288 Ten Years of my Life. 



On January 28 took place one of the great Subscription 

 Balls in the Royal Opera H€use, and as I had never had an 

 opportunity of attending one we would not miss it. 



These balls had been introduced many years ago under the 

 patronage of the Court, and every season two, or even three, 

 of them took place. These balls were very popular, for they 

 afforded the public an opportunity of seeing the whole Royal 

 Family, who never failed to attend them, for the King of 

 Prussia and his Princess liked to mix with the people, by whom 

 they are much beloved. These balls are public — that is, on 

 applying to the intendant of the Royal Theatres for tickets, 

 these are sent to as many persons as may move in the house 

 without too great inconvenience. No respectable person is 

 excluded, and the tickets are to be paid for, each costing, I 

 believe, five thalers. 



1 must say I was not prepared for the splendid scene which 

 dazzled my eyes on entering. The Opera House was beauti- 

 fully decorated for that purpose. The floor of the pit was 

 raised to a level with the stage, the whole forming one immense 

 hall, lighted up in the most brilliant manner, and very tastefully 

 decorated as a ball-room. From the large Court box a broad 

 staircase led to the hall, and all the boxes up to the highest 

 tier and the hall itself were filled with above two thousand 

 ladies and gentlemen, all in their best toilets. The many 

 dift'erent brilliant uniforms, with their glittering decorations, 

 moving everywhere amongst the black dress-coats, made the 

 whole elegant crowd less monotonous than is the case, for in- 

 stance, in America, where the black coat alone is to be seen. 



The King and Queen, followed by all the members of the 

 Ro3^al Family, always open the ball by leading the polonaise, 

 after v»'hich they return to the Royal private boxes ; but twice 

 more they walk once up and down the hall, speaking on their 

 way to many persons they know. As the crowd is great, and 

 everybody desirous of seeing the Royal procession as near as 

 possible, the intendant of the Royal Theatre goes ahead, 

 followed by Count Puckler leading the Palast Dame of the 

 Queen. They are followed by the King and the other Princes 

 of the family, each leading a Princess or one of the ladies of 

 the Court. 



Dancing was rather difficult on account of the crowd,- and 

 there can scarceljf be more dresses torn and spoilt at a draw- 



