FANCY DRESS BALL.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 105, 12 October 1878, Page 2

FANCY DRESS BALL.

Had a stranger strayed into the Foresters' Hull, Palmersfcon, on last Tuesday night, he would be considerably at a loss to account for the spectacle presented to his view. It is generally supposed that the soldiers of the Crescent, exercise a most commendable watchfulness over the actions of the ladies who acknowiedge them as lords, and consequently, one would feel much surprised to see a gorgeously-dressed Houri gliding through the Circassian Circle with " Uncle Tom " for a partner j while " Mary Q.uecn of Scots was promenading upon the arm of "Eobin Hood." Of course there was a little discrepancy of just four hundred years to bridge over from the escapades of the Outlaw of Sherwood Forest to the time of the beauteous victim of Elizabethan jealousy ; but there she was " doing the block " — and a very differc t kind of block to that which history has allotted her — as the fuon-Earl of Huntingdon was whispering sweet nothings m her ear. There, too, was the "Daughter of the Regiment," who had forsaken the Grenadier for the " Devil's Brigade," with a member of which she was gaily tripping a measure unknown to the regimental sohool ; while the tables were turned upon the Nymph of the Sea. for instead of luring others to destruction, she had been wiled away from her coral cares, and regardless of her caudal appendage, was paying homage at the shrine of Terpsichore. Whether, however, it was that the mundane mortals with whom the syren was gliding through the mazy were not used to the introduction of such articles as mermaids' taila into their Raltatory enjoyments, we know not, but before long the unfortunate nymph wns denuded of her appendage, which, however, afterwards did duty as a fan. "Little 80-Pcop" had surrendered her tLeeoy charge for the nonce, and by hook or by crook had gathered to the fold a most disreputable-looking old foreigner, who rejoiced m the name of " Mynheer Von LagerSwiller," whose appearance was a sufflcfent warranty of the appropriateness of the cognomen. A " Bold British Tar " and a "Jolly Bf ggar " were having a rough-and-tumble for the possession of the hand of a ; Swiss. Peasant Girl, while, strange to say, an I Officer of the Line and a grandee with a court dress were acting as bottle-holders. Joshua made the sun stand still ; Jupiter, it is said, caused a night to be lengthened to that of three ; but on Tuesday there were two " Nights " on the one evening. We have stated at the outset, that a darkeyed beauty from the East had escaped for the while from the control of her master 5 ' but it was not for long. Late m the evening a bearded ferooious-looking Turk found admittance to the Hall m search of the escaped one, and m the vain attempt to curb his ire " Brudder Bones" got his brand new hat considerably damaged. Taken all through, the scene was a grand one, and the success which, attended the Fancy Dress Ball was a very fitting finish to the series of concerts given by the Palmerston Bachelors. We have not by any means been able to obtain the names of all those present, or the characters assumed, but the following are a few of the principal :— <" jms>Mr Aymesbury— .A Turk. Mrs Ayawbury^The Daughter of the Regitnent. . ■ Mrs Erolt—*Swiss Peasant Girl. Mr. JTnynes — .Barrister. Mr Mitford— A Beggar. MY McOpoa-^Courf dress. Mr Monmford — Ofßuer.of the Line. 'Mi'Forßti«r-^.Tock«y. •■•".'- . ■. • ' Mr Pirani— Mynheer Von Lager-Swiller. Mr Straker- — Brudder Bones. Mr Skerman— Yeoman. , ! Mr A. Skermah^-Robin :Hoo3. "■ ,-'•■- Mi.sa i-TeaJie SVennan— A Tuykiai-L dy.

M ss Minne Skerman — Little 80-Peep. M iss Robinson— Nigh.t. Miss E. Robinson — 80-Peep.. Mr 3 Reteymer — A French Grizette. Mr Snelson — Uncle Tom. Mrs Snelson — Night. Mr Tliynne — Barrister. Mr Turner — Yachtsman. Mr P. Warburton — Albanian. Mr E. Warbnrton — British Sailor. Mr H. Waldegraver— Officor of Volunteers.