The final fancy dress of the Newport summer season of 1850 occurred on Wednesday, September 4th. It was covered by The Boston Herald on September 5th ("Grand Fancy Ball at Newport", p. 4) and more extensively by The New York Herald on September 6th ("The Grand Fancy Dress Ball at Newport", p. 1). The bulk of the coverage was devoted to lists of attendees and their costumes, as is typical for fancy dress balls, but there are some other tidbits of useful information as well. The New York Herald article is extremely lengthy, so I have not transcribed all of it. The article from The Boston Herald is quite short, but not nearly as interesting.
The ball was held at the rebuilt Ocean House, the original of which had opened in 1844, burned down, and been rebuilt. This Ocean House was not the same as the modern Ocean House in Newport. A different hotel by the same name opened in 1868, was demolished in 2005, and then rebuilt again in 2010.
At the RhodeTour website, Dr. Brian Knoth writes about the first two Ocean Houses, with specific mention of the 1850 Fancy Dress Ball:
When the original Ocean House opened on Bellevue and East Bowery in 1844, it instantly rivaled the most luxurious European hotels. The Ocean House offered summer visitors topnotch accommodations, fine-dining, and a variety of attractions. A Newport Mercury article in 1884 reminisced about "Old Time Newport" highlighting the new Ocean House and the hundreds of people assembling daily and nightly to the music of the "celebrated Germania Band."
Although the original Ocean House burned down one year after its opening, a larger and grander replacement was ready for the summer season of 1846 to host masquerade balls, cotillions, and Saturday night dances known as “hops.” At the time, fashionable dances like the polka, redowa, and cotillion were all the rage: “morning noon and night the whirl went on.”
In 1850, following their very successful first summer in Newport, the Germania helped close out the season with a “Fancy Ball” at the Ocean House. The Germania opened the ball with a late-evening march, dinner was served at midnight, and dancing continued through sunrise the next morning. Germania conductor Carl Bergmann’s composition “Fancy Ball Polka Redowa” was published the following year.
Other than being fancy dress, the overall organization and format of the ball (as well as the band, music, and attendees) were quite similar to a similar end-of-summer ball held in Newport the following year.
Quotes below are labeled (NYH) and (BH) for The New York Herald and The Boston Herald, respectively.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The organizers of the ball had left it quite late in the season, and apparently people were quite concerned about its prospects:
For several days before the ball took place those most interested appeared apprehensive that it would be, if not a failure, an unsuccessful enterprise. But the event proved them to be mistaken. There was a great deal of life, and all things went on admirably. A general good feeling seemed to pervade, and in short the enterprise was successful. (NYH)
Ocean House's dancing hall was not quite large enough for a grand ball, so the management eventually decided to use the dining room instead. The room was brilliantly lit with chandeliers and candles along the tops of a series of arches and a raised entrance was created, presumably to better showcase the arriving attendees:
The management were some time debating the matter as to whether they had better use the dining room or the regular dancing hall, which is much smaller. They finally determined, however, upon using the large room, and it was therefore arranged for the occasion. A succession of arches were sprung along both sides of the hall, and the columns supporting them were painted in lattice work...the whole room was lighted by fifteen grand chandeliers, suspended from the ceiling, besides numerous smaller auxiliary lights...An excellent effect was produced by rows of wax candles which surmounted each arch. When lighted, they gave the arches the appearance of being highly gemmed. The entrance to the ball was raised a number of steps from the floor, and the door was handsomely ornamented. (NYH)
There was quite a debate about whether masks would be permitted:
The managers, at a late meeting, canvassed the matter of allowing masks in the room, and it was finally decided that no masks should be admitted. This measure was, in fact, found to be indispensible, as a number of papas and guardians had positively forbidden young ladies under their charge attending the ball if disguised faces were admitted. They said that under masks many improper characters might be admitted. As soon as it was announced that no masks were to be in the room, the interdiction was taken off, and all the dancing company concluded to go to the ball. Telegraphic messages were sent to New York and elsewhere, and many persons arrived on the last day, who had before concluded not to attend. (NYH)
"Exclusion of masks" was so notable that it appeared as a secondary headline above The New York Herald's article.
The famous singer Jenny Lind, known as the "Swedish Nightingale", was invited, but sent a letter declining:
"My Dear Sir:--I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your flattering invitation for the Fancy Ball, through the hands of Mr. Barnum, and feel sorry that the fatigues of the journey, and the necessity of preparing myself for the coming concerts, prevent me from having the pleasure of availing myself thereof.
(Signed) JENNY LIND.
