The members of the Customs Club are about to remove shortly to more commoious premises, so as a fitting conclusion to series of a very successful and enjoyable dances that have taken place at their Club in the Whangpoo Road, it was determined to give a Fancy Dress Ball on Tuesday last, and this was in every respect a great success. The ball room was tastefully decorated as usual, a free use of fairy lamps lending an additional charm to the scene. Onentering the door, admission tickets were collected by © member of the committee who was got up as a Footman, and who maintained the role with most appropriate gravity. Invitations had been generously given, and eagerly accepted, s0 the ball room was well filled with guests in fancy dresses of various descriptions, which f-rined quite a bewildering mass of colour. Proceedings were opened sharp at 9 o'clock bythe Hunter's March, from Faust, to which tost of the guests paraded the room, thus affording a chance for inspection of the dresses.
Certainly the most striking costume in the room was that of Britannia, worn by lady whose imposing figure gave the necessary dignity to the character. Any little Portugal who had provoked her would have had a bad time of it. Scotia was also close at hand, with long flowing locks—a charming personification of the character, but Ireland, strange to say, wasunrepresented amongst the fair sex. A costume that attracted deserved attention was that of an aesthetic young lady, which would also have done duty for a happily chosen Kate Greenaway, as it was one of the prettiest in the room. A fair Circassian made a marked impression, as the dress was not only exceedingly pretty but correct in every detail.
Strange to say there were no powd costumes, which was a pity, as they a always most effective. There were three classic dresses, that looked well, and Nursery Rhymes were represented by an excellent Old Mother Hubbard and two Red Riding Hoods, one of whom was an engaging illustration of the character, Sister Ann was present, looking happy in a well designed costume, and with her magnificent hair covering her like a cloak, Shakespeare found only one representative but that a very good one, i Perdits, "ti rettivat lass that ever ran on greensward, though she did not lack partnere daring the evening, there was, alas, no Florizel to say to her, Your hand, my so turtles pair That never mean part.
There were peasant girls of various countries, including s piquant French and commanding Italian girl, and a Auchmithi Fishwife, though in address more sober in colour than is generally soon around Auld Reekio. The representative of Snow had many admirers, but by some was taken for a bride, The dress of Carnival was pictur rescue and neat, but it is strange that it should have been entirely black." Perhaps this was so because last night's ball was held in Lent. Two Monte Carlos were present, one a very handsome costume that has been seen before. Esmeralda wore a bewitching dress, and though she carried hertambourine had left her goat at home. The Pansy dress was very striking, though simply deed. Night hovered around, and Chatter box might have been anything. Folly was present, of course, but in " pleasing shape, and a smiling but no doubt severe Duenna kept a watchful eye on a short-skirted Carmen and giddy youngsters generally, There were, besides, any pretty dresses that udded to the brilliancy of the assembly, but which bore no distinctive character.
There was less variety than usual about the dresses worn by the gentlemen. Indeed, it appeared at first sight as if the attendants at " Race Course had broken in on the festivities, as oxomthas not only a Book-maker—the first quiet one ever met—but numerous Jockeys in all sorts of racing colours, and Niggers of every possible description and temperament. Some were cheerful and amusing, some noisy, and some melancholy as if quite overcome by the darkness of their complexions. One of these sons of Africa was very well got up as the common or garden Nigger early in the evening, being placarded as Wet Paint," and carefully addressed to his residence in the country in case he got lost in the mysteries of his own jokes. But he was not so great " success when later on he discarded his outer garments and appeared as wel darkey in correct dress cout and coloured continuations, Perhaps the most effective representation was that of Pears' Soap, for which the enterprising firm ought toa send the wearer handsome doucewr. His get-up was an exact copy of Mill picture of "Bubbles" which at present dorns one of our chemist's shops in the rest of the above firm, and was exceptionally good snd complete, the wearer having consented to sacrifice cherished hirsute appendages to carry this out. The friend of our youth, the Boy in Blue, was very much there, and did his best to sustain his nursery character; and is this he was ably assisted by " companion in Pink whose virtues have not been handed down to us ory, but who cheerfully maintained his local' reputation by genially takin, charge of everything. He too had sacrifice heavy moustache asa tribute to art, A lucky winner of a recent Paper Hunt, who had lost his opportunity of displaying his hard-earned pink in the field, took this casion to wear it for the first time, and was justly proud of it, A well known old reject appeared in a costume which seemed togive him some trouble, and got very mixed as to what character he represented, At firat he wanted to call himself Oliver Cromwell, eventually, after deep cogitation, ar. rived at the conclusion that he was Pip, by which he meant the renowned Pepys of diary fame, but the modern white wig worn would have made Pepys turn in his grave, On realising his real character the repsotentative of Pepys was lost in thought far that in the Caledonians he ignored corner lady, and set all to himsel€ with back to the rest of the party. Four Dre den china—or Watteau—Shepherds wore very handsome dresses and carried crooks, but, unhappily for themselves, were not sccumpanied as usual by ehepherdecees in corresponding costumes. Whittington with his bundle and stick showed himself, but he was so plump and complaisant that there appeared to be no reason why he should run away, and he de. atroyed all romance by wearing spectacle An American citizen who prides him. self on his rigid republicanism wore the dress of an English diplomat, with the ash of the order of the Gurler! A Cireassinn chief was well dressed, but was too brilliant about the gaiters. The tall Bgure of a well known resident was seen encased in " Harlequin dress, in which he was not comfortable, as it would not allow of his sitting down, tired as he became. He was rather disappointing to the other guests, as they were all the time expecting him to wall on his head, play sume tricks, or fly through the window in the clever style he recently displayed at another entertainment, but he was subdued, melancholy, slow——a thing of patches: One gentleman appeared in what he probably thought was correct Japanese dress, but it was compliment to that country, as it consisted simply of the yukata, or night dress, which Japanese men affect.
There were many kilts in the room, some of which had appeared at the Inst Caledonian Ball, and some of which ought halt Cook's tourist and half Highland to have appeared, A modern Rob Roy
cateran—wore a kilo rather noticeable for its scantiness; and another Highland Chief was evidently not born for the clothes he wore, as they were much too ample, and bade fair to fall from off him in the mazy dance. There were also numerous uniforms, some of olden days, and others belonging to modern times—Austrian, German, Naval and Volunteer. The brilliant mixture formerly worn by our Light Horse
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.