Year: 1860




THE PRRcE's BALL--As usual, the ladies had .
bad time oft yesterday, when the fall and winter
fashions were displayed by the miiliners and
mantuamakers of the metropolis. The rain fell
at intervals and in the most provoking manner,
but the enthusiasm Of the fair was not to be
damped they deded all the piuvial gods, and
went boldly forth to inspect the armor where
with they will array themselves for the coming
fashionable campaign. What the new styles
are like-what sort Of bonnets, and robes, and
cloaks, and jewelry, and other articles, will
compose the paraphernalia Of the conquering
heroines-may be ascertained from the very full
and elaborate descriptions which we publish In
another part Of this paper. The subject, we
think, has been treated in manner at once
artistic and exhaustive and it is quite as impor-
tant as the operations of the broken-do poll
tical managers or the lame ducks in Wall street


II will be noticed. as the especial feature Of
the crinoline carnival for the present year, that
calculations as to the ball which is to be given
next month in honor Of the Prince Of Wales
enter largely into the views Of the leaders of
the ton. II Is settled that the soiree i to be
grand affair, and that the number Of partici
pants therein, considering the interest at
tacbed to the matter. is to be quite limited.
Every young lady-and where can we find an
old one?-is exceedingly anxious to p anticipate
In the festivities In honor OF the heir apparent
Then there are thousands Of provincial bellies
upon the anxious seat, and the Scriptural rule
,Gus a, A. fau
the many to gnash their pearly teeth in outef
darkness, will be rigidly enforced. OF course
the lucky fair ones will all endeavor to out
shine each other, and some idea of the magnif
cence OF the affair may be gathered from our
partial description Of the dresses which are to
be worn at the ball. Impressed with the i'm.
portance Of the affair, ,-many ladies have sent to
Paris for their dresses These will arrive Just
before the ball. and will be, Of course ravish.
ing, Paris being Justly termed the paradise of
cooks and milliners No dinners and no dresses
out Of Paris is the first article Of the fashiona-
BILE creed. Then there is good deal going on
in the jewelry line and an impending revo-
luton in the time-honored styles of 6ijouterie.
American ladies are as celebrated for their good
taste In all matters Of personal adornment as for
their personal beauty, which far surpasses that
of the women Of any other nation. The French
woman has esprit; the English, ruddy health
and high animal spirits; but In the American
lady we find French gayety, English apIomb
and rare beauty combined in the same indiyi-
dual


1t is not too much to say, then, that the Prince
of Wales will behold at the Academy ball an ar
ray of charming women such as the world can
not match. Their dresses and jewelry-manu-
factured expressly for this occasion will form
most important item In the expense Of the
affair, which will cost altogether as much as q
quarter Of million Of dollars, and will be
cheap at the price. II will stimulate the retail
trade, attract strangers from all parts Of the
country, keep the ladies In most delightful
state of excitement, and show to our British
cousins that, without titled aristocrscy, we
can still make as fine q show, when we try, as
any of the European courts. Already the ex-
element among the queens of the fashionable
world has commenced, and many are the con-
>xentions and congresses that have been held
"up toAn" upon the all absorbing topic of the
hour. The Princes ball, with all Its pros and
cons, is canvassed with much more spirit than
the Presidential election, the ladies being far
ahead Of the politicians when really important
matter comes up. So We may a. well be
prepared for a great metropolitan sensation,
and one that will exceed anything Of the sort
that has ever before been experienced In the
United States.