New York, September 2, 1850"
(NYH)
The committee of the ball consisted of an impressive seventy-five gentlemen. I suspect that this was more a social honor than an actual job; the actual "Committee of Direction" was a more manageable subgroup of sixteen. They
...were designated as a committee of direction, to have the exclusive charge of the ball, and to wear blue badges. (NYH)
Ticket prices were set to encourage costume:
Tickets of admission, for a gentlemen [sic] in fancy costume, with or without ladies, five dollars, and without fancy costume, ten dollars, to be procured of the Committee of Direction. (NYH)
This didn't work too well, as may be seen in the post-mortem comments below.
As is too often the case, all the attendees waited until the last minute to prepare, with local costumers and hairdressers in intense demand:
The costumers were run down by troublesome customers, who had no idea of what they wanted. Waiters and maids were running after hair dressers...Messrs. Medhurst and Wetson, the tonsors of the Ocean House, would have needed the qualities of the hundred handed Briareus to perform all the services that were demanded at their hands...at the last day, those who had procrastinated, forgetful of the fact that the artists, whose aid is requisite are few in numbers at a place of this kind, come in droves, and more or less must go away unserved, or wait till a late hour for the performance of such service as they are in need of. All was, therefore, confusion, and "bustle, bustle" was the order of the day on Wednesday. (NYH)
Briareus was one of three hundred-handed giants in Greek mythology.
The last-minute demand for expensive jewelry was particularly intense, with the visiting jewelers from Tiffany's compelled to unpack their bags and recommence sales:
The salesmen of Messrs. Tiffany, Young & Ellis, jewellers [sic], of Broadway, having been some days at Newport, were packing up their goods, preparatory to departure for home on Wednesday, when they were so numerously beset by customers that they were constrained to re-open their assortment, and from an early hour of the day to quite a late one in the evening, they were selling their wares. In fact, the day's sales superseded anything which they had accomplished in the height of the season. A great many diamonds, &c., were purchased for display at the ball. (NYH)
The reason for this becomes clear when looking at the costume descriptions in the articles. Mention is frequently made of the female attendees' jewelry.
The ball was scheduled for "Entree and promenade at 9 o'clock--supper at 12" and
All things being ready, at half-past nine o'clock the Germania Band struck up the first air... (NYH)
The dance program was published, complete with names of tunes and composers and that there were five-minute breaks between dances.
Programme of Dances.
(Intermission of five minutes between each dance.)
1. Promenade, "Excelsior march." -- Strauss.
2. Quadrille, "Najaden," -- Strauss.
3. Polka, "Alice," -- Strauss
4. Quadrille, "Newport Season," -- Zerrahn.
5. Waltz, "Adelaiden," -- Strauss.
6. Quadrille, "Ferdinande," -- Strauss.
7. Schottisch, "the Original," -- J. Bruns.
8. Quadrille, "Militaire," -- Strauss.
9. Waltz, "Maiden's Dreams," -- J. Gung'l.
10. Quadrille, "Charivari," -- Strauss.
11. Polka Redowa, "Fancy Ball." -- Bergman.
12. Quadrille, "Triumph," -- Strauss.
13. Waltz, "Dublin," -- Labitzky.
14. Quadrille, "Pickpocket," -- Cuzent.
15. Polka and Schottisch.
16. Quadrille, "Haute Voice," -- Strauss.
17. Waltz, "Romantic," -- Lanner.
18. Quadrille, "Vienna Carnival," -- Strauss.
19. Polka, "Elvira," -- Strauss.
20. German Cotillon. Medley.
(NYH)
The "Fancy Ball Polka Redowa" singled out for mention in Dr. Knoth's article may be found online at the Library of Congress.
Overall, this is a fairly dull program. The quadrilles were likely to have mostly been the First Set repeated to different music. The waltzes, polkas, and schottisches, are to be expected. The only dance that is the slightest bit unusual is the single polka redowa, presumably composed for the occasion by Bergmann.
