Masquerade and Carnival: Their Customs and Costumes
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1 Purchased by the Mary Stuart Book Fund Founded A.D. 1893 Cooper Union Library ]y[ASQUERADE AND (^ARNIVAL Their Custofns and Costumes. PRICE : FIFTY CENTS or TWO SHILLINGS. UE!"V"IS:H!3D j&.]Sri> EJISTL A-UG-IEIZD. PUBLISHED BY The Butterick Publishing Co. (Limited), London, and New York, 1892. — — 'Fair ladies mask'd, are roses in their bud.'' Shakespeare. 'To brisk notes in cadence beating. filance their many twinkling feet.'' Gray. "When yon do dance, I wish you A wave of the sea, that you might ever do Nothing but that." — Winter's Tale. APR 2. 1951 312213 INTR0DUeTI0N, all the collection of books and pamphlets heretofore issued upon the IN subject of Masquerades and kindred festivities, no single work has contained the condensed and general information sought by the multi- tude of inquirers who desire to render honor to Terpsichore in her fantastic moods, in the most approved manner and garb. Continuous queries from our correspondents and patrons indicated this lack, and research confirmed it. A work giving engravings and descriptions of popular costumes and naming appropriate occasions for their adoption, and also recapitulating the different varieties of Masquerade entertainments and their customs and requirements was evidently desired and needed; and to that demand we have responded in a manner that cannot fail to meet with approval and appreciation. In preparing this book every available resource has been within our reach, and the best authorities upon the subject have been consulted. These facts entitle us to the full confidence of our patrons who have only to glance over these pages to decide for themselves that the work is ample and complete, and that everyone may herein find a suitable costume for any festivity or entertainment requiring Fancy Dress, and reliable decisions as to the different codes of etiquette governing such revelries. Entertainments of this class for young folk are also fully discussed, and a large number of charming costumes for such occasions are illustrated and described in so clear a manner that any mother in the land may easily array her little ones for a Fancy-Dress Party, a School or Church Enter^ tainment, or a Carnival. We have no hesitation in announcing that in this work we offer you the most accurate information, and the largest and best collection of illustrations of Fancy-Dress Costumes that can be obtained either complete in one book or scattered through many. THE BUTTERICK PUBLISHING CO. [Limited.] foNreNTs- PAGE. Masquerade and Carnival: Their Customs and Costumes . 7 Masquerade or Fancy Balls ° A Carnival Session ^^ Suggestions For Fancy-Dress Parties ^3 i4 Martha Washington Balls and Tea-Parties . ' A Ball Poudre ^5 15 A Calico Ball ^ . Japanese Parties ......••••• '5 Floral Entertainments ^" '7 Tableaux Vivants • Plastiques and Tableaux D'art ^9 The Pose Plastique ^-^ ^^ Costumes for Plastiques •. • 22 Mrs. Jarley's Waxwork Collection ^3 Make-Up Materials and Pigments . ' ^4 Fancy-Dress Costumes for Adults ., • • ENTERTAINMENTS FOR YOUNG FOLK. ^"^ Fancy-Dress Balls and Parties . ^^3 Japanese Parties . Misses and Girls' Lady Washington Parties ^''4 Bread and Butter Parties .....• •''4 ^^4 Little Folks' Afternoon Parties • ''° • Fancy Costumes For Young Folk . • ^1° Suggested Costumes for Adults and Young Folk • Nursery-Rhyme Costumes ''7° LA TOSCA. Surplice of white sillc China or mull . Panniers and slsirt of pale-pink silk. Waist of pale-pink-and- Drown striped silk. Sash of pale, yellowish sagje-green. Jacket of sage-colored cloth trimmed with brmd. Large yellow straw hat trimmed with yellow ribhons and red flowers. Gray mitts and stockings, gray-and-black striped slippers. Brown staff mounted and tipped with silver. I I I I I I I I I J I I I I I I I I I I I I T I I Trr I I I |nasc|uerad(^_J / AND I (^ Carr^it/;^!- THEIR 'ustoms and ©ostumes. ^ AMONG the and indulging in quaint games and old-time most pleasing dances; and frequently a social gathering is ar- forms of enter- ranged at which there is to be an amateur theatri- tainment are cal performance followed by a dance, or a supper those festivities given in commemoration of some historical event at which require the which the guests are expected to appear in cos- adoption of masquerade costumes. Borrowed tume; and there are also Tableaux, Charade and characters and borrowed plumage have ever pos- Bal Poudre parties, and Martha Washington and sessed a fascination for the multitude, whether Japanese teas, all requiring, to a greater or less upon the stage, at carnivals or in brilliantly lighted extent, fancy-dress costumes. The Pose Plastique ball-rooms. In the latter, however, may be found and Plastique Tableaux are among popular fancy- the real domain of the masquerader. Here the dress entertainments. Two costumes, given as borrowed plumage leads to merry happenings examples of what is required for this class of en- among the maskers ; most incongruously assorted tertainment