Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-13

TTAVE you heard about the ball
II which the four women's committees
NJ thc Philadelphia Orchestra have de. .
cided to give on January "a to cclc.
hratn the seventy fourth anniversary of
The opening of the Academy of Music ?
The first ball was held TO celebrate
the opening Of that then wondrous new
onera house on January "a, 1857.
What gorgeous affair that was. Old
Philadelphia in gala array attended.
Cant you see the women in their hoOp
skirts. with hair parted in the middle
and arranged in soft rolls over their
ears. or with a bunch Of curls falling
over ones shoulder? And such shoul
ders In those days the low cut
gowns had pointed basQues and tops of
shirrcd tulle and lace and they were
made in round neck effects cut straight
across. barring the tops Of the shoul.
dcrs. but having tiny little sleeves
edged and covered with dainty pufiings
Of the tulie or lace trimmings. Most Of
thp cofIures were dressed with little
wreaths Of flowers. too. rosebuds and
forget me nots placed coquettishly on
the head at an angle. And the men in
tight trousers and velvet collarcd coats.
HLOSE your eyes and you can see
" them now: Mrs. Hughes Hallett,
who was the beautiful Emily Scham
berg. Mrs. Emlen Mcigs. long since
dead. and who was ut that time Miss
COrnelia Rogers. as pretty young girl
ns YOU would want to sec. Judging from
her pictures. Miss Anna Buckley. who
aftprward married the late John New
bold. and was the mother Of the late
Arthur Emlen Newbold, Of Clement and
John Npwbold, and of Mrs. Bcauvenu
Roric. Jr.. and Mrs. William Taylor.
And the Misses Roric. Miss Emile, who
had married General Bohlcn, and Miss
Eliza. who was DR.. William kcating's
second wife. and Miss Josephine. who
died here about five years ago, the last
Of the family of ten children of the
late Mr.. and Mrs. John Boric.
And think of the old families that
were there represented. McCalls,
Robinsons. McKpans. Bodouits, La
guerenncs. Browns. Cadwaladers, Nor
rises. Morrises, Bayards. jerks. Pep
pers. Whartons, STAIRS, Carpenters.
SCOTS. Shippens. IIarts, Hutchinsons.
James, pancoasts. Camacs. Welshes,
Dnllascs. Draytons, Savages. Ewings,
Walns. Ices. Brooks Colemans. Thomn.
sons. Fraziers, Siblcys, Dixons, and
just cannot begin to cnumcrate any
others.
T HAVE been told of the fountain Of
l. cologne which was placed in the
center Of the ballroom floor on that oc-
casion. and of the foyer. which was
then considered very. very beautiful,
too. And for this ball next month we
will have the same Academy flooreI
over. and the same foyer. only the
renovated one with the crystal mirrors
and wonderful lighting. | would not
be surprised il the committee should
look into old records and see what was
done then and perhaps repeat IT.
Would it not be a lovely idea to ask
those who 60 to dress in costumes OF
1851? I wonder il such an idea has
been thought Of.
The old painting Of Gazziniga which
hung for years iu the foyer gives one
an idea of the dress of those days. She.
you remember hearing, was the great
soprano Of then and was the prima
donna at the opening opera all those
years back.
Mss Frances Wister. who is prcsi-
dent, is most anxious to have some de-
tails of this interesting occasion. ana II
sOmp of you have some costumes TO
show which will assist in arranging the
opening feature Of the ball, she would
BE- delighted. Unfortunately the news
papers of 1857 were not managed with
the ability of the press of today and the
accounts are not detailed enough to be
OF such assistance.
ITO TURN from old fashioned gowns
L to those Of modern times. have you
seen that lovely seal coat that Marie
Louise Ashhurst Smythe is wearing!
It's three quarter length and finished
with collar and cuffs Of mOleskin. She
was wearing smart hat OF henna
duvptyne with the coat and it was most
becoming.
Another good looking costume that |
saw during the week was that worn by
Fanny Sinnickson Dougherty. 1t was
Of light gray tweed, coat and skirt. and
her hat was sports model OF the same
material With this she wore dar;
blu" silk scarf which was very good
looking.
T'lIE other night after Polly aud
l. Frankie had been tucked into their
little beds in the nursery, having beeh
kissed and said their prayers, Poly,
who is three, called suddenly to mother,
''Oh, oh, Muvvcr, come quick. my fGrctS
is all funny" ''Pshaw.' said Frankie
who Is not quite five. ''Therr's nosSin
III matter wis your feet, they re
'sccp."
But Polly was hard to convince for
che answered: GLOW could 'vey be
Sleep, 'vcy hasn't any eyes to suit:
NANCY WYNNE.