The costume lists occupy most of the space in each article. As noted above, there is quite a lot of discussion of jewelry, and also comments not merely on how attendees "sustained" their characters, but also on the ladies' characters and "pearly teeth". A sampling:
The Misses Brandigee, of New York, one as La-follie--dress ddark maroon velvet, trimmed with light satin, and chapeau chinois, bearing in her hand the petite image appropriate to the character, which she sustained admirably; her company was much sought during the evening. Her sister, Miss Maria Brandigee, wore a beautiful Greek dress--royal purple, trimmed with gold; she was much admired for her graceful demeanor. (NYH)
The Misses Chubb, of Washington--one as a Spanish lady; red skirt, black boddice [sic], rich black lace overall; her hair beautifully, tastefully ornamented with flowers. Her sister appeared in a fancy ball costume. (NYH)
Mrs. Coze, of St. Louis, appeared in an elegant Greek costume--white satin skirt, cherry colored jacket and trousers; cap of same color, with rich tassel; cherry colored sash. She wore on her neck a diamond necklace of great value, and her company was much sought. (NYH)
The two Misses Jarvis, of Portland, Conn., appeared--one, Elizabeth, dressed n the costume of the heroine in the play of the Enchantress: Greek dress. She wore a diamond necklace, with two strings of pearls and diamonds. Her sister, Miss H. Jarvis, wore a dress from the Feast of Roses: white satin skirt and trousers embroidered with blue, blue cap fastened with diamonds, from which was pendant a large lace veil. She also wore a cross and necklace of diamonds; her cap was secured with diamond sprigs with pendents. She had diamond earrings, with eventail espagnol. (NYH)
Mrs. E. S. Mesier, of N. Y.--Marchioness in time of Louis the Fourteenth. Her dress was a magnificent yellow satin and powdered hair, diamond head ornament, earrings and bracelet studded with diamonds, and broaches formed of beautiful roses--altogether a beautiful costume, and well borne by the owner. (NYH)
Miss M. M. Messerole, of N. Y., as a Vivandiere--yellow skirt trimmed with red; red jacket, light yel-low beaver hat, with red streamers. Miss M. was voted the belle of the ball, and wore at one time seven beautiful bouquets, which were presented by her admirers during the evening. Her hand was sought in the dance by numerous admirers. (NYH)
Miss Kate Weaver, of Newport, R. I., was much admired in her unique Chinese costume. She attracted general admiration. (NYH)
Quite a few of the ladies wore normal ballgowns instead of fancy dress, though they were still loaded with jewelry:
Mrs. Horton, of New Orleans--elegant ball dress; magnificent and costly bracelet, with jewels and rings of great value. (NYH)
Miss Wright, (an heiress,) of New Jersey, wore a rich ball dress, set off with jewels. She had on a rich necklace of pearls and diamonds, and a bracelet richly studded with diamonds of great brilliancy. (NYH)
Miss Hart, of Asylum Hill, Hartford, appeared in the ball room in the course of the evening. She was plainly attired, but wore on her person, in an unostentatious manner, a variety of rich jewelry. She commanded the respect of all who approached her. (NYH)
Miss Caroline Chase, of Boston, wore a plain ball dress. (NYH)
Miss Watson, of Florida, appeared in a plain ball dress. Her fine figure and elegant deportment caused quite a sensation wherever she came. (NYH)
This does not seem to have stopped The Boston Herald from declaring the last two of those I've listed above "belles":
Among those distinguished by the appellation of belles were Miss Chase, of Boston, a tall elegant girl, with white pearly teeth, handsome but not classic countenance, dressed prettily in fawn colored muslin. (BH)
Miss Watson, of Georgia, is generally considered the belle of the evening; however, there are different opinions upon that subject. (BH)
I assume that the Miss Watson from Florida and the one from Georgia were the same person and that one or other newspaper was confused about her origin.
A third possible belle was listed in The Boston Herald as well:
Next to her was Miss Slocomb, of New Orleans, a little beauty, dressed a la Circassienne. She was possessed of a handsome Oriental countenance, a fine set of teeth, and a superb dress of embroidered muslin. She is the daughter of a widow lady, said to be extremely wealthy. (BH)
Interestingly, she was not mentioned in The New York Herald at all, though her mother and sister both appeared on that paper's list.
Many of the gentlemen were in either military uniform or ordinary dress, here called "citizen's dress":
Col. Gates, U. S. A., in uniform. Col. G. is commandant of the U. S. fort at Newport. (NYH)
Col. Ward B. Burnett appeared in the full uniform that he wore during the Mexican war. (NYH)
N W. Hicks, Troy--citizen's dress. (NYH)
But there were also more ambitious outfits:
N A. Hildreth, Boston--English jockey's dress. It became the gentleman well. (NYH)
T. Pollack Burgwyn, N. C., was dressed as Carlo Quinto of Spain. Black silk velvet cloak and trunk trimmed with gold lace--pearl & plumes--diamond cross on the breast--steel trimmings. (NYH)
A. S. Bamersley, N. Y., appeared as Romeo--sky blue silk velvvet, trimmed with white satin and silver, purple turret cap, blue and white feathers, rich lace, collar, silk tights, steel sword, buff boots. (NYH)
Mr. J. V. Messerole, of New York, assumed the dress of Sir Walter Raleigh. Dress--Black velvet coat and trunks, slashed with yellow satin, and handsomely trimmed with deep lace; a beautiful beaver hat, with feathers, was jauntily worn over a profusion of ringlets. The costume became the wearer, and the wearer became the costume. It was one of the best characters in the room. (NYH)
Gentlemen were often complimented upon their manner and characterization:
R. S. Derby, of Newport, appeared disguised with a false nose. He made himself quite agreeable in the ball room, by his jovose [sic] manner and hearty laughs. (NYH)
L. A. Phillips came in to the room, at a late hour, as Sir John Falstaff. He enacted the character wonderfully well, and claimed the admiration of all who observed his performance. (NYH)
There was a father-son pair:
E. S. Mesier, of New York, appeared in the costume of Charles First. This was a very handsome costume, consisting of black velvet jacket and trunks, slashed with rich blue (royal purple) satin, and elaborately trimmed with deep lace; long ringlets and moustache; slouched hat, with blue feathers; boots trimmed with lace--altogether, a showy costume. The character was well carried out by Mr. M. (NYH)
Master Louis Mesier, son of the above, a boy of about six years of age, wore a miniature dress of a Spanish military man--hat, sword and moustache. (NYH)
The mother, alas, did not complete the set; she was in the French Marchioness costume listed above.