are shown on other pages of this book. pairs whirl in the mazes of the dance or wander An invitation to an affair of this class is usually about among other grotesquely attired guests, each hailed with pleasure though frequently with per- individual peering inquisitively from behind his plexity, for the invitation always develops the mask at his neighbor ; and fun and frolic grow important question of what costume to wear or apace, leading up to unexpected disclosures and what character to select. The giving of a fancy laughable climaxes at the hour of unmasking. ball or any of the entertainments named, is also The v.'earing of masks and fancy dress is not often attended by difficulties in case the hostess confined, as many suppose, to a ball or dance, is not fully informed as to preliminaries and although to this class of festivity must be ac- requirements ; and our object in preparing this credited^ the origin of the custom of character- pamphlet' is to offer host and guest requisite in- dressing upon social occasions. House parties are formation regarding the necessary adjuncts in the frequently given at the country residences of matter of costume and detail for various fancy- towns-people, the guests appearing in fancy dress dress entertainments. MASQUERADE AND CARNIVAL: AA^QBGI^ADe 01^ FANfV gALL^, Under this heading we shall give general infor- Japanese lanterns also add, by their soft radienpe, mation and instructions; but throughout the pam- to the effectiveness of the scene. phlet will appear illustrations of costumes that may In many instances the musicians are dressed in be appropriately worn upon any occasion of this fancy costumes; and not infrequently the men ser- class of entertainment, as well as at any of the vants are habited as were the retainers of olden days, other festivities named. and the women servants are also dressed as were those A successful fancy ball is generally the result of of ancient times. In this way greater realism is ob- careful pre-arrangement. Naturally, the details tained and there are no inharmonious comminglings of such an entertainment are much more elaborate of the unpicturesque costumes of the present day. than those of an ordinary ball, and demand propor- Before touching upon costumes, it may be well tionate attention from the writing of the invitations to add the information concerning the general pro- to the decorating of the ball room and opening the ball. gramme of a masquerade or fancy ball which is Where it is possible, have the invitations engraved given either by private individuals or societies, in a instead of writing them, but in any event formu- public ballroom or hall. At a private house, unless late them so that they will be distinctly under- there is a large ballroom, the plan can scarcely be stood as to date and requirements, and send them followed, though it is the regular custom at the out at least two weeks before the ball is to take entertainments first mentioned. place. In the height of the season it is wise to A large fancy ball is usually opened with tab- allow even more time than that suggested, in order leaux. For this purpose a stage or platform at one that hostesses may not clash in their arrangements, end of the room is necessary. Temporary steps and that guests may have ample opportunity for should lead from the floor to the stage at its cen- any preparation that may be needed. ter. As soon as a sufficient number of guests have As private houses are seldom commodious enough arrived to conduct the tableaux as planned, the to afford comfortable space for a large fancy ball, entertainment begins. The subjects for the tab- it is quite customary for the host or hostess to en- leaux should be comic in character, and may con- " gage the exclusive use of the ball and supper rooms sist of hits on the times," or upon local politics of some hotel or other public resort, and give the or institutions; or they may be arranged from some entertainment in them; and the custom is commend- familiar humorous picture or series of pictures. able, since it provides more room for the guests and This matter must be left to the host and hostess of thus insures them a greater amount of enjoyment, a private ball or to the committee of arrangements besides relieving the hostess of the household con- for a society ball, who will select the subjects and fusion which prefaces and follows a ball given at a decide upon the number of tableaux to be given. private dwelling. The last tableaux must include all the maskers who On the occasion of a private ball in a public have taken part in the tableaux, and also the host ballroom, the latter may be decorated as far as pos- and hostess, or at a society ball the president of the sible to appear like the parlors of a private house; society and his lady; and it must be so arranged and as refreshments are served in rooms reserved that at the end of the scene those on the stage, for the purpose, the affair is as exclusive as if given headed by the host and hostess or the president under one's own roof.