Liederkranz Masked Ball

“The scenes that occurred at the Academy on Thursday last [at the Arion ball], were in the highest degree reprehensible, and we trust that the Liederkranz will be able to avoid them by taking proper precautions in time. We learn that the greatest effort will be made to do so. The number of tickets will be limited, and they are to be sold exclusively through the Committee and to persons whose respectability is, like Caesar’s wife, above suspicion. We are pleased to learn, too, that the cloak-room will be in different hands. It was wretchedly conducted at the last ball.”

Advertisement: New-York Times, 14 February 1865.

All tickets have been sold. “[T]ickets are not transferable, the strictest control will be exercised to admit none but the original holder.”

Announcement: New York Herald, 15 February 1865, 4.

Announcement: New York Herald, 16 February 1865, 4.

“We observe that the managers have adopted very wise measures to insure the pleasure and comfort of the company by limiting the tickets, and by requiring every one to unmask before the committee previous to entering the ball room. The wisdom of this last provision is obvious.”

Advertisement: New York Herald, 16 February 1865.

Large ad for ball. Small ad for members of Bernstein’s Grand Orchestra and Promenade Band to attend the ball “punctually at 9 p.m.”

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Announcement: New York Post, 16 February 1865.

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Review: New York Herald, 17 February 1865, 4.

Includes a brief history of the Liederkranz, complete program of music and detailed description of proceedings. “THE MUSICIANS were under the direction of Messrs. Bernstein and Dietz, and occupied portions of the third tier at each side near the stage. Anticipating, we will say that the music was admirable, though from its high location the effect was necessarily not so perfect as it would have been under other circumstances. The committee were obliged to thus elevate the musicians, on account of the want of room elsewhere.”

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Review: New York Post, 17 February 1865.

“Although the sale of tickets for the Liederkranz ball, last night, was suspended before the demand was supplied, the attendance was fully as large as at the Arion ball, and the same difficulty was felt in finding room to dance or promenade. The balcony, dress circle and upper tier were all crowded with spectators, generally in full dress, while the floor of the house was occupied by an immense mass of maskers and others, probably three-fourths of the number in fancy dress. Some of the costumes were rich and superb, and many more were highly grotesque. There were probably a dozen harlequins; several warriors in mail, a coiffure ‘à la coffee pot, which excited much amusement; a walking barrel; and hundreds of other amusing disguises. Among the ladies, one arrayed in the garb of a Chinese lady of rank attracted much attention; and another, as the page in the ‘Ballo in Maschera,’ was actually followed around the room by troops of admirers. A Queen of Night, Mephistopheles and Marguerite were among the characters represented.

Among the special features of the evening there was a grotesque procession of Amazon guards, clowns, and devices representing different city newspapers. Quack doctors took part in another procession and a large frog and stork, represented by members of the Liederkranz on stilts, were conspicuous.

One of the most extraordinary performances of the evening, however, was a leap made from the family circle down into a blanket held by members of the society on the floor of the house. The leaper was a handsome, well-formed and intrepid harlequin, and he sprang from his lofty perch with perfect grace, landing on his feet in the outspread blanket. The guests in the immediate vicinity were somewhat fearful lest the bold harlequin would fall on their heads, and ‘Room for the leaper! Room!’ was afforded with great alacrity.

The interior and police arrangements were in every respect satisfactory, and the whole affair reflects the greatest credit on Mr. Nembach and the other gentlemen of the Liederkranz who took an active part in the management of this, the most brilliant masked ball ever given in New York.

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Review: New York Sun, 17 February 1865, 4.

“[O]ne of the finest affairs of the season. At an early hour carriages began to arrive, the occupants being nearly all attired in fancy costumes. . . . On the dancing floor the variety of costumes presented to the eye of the spectator, would induce the least enthusiastic to believe himself present at some grand reproduction of every character described by the writers of ancient of modern history, to which had been added to the comical geniuses spoken of in the ‘Fairy Tales,’ or other story books for children. The order for dancing having been given, and the bands performing the sweetest Terpsichorean music, those inclined to dance, found the exercise somewhat difficult, owing to the large number who wished to ‘trip it on the light, fantastic toe’ at one and the same time. The stewards, however, exerted themselves to preserve dancing places for those who enjoyed such sport more than looking on or admiring the gay assemblage. The proceedings throughout the evening were enlivened with sports and pastimes according to some programme previously decided upon by the Society, the whole affair being a decided success. The decorations were superb, the music delightful, those present in good humor, and altogether the Masquerade and Fancy Dress ball of the German Liederkranz will be remembered by all who enjoyed it as one of the pleasantest entertainments of the season.”

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Review: New-York Times, 17 February 1865, 4.

“Although the crowd was almost as great as on Thursday of last week [for the Arion], the regulations were so much more stringent, and they were enforced with such unvarying firmness that but little inconvenience was experienced . . . Some idea of the enormous attendance may be formed from the fact that the line of carriages extended from Seventh-street to the Academy of Music, and that this interminable chain continued for more than two hours. The appearance of the house at 11 o’clock was extremely brilliant. . . . Two bands of music were in attendance, and played with full German spirit.”