At least one gentleman changed costume during the evening:
C. W. Clapp, of Boston, was dressed a fancy débardeur. At a later hour in the evening, he changed the costume to that of a friar. (NYH)
And there was a literary gentleman:
Eugene Batchelder, Esq., of Old Cambridge, was dressed in a Hungarian costume, black velvet, elaborately trimmed with silver. This Mr. B. is the same gentleman known to fame (at Newport) as the author of the "Ichthyosaurus," or the "Sea Serpent," a work which must be read to be appreciated. The military costume which he assume, and his naturally graceful bearing, added to his well known gallantry and easy manners, when in company of the fair sex, made him a conspicuous character in the ball room. (NYH)
Anyone wishing to read and appreciate A Romance of the Sea Serpent may find it online here.
Supper was served at little after midnight. The Boston Herald commented that:
Mr. Weaver, of the Ocean House, served up one of the most recherche suppers ever heard of in these parts. (BH)
The New York Herald described the table:
It was a beautiful sight. Places were provided for about two hundred and twenty-five guests. The meats were handsomely displayed, and there were about a score of ornamental pieces, which, taking appropriate forms, gave a garnish to the whole which was exceedingly agreeable to the eye. (NYH)
Some people were, ah, discernibly affected by the champagne. I believe the newspaper was delicately avoiding the word "drunk".
Champagne flowed (under the happy management of Mr. Gonzales, the master of the wine room) freely, and the effects were soon discernible on those who partook too liberally of the bountiful fare. (NYH)
But no one appears to have been disorderly:
One thing deserves notice namely, that no unpleasant occurrence transpired to mar the harmony of the evening. The experience of those who have been regular attendants at these balls will serve to show this has not always been the case. (NYH)
The New York Herald devoted some space to a bit of a post-mortem on the ball:
The number of attendants at the ball was not large, but the gorgeousness which prevailed served to more than compensate for paucity of numbers. There was no dulness [sic], but on the contrary, all was joy and mirth. (NYH)
So far as the pecuniary results of the ball are concerned, Mr. Weaver, the proprietor of the Ocean House, expresses himself perfectly satisfied. (NYH)
The two biggest concerns were (1) the scheduling of the ball in early September, which interferes with the need for businessmen to return to New York:
This ball may be set down as the last fruits of the fashionable season at the watering places. It was perhaps postponed until too late a day. If it had occurred during the height of the season, it would undoubtably have been a more magnificent affair than it was under existing circumstances. Many of the visitors at the watering places during the summer are merchants, whose business requires their attention in the city the latter part of August, or at furthest on the 1st of September, and no business man will neglect the duties of the warehouse or counting room for the pleasure of attending the fancy ball. (NYH)
and (2) that not enough people were in costume; a five-dollar discount on tickets is not enough to motivate them when compared to the cost of a costume:
If the age for fancy balls should continue, we predict that it will be found necessary for the managers to take some measures which shall preclude the attendance of so many persons in plain costume. The mere adition of $5 to the price of tickets will not accomplish this. It is in fact, a matter of economy for persons to pay the $5, and avoid costuming, for no respectable costume can be obtained for anything like the amount of difference in the priec of tickets. There must of course be exceptions; all will not assume a fnacy costume; but as far as possible, dresses of this kind should be encouraged. There were at this ball by far too many gentlemen in plain attire. It takes from the general effect, and should be discountenanced. (NYH)
There were quite a few women in plain attire as well, but I suspect that plain attire dripping with jewels is not as subject to criticism as plain black and white men's evening wear.
The New York Herald wrapped its coverage by giving thanks to both the Ocean House staff and the staff of steamers and railroads:
...which gentlemen aided us in our endeavors to get report of the ball through to this city, in time for publication this morning. (NYH))
Comments