Year: 1863




Otty.


Remarkable occurrences are not uncommon
in this world, and especially not in New York
city, aud, of all the curiou, events that succeed
one another 80 rapidly in this metropolis. alto
getber the most noteworthy are the balls that
We give when we desire to do honor to visitors,
or to express our good will or good wishes to
the people or potentates Of other countries. In
the course Of our progress to greatness we have
given many Of these. Prominent in the list is
the great Boz ball, which we were foolish
enough TO give to Dickens. Dickens gave us re-
ceips in full in his American Notes," ia which
be ridiculed our manners and hospitality in good
round terms. We also gave ball to tho Prince
of Wales, which was appreciated by the Prince.
and by the Queen and Prince Aibert--aii Of
whom felt grateful for the kindly disposition
manifested by us; bnt from the British govern
mont we have received since then what we may
regard as full settlement of that account, ia
the shape of a feet Of pirates, built and man
ned in England, and now kept at sea to enrich
their English owners by the piunder Of our
commerce. We gave ball to the Ambassa.
ders from Japan, and, though kind Of Japan
ese copperhead has endeavored to disturb the
peaceful relations Of his government with us
by firing into our ships, there Is no reason to
believe that our enthusiastic demonstration has
had any other than good effect with the real
government Of Japan.


Finally we have given ball to the officers
Of the Russian feet. 1t was immense in its
way, and we have no doubt its effect with the
Russians was all that it should be. Admiral
Lisovsh and his captains, and lesser Off
GERS, courteous and we'll bred gentlemen. all
appreciated, it is to be hoped, our good inteu-
tions; and. if we have any right to expect any
consideration in national matters as due for
complimentary ball, we may judge from our
past intercourse with the government of Russia
that we shall not be disappointed in those ex-
pectations


But the fatality that attends upon all our
grand balls attends us here; and since the bail
will probably be all right with the Russians
the difficulty had to be somewhere else. II was
with the people. Many Of the managers Of this
ball were our most worthy citizens. They got
it up-arranged all the business--but when the
night came they did not take their families
Consequently the managerial arrangements,
with the exception that too many tickets were
issued, were all good; but the company was
not what it should have been. Shoddy got in
and made its vulgar presence very decidedly
felt


Yet this element was not so desperately aud
positively vulgar but that ii might have gotten
on well enough for an ordinary ballroom inter-
course; but supper time came, and that, like
the mystic hour OF midnight in the old fairy
story dissipated all the fine Illusions The
great test of the table was too much for tie
superficial gentility of shoddy. Goldsmith re-
counts peculiar experience he had with
stranger whom he met at dinner party.
Well dressed, quiet, respectful and . good
listener the strange gentleman seemed to
be all that gentleman should be. and Gold
smith was charmed with his new acquaintance.
So they went through the greater part Of the
dinner. But dumplings were brought on, and
the quiet listener could listen no longer, but,
with eyes bent on the contents of that fav0rite
dish, expressed the whole depth of his nature





me-" So it was with the supper. The favorte
dish, whatever it was, developed the true ma
ture, and the grand bali degenerated into an
immense "muss. which went from bad to worse,
until shoddy at length became so obstreperous
that the police appeared to have thought that
there was riot. They accordingly went in to
put it down, aud jostled and hustled men and
women indiscriminately out OF the way, helped
themselves to the wine, and finally got to he ~
bad IA their betters. Certainly the police be-
came unruly, charged into the<supper room
aud neiped themselves and they haze before
tut, acted in the same manner at other places.
We have cndeayored to account for il on the
riot theory. ~ it is matter difficult OF cxpla-
nation in any other way; but il was dstin
gulsiled from other unmannerly demonstra-
lions OF the night only az IL was the 'ssi. SO
ended Che grand bali.