The Ball given Tuasday night by the Freemasons, at the Shanghai Club, was one of the most brilliant we have seen in Shangh:
There were n cluding wventy ladies. But the spacious suite of rooms which are available for such an occasion would accommodate a much ator number without approach to crowding. The rooms were haudeomely and tastefully decorated with Masonic flags and devices, and a profusion of evergreens row of lights round the cornice of the ball-room adding brilliancy to the general effect. The entrances to the upper hall were heavily curtained, and the hall itself, festooned with evergreens and brilliantly lighted, assumed the character of a comfortable ante-room, The large room within the ball-room was as usual devoted to refreshments for the dancers; while thave on the opposite side were arranged as wine, card, supper, and dressing rooms. For brilliancy of effect, " Musonic ball probably surpasses any other, The various costumes worn by members of the fraternity combine with the dresses of the ladies and the uniforms of the naval guests, to produce a singularly pleasing effect, as the while become involved in the mazes of the dance, And a Knight Templar's quadrille, which was danced on Tneaday, formed an exceptionally picturesque feature vening. The Lancers attractive dance, black of the evening coat is alone in contrast with the dresses of the ladies. But the effect on Tuesday evening—with the flowing cloaks of the Knight 'Templars in the centro of the room, and the blue of the ons, and red and purple Royal 'Arch, flashing amon brilliant costumes of the ladies an the more sombre uniforms of the Navy—was kaleidoscopic, in every souse of the word, Altogether' we seen the fine Lall-room of the Club more handsomely corated or more bravely filled; and lifo and spirit Candourcompels us (0 admit that the music was not so good "s might have been wished. The time was uneven, and those least troubled with who were able to disregard its cadyroperhaps the most fortunate, convenience, however, was comparatively Might, and had no effect in damping the ardour of the dancers; the floor was filled for every event in the programme, and those who were not privileged for the moment to share in the whirl, or avowed a of in the pursuit, some supper was spread in -room, and the signal for adjournment thither was given soon after midnight. We heard but one expression of opinion as to the excellence of the viands and the wine provided. The usual Club dinner arrangement, of a number of small tables, was maintained, in prefer ones to one long board; and had the advantage of enabling " greater number to sit down at once, as well as a number of little parties to be formed, each compact in itself, The service was, perhaps, not all that could be desired; but it is impossible to provide efficient attendance on a0 large a number of guests; and men always accopt the situation under such conditions, and help themselves, Dancing was resumed about half-past-twelve, and was continued without intertill close on three o'clock, The official programme was finished by two, but extra dances were called for and danced with a zest that testified to the general e1 joyment of the guests, We cannot, in concluding our sketch, congratulate the Committee too warmly on the success of the evening. The several arrangements were, as we have said befor most ce t; the decorations tasteful and the refreshments excellent and hospitable to profusion.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.