Ten Female and Twelve Male Figures.
The masked balls, which supersede any other feature of the carnival in
attraction, were introduced under the reign of the Duc d'Orleans. A
great inconvenience was experienced in the want of an apartment
sufficiently spacious to receive the hundreds which thronged to them.
At length the Chevalier de Bouillon conceived a plan of converting the
opera house into a ball room, and a friar named Sebastian invented the
means of elevating the floor of the pit to a level with the stage,
lowering it at pleasure. The project succeeded, and the first masked
ball at Paris was held on the 2d of January, 1716. They are now given
both before and during the carnival, at nearly all the theatres in
Paris, as well as at most of the large ball rooms. The leading
masquerade ball of the carnival, which reunites the best society and
the most gorgeous costumes, is decidedly that which takes place at the
Academy of Music or French Opera House. The greater portion of the
company go in character, although gentlemen may appear in plain
clothes, if they choose, and unmasked. Dancing appears to be the whole
and sole motive of the guests, and dance they do, with a vivacity and
untiring spirit that could only be found in a land so especially
devoted to the worship of Terpsichore as France. In all the ball rooms
parties of the Municipal Guard are in attendance to preserve order,
and should any of the guests transgress the ordinary rules of decorum,
they are immediately consigned to the lock-up of the nearest
_corps-du-garde_. The most prevalent dress at the balls is that of the
_Debardeur_. It is a piquant costume, and consists of dark velvet
pantaloons, with satin stripe down the side, ornamented with bright
studs, a pink or white shirt, red sash, and a glazed hat with
tri-colored streamers, or small bonnet and wig, with cue behind.
Considerably more than half of the carnival masques take up this
dress, the remainder attiring themselves as hussars, pierrots, and all
sorts of eccentric and anomalous costumes. The balls are kept up until
six o'clock in the morning.
This tableau can be represented by ten couples. The ladies and
gentlemen can dress to suit their own taste. The wardrobe of the
company will contain a sufficient number of suits to fit out the
tableau. A few of the comic and grotesque costumes should be
intermingled, and all the figures wear masks of various patterns. The
performers are engaged in dancing the schottische. The ladies and
gentlemen must form in couples around the sides and back of the stage.
A platform at the rear may be occupied by musicians in fanciful
costume. The stage should be illuminated by a purple fire. Music, the
schottische.