Those who took shares in the project for doing good called the Charity Ball, must have been very well satisfied with the stock of pleasure, which, as the immediate return for their investment, they received on Friday night, at the Hotel Municipal, and it will only add to their satisfaction to know that the bonus thus distributed takes little from the capital fund, from which ich if intangible dividends of goodwill may be expected for years to come. Pardon our mode of introducing the subject, good reader, but we live in a commercial city, and: the times are so bad that we shall commend charity most by clothing her in semblance of business. In the present case the talismanic appeal, for charity's sake," has been made, and not in vain, on behalf of indigent patients at the Shanghai General Hospital, and the inducement chosen to stimulate it has been productive of the desired result. The ball was up under the patronage of Sir Edmund lamby, Chief Judge of H. B. M.'s Supremo Court, M. lo, Consul-G Ft ral for Italy and Senior Consul, MIN. Godeaux, Consul-General for France, B. Johnson Esq., Acting-Consul for Denmark, F, B, Forbes Esq., Consul-General for Norway ana Sweden and President of the Hospital Committee, and F, Nissen Esq. The arrangements were superintended by a Working Committee consisting of Messrs. C. Alabaster, Brodie Clarke, A. Cromie, F. A. Groom, H. Peters, and J. Wisner, with tI. de Courcy Forbes as Hon. Secretary; and the attention of these gentlemen to the duties they had kindly undertaken, and also to those of stewardship, conduced greatly to the success of the ball, The French Municipality liberally Inced their fine Hotel at the service of the committee, and the French Gas Company were equally generous in supplying the means of illumination.
Though it was believed that many of those who took tickets had- done s0 to further the good cause with their purse, if they might not find it convenient to do that with their presence, it was expected—an expectation which was fully realised—that the interest taken in the ball as aboli would repay the exertions of its promoters." The same music was supplied as at-the Race Ball, viz. the Band of the Iron Duke, relieved bya lighter band under the leadership of Mr. Claussen.
intering the grounds of the Hotel, the visitor felt already within. the charmed circle of festivity. - The grove in front was illuminated by 'a hain of lanterns, which lighted and detined the way to the entrant Here the handsome flight of steps: wa decked on either side with flowers, while the chief pillars of the verandah, where the front corridor was reached, were also wreathed in greenery' and flowers. The verandah was screened off on each side, and draped with the national flags of, France and England, while in the interior of the lobby the ensign of the States added tothe cosmopolite union. 'The outer hall was cool and dimly lighted, coniparatively, for which reason' it was affected asa promenade and a change from the warmth and brilliancy of the ballroom.
'The Ladies' rooms were to the right; and to the left was the Grand Salon, over the glassy parquet floor of which the dancers were skimming gaily, under the strong light of two large chandeliers, hung from the ceiling. Minor luminaries. projected at various points from the walls, and gorgeous mirrors, in their tasteful gilded frames, reflected the colour and the brilliancy in an endless perspective. On the dais at the upper end the musicians were placed a battalion of non-dancers looked on from the entrance end. A predominance of pink in the early part of the evening was toned by the material of woven snow," contrasted with dresses-of dark hues, or mingled with tints of blue or mauve! or amber, and about half-past ten o'clock. the gay throng of dancers moved in a Kaleidoscopic galaxy which, seen from either en strikingly effective, more particularly when her of the ballroom, appeared the company became marshalled in the quadrille. The valorous ''votaries of waltz and war" added their enlivening uniforms, and the dark dress of the gentlemen formed a good foil to the varied colours worn by their partners, Fortunately the attendance of ladies reached rather over fifty; and thus, while the floor appeared crowded with dancers, there were some few occupants for. the comfortable seats ranged along the side of the salon, and the eagerness of importunate claimants for the honour of s place on their cards taxed less severely than usual the graciousness of the ladies. After two hours of keeping measure to the music's sound, in gliding through imperial walts, mary quedeille, gentle mecuréa, or apart: stirring galop, supper formed a welcome interlude; and while the Indies found ro-freshment in a buffet off the ballroom, the gentlemen, having seen to the wants of their partners, hied them to the upper regions, where a vigorous attack was made the repast laid out on the landing. The purveying was done by Mr. Williams, of the Club, and the mention of this fact is sufficient guarantee for its excellence. We only hope its profusion may have been met by the little extra charge anode to gentlemen on this account. 'The principal' room reached by the staircase here was set aside. as acardroom, The programme was rather more than half. through when the ballroom ' wi regained; and again the. dance was entered on with charming skill and grace, till the end was reached and the golden hours had winged their Sight, The reak-up was comparatively early; pleasure had not been pursued to satiety, but was" resigned while it yet was enjoyment; and the departing guests unanimously voted the Ball one of the most successful ever. held in Shanghai,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.