The herald., 1896-04-06
At THE COURT BALL
HELD IN BERLIN AND OPENED BY THE
EMPEROR AND EMPRESS
An American Lady's Picture Of the Brilliant
Spectacle - Rich Dress, Sparkling Dia-
monds and Attractive Uniforms Dazzle
the Eye-A Rush for Tickets


tho emperor and empress. Do you wonder
that there is always rush for tickets
when the date Of the annual subscription
ball is announcede 1t is q time of suspense,
for everything is conducted In the slow,
thorough fashion 80 common with the
Germans
Application hos to be made weeks be-
FORE and then its fate is known only
short time previous to the great event, for
'the powers that be- investigate tho
bames presented most carefully, unless
they are handed. in by member of the
army; then they pass muster without
question.
Tho size of the tickets corresponds with
the immensity of the affair, for they are
rivals of small handbils, but one would
not care If they were regular posters, for
he is so delighted to see his namo on one
Having paid the prncely sum of 50. 10, he
can now ningle with royalty itself, II he
goes clothed in dress suit, or party dress
II tho happy owner is Of the gentler per-
suasion.
One cannot help heartily approving Of
this court ball, instituted as it was in the
beginning Of this century by Queen Louise
and her husband, Frederick William III,
hoping by this means to bring the people
and royalty nearer to each other. Old
Kaiser wilhelm revived the custom, which
had fallen into disuse in the time OF Fred
erick William " and used to mingle free
ly with tho people, chatting now with
Actor So-and-so, next with young artist,
then with prominent author, later with
An officer or member of some diplomatic
corps. The present emperor does not inn
itate his grandfather's actions, but Is
much moro reserved. He carries himself
1o1 ,ct nt tnll
naughty nor arrogant, but very composed
and elegant.
At 8 o'clock the royal pair enter the
opera house, tho floor of which has been
built out from the royal boxes to the stage
Just opposite. Music never ceases, for in
either end OF tho immense room Is sta
toned splendid orchestra. A little COM
motion and the turning Of all heads to
tho royal box announce the arrival of the
distinguished couple and their court,
luxury which costs tho nation 81, 500
day.
The ball is opened by the polonaise or
march, led by the kaiser or kaiserin, fol-
lowed by princes and princesses, dukes
and duchesses and many others who claim
to have purple blood in place OF the COM
mon red which courses through the veins
of ordinary mortas.
lnO cllpcTOf % LOsU aSlOOooio
impression, and one can scarcely believe
that he has uttered many Of tho pompous
sayings that are credited to him, for his
manner calls forth the admiration OF even
loyal Americans. He is about the average
height, slight, but well proportioned; has
q clear cut face, full of character, and
wears his hair parted on the side and
brushed we'll off his forehead. He is ex-
tremely fond of the army and usually ap-
pears everywhere in uniform. This even
ing he wore tho brilliant one of the Red
hussars, which consists Of dark blue trou-
sers, with strip of gold down the sides,
high spurred boots reaching to the knees
and short red coat scanned In gold with
collar and straps also in gold His left
arm, which has been useless since birth,
is supported by resting the hand on the
hilt Of his long sword. With the right he
conducts the empress through the serpent
like maze of the stately march. 1t seemed,
however, as if before doing so he must
have led her under a rosebush and shaken
from Its branches the evening dew, for sbo
simply sparkled with diamonds as pure
and bright as drops of water with the sun
light on them. In her fair, blond hair
glittered a priceless diadem. A necklace
of two rows of diamonds encircled her
throat. Pendent earrings flashed defiance
to the jewels, which, as band, adorned
the top and front of her corsage, while
numerous rows Of the same precious stones
played hide and seek around her arms.
The dainty shade Of her long, blue satin
dress harmonized perfectly with the om-
pcror's gorgeous coat. She is not radi-
unity lovely wopnn, but gracious one,
without being patronizing. Her face bears
the stamp Of goodness deeper than that Of
beauty, and one would say that she was
lovable rather than lovely.
Many of the families present are enti-
tied by birth to be presented at court and
to mix freely in the royal families at all
times, but they have not the immense for
tunes necessary to maintain the splendor
OF their positions and cannot afford to pay
the taxes--for everything from an income
of 1926 year is assessed-sO they live
quietly in their castles in the country,
coming to Berlin for n few weeks in tho
season to give their daughters taste of
city life.
or course for these occasions all grand
mothers old laces and the family dia
monds are brought from their seclusion;
SO the scene is indeed a brilliant one. The
evening suits of the men are commas in
this great play of human life, while the
blue and gold trimmed uniforms are semi
colons.
Occasionally Turk in his red fez or
jar much decorated serves rs an interro-
CATION point in the living drama, but the
real pauses, the periods, arc made when
tho eye espies some old war veteran who
has on his breast as many medals as he
has years.
Thus the scene ever varies until the
midnight hour, when royalty withdraws
and the ball comes to close.-Detroit
Frcc Press.
FACE HAD NO "FACE VALUE"