2-888-136 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Juvenile Ball at the Mansion-House, on New Year's Eve, 1850. Children's party in the official residence of the Lord Mayor of London. 'The hospitalities of the Mansion-House of the Chief Magistrate of the City of London have just been extended to a class of citizens who are not usually included in the Mayoralty Invitations...the Lady Mayoress gave what is termed a "Juvenile Entertainment," to which were invited several hundreds of the sons and daughters of the citizens, between the ages of seven and fifteen...After supper, dancing was resumed till twelve o'clock when the band played softly the chimes: a deep-toned bell struck the midnight hour, during which the gas-lights in the Hall were gradually diminished, in signification of the old year going out; and when twelve o'clock had struck, the Hall was suddenly re-illuminated, giving a very pleasant effect...'. From "Illustrated London News", 1850.