Life — March 29, 1883 — page 13: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

a ? | EXEMPLARY. A DAME who was over particular, Seized forcibly by his auricular, A self-engrossed dude Who appeared to her rude, And spoiled_his correct perpendicular. THE MULDOON'’S BALL. For two months down-town society has been in a flutter of excitement over the invitations issued by Mr. T. P. Brian Boru Bedad-Muldoon, for his long- projected masquerade ball. The cards, engraved ex- pressly for the occasion by Dougherty, gilt-edged, ivory-back, round corners, and blazoned with the lat- est heraldric insignia of the Muldoons in the left-hand upper and right-hand lower corners, were sent only to the creme de la creme of Baxter and Mott street ed/ite, whose names were thoughtfully suggested to the host by friends who were anxious to have the affair the most recherché of the season. This ruling, of course, necessitated the omission of the names of many inti- mate friends and some near relatives, but an after hap- py thought suggested that, as a coup d’efat, these might be invited with napkins, and could so look on and pass around refreshments without jarring the feelings of the don-ton and jennesse dorée. The other prepara- tions were made upon a similarly magnificent scale, and the venerable Brian Boru, uncle of the happy fam- ily giving the entertainment, modestly estimated that the total value of the chromos, window shades, chinese lanterns, brick-bats and articles of bigotry and virtue in the house, to say nothing of the dresses and Pari- sian diamonds to be worn, would foot up nearly $165. The beer alone, he said, to be consumed at the enter- tainment, would cost at least $9.50. Despite the fact that the Brian Boru’s and Muldoon’s sense of refinement so impelled them to avoid notori- ety that only twenty newspapers were admitted to the secret, the affair leaked out, and everybody has been on the gué vive for weeks, The result was unhappy in one sense, for the host has been so besieged for in- vitations from low, poor folks and common Knicker- bockers, that he has been compelled, on more than one occasion, to tell the hired girl not to admit any one who could not produce a certificate of property hold- * LIFE: 155 ing to the amount of at least $100. Another difficulty lay in the fact that many of the young gents invited, were unable, owing to the severity of the present weather, to hypothecate their ulsters and to hire cos- tumes, and hence it was reasonably found that a hen party would be the result, ‘This was happily averted by Brian Boru’s generosity in offering to pay one-half the costume bill of every gent able to dance. Last evening the long expected hour arrived, and by g o'clock Sullivan street was choked with ‘busses char- tered by the revellers for the happy occasion. Long lines of police warned away peanut venders and cough candy men, but a silent and respectful crowd assembled in front of the residence and watched the masquerad- ers debouche. The scene was one never equalled in New York. Four clothes-lines radiated from the door, and from these suspended Chinese lanterns which cost anywhere from $1.35 a dozen. Over these was hung a quilt of rare mosaic design, made 40 years ago by a remote ancestor. Under this exquisite porte cochére was spread a roll of two-ply antique Brussels carpet, with edges frayed like a Pompeiian rug. The interior of the house baffled description. ‘The front door, with its genuine china knob and real keyhole, was thrown hospitably open by the help, and through this the thrice happy guests passed, to be welcomed by Brian Boru, who kindly explained to them the cost of each article in the house. To describe what followed would tax the imagina- of Spenser, the fervor of Byron, the pen of Milton and the genius of John Kelly. The decorations were daz- zling, and, as the price tags were unostentatiously at- tached to each, it could be seen that no expense had been spared. The costumes were the best that could be hired, and were almost equal to those displayed at the $10 French Ball. Mr. Brian Boru, uncle of the host, appeared in clean cuffs, cut en revers, with collar and receipted wash-bill to match. Ornaments, coupons. Mr. T. P. Brian Boru Bedad-Muldoon, the host, wore a court dress of the founder of his house, of the period of 1837. A small receptable, shaped somewhat like a V, and attached to a slender staff, completed the costume. Mr. Michael Mulcahey Maguire appeared in a pair of doeskin trousers, with applique pockets and hemstitched borders. Ornaments, buttons. Mr. John Rafferty wore a shirt of real twill, cut bias, yoked, open at the back, with square corsage and pom- padour ruffles gathered at the waist. The panier was of diaphanous mull in box pleats, with an insertion of ecru bobbinet. The front was cut en princesse, with a deep flounce of antique Nottingham placed en revers. Hair in soaped lambrequins, looped up with stick pomade. Mr. P. O'Hara Bedad, of the Bedads of Bedadsburg, wore a velvet vest, cut decolletee and lined with Italian cloth ex revers. Hair, a /a billiard ball, and oroide ornaments. Mr. Michael Malony, a handsome brunette, wore saliva curls. Mr. Tim Hooligan, a bewitching blonde, appeared in a radiant smile which displayed, to advantage, the gold fillings in his teeth. comicbooks.com