New-York tribune., 1873-02-05
THE CHARITY BALL.
A GROWING SOCIAL SUCCESS.
"Alas for the rarity
or Christian cbartty'-baIIa

or Christian cbsrity"-balls,
was a sentiment heartily echoed last night by tho
cheerful giyers who combined mirth and charity al
the Academy Of Music 10 Is generally conceded tbst
the worst feature of the several charity balls is the
fact that they come only once year. But in New
York City they have come TO be customary as the
British charity dinners only not az frequent. prob
ably because NewYork is poOrerin established char
ties, though acknowledging mono richer in great
charity. Successive triumphs for sixteen years
past have made the annual ball Of tho
Nursery and Child's Hospital sort of social
event. IL il come to be dstinctiyey known AZ
tho Charity Ball, though there are many Others
older and several Others younger but there arc
none so prominently known. and none heretofore
so elegant and select and none profitable. Hence
it has become the great feature Of the ball
to which all young fashionable folks look forward
with the fondest anticipations. All other festive
gatherings have heretofore been mere preudes 10
this grander entertainment which, it not
staid almost TO occurrences and polite almost 10
stiffness, might be called festival. 1t usually
concludes the season just before Lent this year
only the carnIvas POSSIBLY in view of the extra
ordinary preparations making it would not DO i'm
proper to say the Saturnalial of the Arion and
Liederkranz are to follow it.
The Charity Ball has been preceded this year by
distinct class has been highly successful. One Of
these, the Orphans Charity appeals to and is sup
ported almost wholly by Roman Catholic patrons.
mainly because members of that Church take a
special interest in this particular Asylum. 1t has
been characterized as approaching nearly a. pos
sbe to religious ball :" it is select and fashiona
BILE, and very quiet. The Tremens Ball is for the
support Of the widows and orphans of an Organiza-
ton now dead but not forgotten, the success OF
the Il annual balls which have been given
has indicated Only the Infant Asylum Ball for
the support Of the Charity of that name is in any
sense a rival to what ia known as the Charity Ball.
for the support of the Nursery and Cbids Hospital
And this rivalry is only in name; 1t is only worthy
emulation of managers to give the moro elegant
entertainment to the larger number of more select
guests and to do more good with the proceeds Tho
support of both institutions comes from the saIno
class; the same names figure on the Committees
lists and the same faces at each gathering.
But it is not to be disputed that still the great
est of these is (the) Charity" (balD. The Infant
Asylum Ball this year certainly the most sue
cessful given for the benefit Of this particular char
ity yet in its infancy; the company too, was most
select the decorations most elegant. and it was uni
versally acknowledged that the dresses were never
before exceed. Nevertheless it has not yet out
shone the Charity Ball either in attendance, elegance.
or profits Some idea Of the magnitude of these
social gatherings may be had by those who do not
attend by comparison of the figures showing the
sums realized by them For the information Of those
anxious in such matters and to make a wholesome
innovation on the absurd custom of describing gath
erings of this sort in meaningless language of gilt
tering generaties the following table of net pro-
ceeds-the clear profits of the two Oldest Charity
Rails for several years-iS QiVen: