Männergesangverein Arion Annual Masked Ball

“Mr. Blondin and the Emperor Maximilian, of Mexico, have kindly consented to be present, and perform some wonderful feats peculiar to their respective professions.”

Full listing of members of the committee.

“It is always the heartiest and best ball of the season. . . . There has been such an unprecedented demand for tickets that the sale had to be officially stopped several days ago.”

“The view of the interior of the Academy of Music last night, as seen from the boxes, was one of those brilliant sights which long after remain daguerreotyped on the memory. The floor was crowded to excess with guests, about half of whom were arrayed in fancy dress, the effect of which was, however, somewhat marred by the presence of too many black coats of the ordinary civilian style. The back of the stage was illuminated by a design in gas-jets, representing a wreath, a lyre, and the word ‘Arion.’ The sides of the stage were agreeably draped, the fronts of the tiers hung with the national colors, and with wreaths of artificial flowers, while the vast yawning chasm of the amphitheatre was hidden by an ornamental canvas screen. The burlesque feature of the decorations was a parody of the Light Guard Ball’s ornament of cages of canary birds, suspended around the room; the cages in this instance consisting of hoop skirts on barrel heads, and occupied by useful, if not graceful, barn-yard fowls. About daylight the chanticleers thought it a good idea to crow, and carried the idea into execution.

Among other features of the evening was a singing procession, a burlesque tight-rope performance by Mr. Goetze, several peculiarly grotesque costumes, and Prince Maximillian of Mexico, who was brought in on a donkey, and found the occupation of his throne much interfered with by Brother Jonathan.

The crowd at the ball was so great that dancing was difficult. The music by two bands, located in opposite galleries, was excellent, the supper insufficient, and the arrangements at the doors for the ingress and exit of visitors was very bad. Otherwise the Arion ball was a most brilliant success, and perhaps largely attended as any ball ever given in the city.”

No mention of music. “Last evening the Academy of Music was crowded to its utmost extent with one of the most brilliant assemblages ever gathered within its walls, to celebrate the Annual Ball of the celebrated Arion Society, so called from the great original ‘Arion,’ who, being shipwrecked, so charmed the fish by his sweet music, that a dolphin tok him on his back and carried him safely to the shore.

The Academy was most beautifully decorated…The back of the stage was ornamented with a very beautiful gas-light, representing a harp, surrounded with leaves of laurel, and supporting the word ‘Arion.’

…Suffice it to say that the ball of the Arion Society is yet to be surpassed.”

The ball was very crowded.