The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-01-19
az rnr rnrxcn III.
Capt. Chapss- o.. Ha.d EARLY 60 see That
the ProPrieees Were Not Oxerstepped.

Every year the French ball comes around
with the regularity characteristic OF Christi
mas, Fourth Of July. and other events Of gala
import, and every year the promoters Of the
ball set forth that II will be the maddest. merri-
est festivity yet recorded. As a matter
OF fact, IL Is n terrific struggle to make one
French ball differ In any notable particular
from those OF preceding years. This years,
which began with the coming in Of this morn
ing. promised to excel others, II in any ~partlcu-
lar. In spectacular effect.
Long before the crowd got worked up to tho
exigencies of tho occasion-it never does until
the wine room begins to turn inobriety
into fancy profits tho floor was filled
with gayly costumed persons OF both
sexes. who danced fancy quadrillcs, lancers,
and round dances, and in the intervals scam
pered to their dressing rooms to change their
costumes prepa 'atory to appearing In other
dances. For them the ball was n matter OF
stern II remunerative business.
Their evolutions were observed with wonder
not un,inged by pain by two Salvation Army
lnsses real. not masqueraders-who sat In q
sheltered gallery wide-eyed, with their hands
full of copies Of the War Cru, and exchanged
brcathless comments on the performance going
on beneath.
Other notable persons In costume were the
police, who bedecked every corner and curve OF
~ p'oN's. ~ oVNm'i ", y. thNiS vs.
SANDS of them, although the orders OF Inspector
Harley called for only one hundred. Very
conspicuous among the number was Capt. Chap
man, no OF the Iron hand TO crush vice.
specially impressed upon him by tho Police
Board; and as the morals OF a French Ball are
popularity supposed to DO regulated by the ma
turo OF the Captain OF the precinct, II was sur
missed that where the black whlskers waved
there would be no very high links.
From the frat II was evident that the ball. as
has been characteristic or most OF the public
balls OF late years, would DO great fun for tho
women and a hustle on the part OF tho men. be.
cause the proportion OF the sexes was about
Ave males to every female. The result
was that wherever a lone and unprotected
female was observed. no matter what the
nature Of her face and figure might be. she was
eagerly beset with offers to dance. ana In cases
where she possessed n degree OF attractiveness
visible to the naked eye with invitations TO come
and have q drink. This at the French ball nl-
ways means wine, whereby the holders OF the
bar privilege profit nightly.
IL was announced that at = o'clock a prize
would be given to the lady guest wearing
the finest costume, the standard OF judgment
being left to the imagination OF the competitors.
In this respect the standard had the advantage
OF some of the costumes in which little or moth
ing was left IN the most vivid Imagination.
Barring this feature. however, there was
little In the performance up to l O'Clock to
snock anybody but the salvation Army lasses
In the gallery. and Chuck Connors, who sworo
he had never before seen so many dress suits In
one place, and strove to escape to Pell street,
precIpitating a discussion which was still In
progress at the hour OF going to press.