequent
visiting days, will give to the poor, am
told, nearly $4,000. Nat a bad specula-
tion for hard times. The expenses, how
ever, were borne by the city, and their
sum total will be large, for at no public
ball ever given-and l have attended
many even in imperial days-were the
arrangements for ingress and exit so
thoroughly understood and so success
fully carried out in point of rapidity and
comfort. There was no tiresOme waiting
outside and no Yexatious delay in going
home. 1t is estimated that at one time
over $4,000 guests were assembled. One
can neither doubt the fact nor attempt to
contest the assertion. because the vast
limits of the building could even contain
quite easily more than the supposed num-
Der. The occasion was the celebration of
the opening of the new building, which is
equal in many respects to its predecessor,
and which may be superior when the new
ness has worn off and when the white
walls are covered with the contemplated
freseOes, gliding and decoration. This
may not all be seen in this generation. for
il will take long time even when the de-
cisiOns have been made. and our eminent
artists are not eager for such problem
atical blessings. On this one occasion,
meanwhile, one and all seemed to have
laid aside party feeling, and to have
united in their endeavOrs to make the
affair a gigantic success. Their enter
prise, activity and ambition were GER
tainly fully satisfied. The outside seemed
from the square below, and from the
lengthenmg view Of the adjacent streets,
nothing but mass of gas lights. long
cOTdOns being stretched in all directions.
Now and then a Bengal light would vary
the hue. From the top or the building
hung hundreds OF tri-cOlOred flags, while
the arms Of the city. embazOned forth IN
gas Jets, surrounded the whole. Although
the lines of carriages reached to the Tuile-
ries at one time, there was no delay. The
cloak room arrangements were admira-
BILE; even the novice could reach the ball
rooms with perfect equanimity Of temper.
A very good attempt, on microscopic
SCALE was made OF the Canadian ice
mountain; fortunately enough, too, be-
cause it helped to put out fire, which,
with the abundance of drapery, might
have ended in tumult and disaster. As
it was, very few knew Of its danger.
There was a garden of plants, camelas
and foliage. AT every turn the eyes
rested agreeably on improvsed shade and
beauty OF coloring in the masses of azalea,
snOwballs and RED camelias, with hun
dreds of gilt cages filled with singing
birds. In the large salon were exhibited
the tavors for the three monster germans,
many Of which were really beautiful and
novel; also the articles to be won at the
to0,b0i0, for which each ticket gave
chance. In the centre of the enormous
IA a.. N..I ~