New-York tribune., 1886-01-22
A BRILLIANT SCENE AT TIE METROPOLITAN OPERA
HOUSR.


HOUSE.
Itis mistake TO think that the ''Old Guard"
gave in a Waterloo Its members are perhaps not all Of
them so nimbe or ferocous when Napoleon led them.
lint they still keep "chargng." The number of the
charge that took place at the Metropolitan Opera House
IA not known. Indeed. the beginnings of the "Old
Guard" balls are lost in the msts OF antiquity There
were the Pulaski Guards and the Lafayette Guard and
then there followed the Light Guard and the City
Guard until all of them grew ancient that they made
one Old Guard. The Opera House tastefully dec
GRATED. The stage set with a charming woodland
seene and in the background Fort Mclean tried to look
grim, but under the surrounding atmosphere did not
succeed. The Old Guard banners decorated its Sides
while the INTERIOR through the door of the fort
resembled most unmartal but comfortable reception
room. The walls were simply covered with flags and
they turn were decorated with swords and mnskets.
and plenty OF ancient pixies and shields ana haDerdS
From tho ceiling hung streamers OF red, white and bue
and complete the decorations were nterspersed ever
greens IN all directions and palms and orange trees from
the South. The floor was Smooth. Pnrsselrs supper
was excellent and the committee Of arrangements had
done its work well that the of the night was
assured
1T was shortly after 10 o'clock when Gmores military
band put lite into tine scene. "Tannhauser" and
"The Mikaio" started the ball rolling. Bernseins or
che stra followed up with the dance music. and the ball
was begun Shortly before II o'clock the sharp notes OF
the bugle sounded from the interior of Fort Mclean
Following that. upon tho order OF AGntant Isaac L.
Hoagand the fife and drum sounded, and there
heard the salute Of the Old Guard thirteen guns
formed suit tie by Gimores big bass drum.
The band heard in the distance playing military
march, and the sounds grew louder, the
full band appeared through the door
OF the fort The musicians marched
down the steps and the Old Guard followed. Two by
two they marched down the hall, each guardsman
cOrting an invited guest. After march around the
hail. they formed into fours then inO cghts and finally
headed by the DaDO they marched down the house SIX
teen abreast Again the bugle was heard sounding the
"water CALI Ii was understood The march ended
and the guard spersed for water" This ended the
formal part of the entertainment and the ball began
The boxes, list OF whose holders published In
Yesterdays TRIBUNE, were fun OF briaDce and beauty
Among those noticed them. and also the floor
Colonel Briggs the 22d Regiment Veterans, and sta
ID. W. BOtassi, Consul General or Greece; Collector
Trdden, r. W. Wellington and officers of Battery b,
Worcester. Mass: General John l. Locke Colonel H. W.
Mitchell and slah, 18th Regiment; large delegation
from the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of
Boston, Ezra j. Trull commanding; Colonel Alexander
y. Brown, OF Philadelphia; Adjntant-General i. W.
Guthrie OF Pennsyly Algernon s. sullivan, DIS
trct-AttOrney iiartine, acknowledgements Nc
Conan U :. N. Thomas Savage, Boston; Colonel L. W.
Winchester aud staff. 7th Regiment Veterans;
Justice Barrett. Adutant-General stephen X smith
Connecticut; August Belmont, LIeuteuantCol0neI W. d.
Nhpplo. United States Army Commodore Chandler;
Colonel Albert X. Stewart and Stan. llth Regiment
General Charles p Graham Brigadier-Ger eral Ward
and staff. Brigade Colonel j. " l. PruIn, Justice
A r. Lawrence Major General W. S. Hancock, General
Niee. Justice Andrews. MaiorGeneral James ". Plume
and staff. OF New-Jersey: Inspector-General Emil