The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-12-08

HARD TINES AND CHARITY BAIIs.-We notice
his shabby genteel set in the Yellow Plush Sec
ton of the Fifth avenue are making arrange
mcnts for ball at the Academy of Music,
the profits of which, If any there be, to go to
the ''poor"-a rather discursive term for class
Of the community that may be found all the
way from the Fifth avenue to the Five Points.
The prime movers in this affair are, like Brooks,
hangers on to what is called fashionable society,
and they hope by these entertainments to get
admission into houses now closed to them. The
puffs preliminary have already appeared in the
BOBBY organ, and there is to be no end of gene
rails majors, colonies, corporals, governors, and
humbugs of oil sorts, among the invited guests.
Now, we could have no objection to glori-
fcation by the set Of people who have gotten
up this demonstration, provided said glorfca-
ton would result in any practical benefit for
the really poor people of the city. But the con-
trary is the case. We will suppose, for the sake
Of argument, that the affair is entirely success
full; that four thousand persons are in attend
ance at the ball, and that the net profit
the purposes for which ii is given. AT least
onehalf of these persons will be women who
are either in society or who hope to get there.
These women never have anything to wear.
They have each twenty or thirty dresses
on hand, but for any grand occasion they have,
according to their account, really nothing
to put on. Each must have new dress, fresh
81. fxry ha haa lara mi
sorts Of other fipperies Let us see what il will
amount to-
Two thousand dresses $40 each. .......s $50 ooo
Gloves, flowers laces, &c.................. 20 900
Equipments for 900 gentlemen, at $40 each . 20 900
Expenses Of the ball, orchestra, rent lights, print
ngi &c, say 3VW
Total 600
The above is q low estimate for full dress
ball; very few ladies will spend less than one
hundred dollars. The ladies go to the ball
doubts II let him invite lady to go to this very
ball. She will reply that she would be very
glad to 90, but she really has nothing to wear
Gentlemen must pay for gloves carriages
Refreshments, &c, &C., and if they
get of for ten dollars each, they
will be quite fortunate. Altogether, it il quite
within bounds to say that this ball will involve
the expenditure Of one hundred aud fifty thou
sand dollars
Now, this course of proceeding amounts sim
ply to an encouragement and stimulation of
the system Of imitation and extravaganza which
Thought about the financial revulsion from the
effects of which we are now suffering. II Is no
part Of our design to impute interested motives
to the persons who get up these entertainments:
but there are many good reasons for believing
that the ball is projected rather for the benefit
Of the poor in the Fifth avenue than for the
poor Of Tompkins square. IF such IL not the
case, why do not the managers of the affair at
the Academy adopt the simple plan which we
sec has been taken up by some of our
wealthiest citizens, and give calico balls.
where the plainest dresses are worm where
the refreshments include only bread and butter
and pure Croton, and where the music for
dancing is furnished by amateur pianistss Or,