lings.

[Illustration: THE MASQUERADE ASSEMBLY.]

MASQUERADES.

A few words with regard to masquerades will not be out of place here,
with the one proviso added that they refer exclusively to private
entertainments. Public gatherings of this nature should be shunned as
questionable amusements, excepting, of course, any case where, from
want of room, a lady may choose to give the entertainment in some
public assembly-room instead of her own parlors. This course lends the
protection of home to the charm of its veiled mysteries.

A masquerade is an entertainment giving much trouble to both hostess
and guests. Elaborate decorations are necessary in the ball-room.
Invitations for it should be issued from three weeks to a month in
advance, in order to give the guest time to choose and prepare the
costume to be worn.

Some hostesses give their invitations for a fancy dress party only,
omitting the feature of masks. In this they may act their own
pleasure. In event of permitting masks they must be laid aside at
supper hour.

[Illustration: THE MASQUERADE.]

Occasionally the hostess arranges a costume scheme for the entire
_fete_ beforehand, signifying to each guest the character, historical
or imaginary, that it is her pleasure he shall, for the time being,
personify. In this way the perfection and beauty of the ball-room are
assured beforehand, and repetitions of time-worn characters prevented
from appearing upon the floor.

Choice of Costumes.

Again, the hostess may content herself by selecting the costumes that
she wishes a few particular friends to don, sufficient in number to
form one or more quadrilles to open the ball. Each set must be
carefully arranged as for instance, a court party, costumed after the
time of Louis XIV. A group of Watteau Shepherds and shepherdesses, or
a hunting party garbed after any chosen period, etc.

The remainder of the guests may be permitted to use their own taste in
the selection of costumes. A full dress rehearsal of these especially
arranged quadrilles should be held beforehand to ascertain the most
satisfactory method of grouping the characters in each set.

Invitations to an entertainment of this nature are issued like those
for ordinary balls, adding "_Bal-masque_" or "Fancy Dress Ball," down
in the left hand corner. When the entertainment is to be very
elaborate these words are given an entire line, extending through the
center of the invitation. Occasionally the wo