The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-01-30
A PLEASANT POUND PARTY,
MURRAY HTLL'S NEW OFFICE TO
RAISE MONEY ron CHIRITY.
sixteen Ounces OF " httc Poodle for s2S a
Pink-rVed Rabbit for eiO-A Pou d OF Pos
CoIn Tor the Price Of n nnrreI OF FIour.

sixteen Ounces OF White Poodle for s2s a
Pink-rNcd Rrbbii for eiO-A Pou d OF Pot
Corn Tor the Price ofa Barrel OF Flour,
Charity balls and church fairs have
long been common enough, and pulpit dis
courses have oven been supplemented by privsts
theatricals for benevolent purposes, hut tho
newly invented Pound Party surpasses II othev
social oonttivances for Importing to charity ia
double quality Of blessing both the gifts and
the givers Who Invented this new social de-
light, and where 1t was frat put In practise 10
one Of those things that no fellow can ind out.
but II has been tried In tho region Of Murray
Hill, and has proved an eminent success.
A very delightful pound party was given at the
residence Of Mrs. Col. Elliot r. shepard In Forty.
fourth street on Monday night last. Invitations
had been issued to a select circle OF some fifteen
hundred personal friends, many Of them mil.
ionaires. The invited guests were prominent
politicians. bankers, brokers, lawyers, clergymen
professors, artists,and merchants. The invitation
was 10 many a rludle. They didn't Know wha
a pound party meant, unless II might be a com.
pound OF social conditions; but a little inquiry
elected the essential fact that pound party
implied an obligation on the part OF every one
receiving an invitation t. either send or take ia
the ho use designated package ~ something
weighina exactly pound avoirdupols. for ths
| to beRin at the early hour Of 3 p. NJ, whet
| ne sale OF the pacEages, "unsignt, unseen"
| IN the Custom House. would begin.
Mrs shepMd's house connects with the adj
| Joining residence OF her sister. Mrs. Willis
botn houses were filed with most brilliant
gathering. Some Of the ladies', uncertain - Ia
| the nature Of the party, were In walking cos
| tune, and some in fun evening dress, the in.
congruity rather frightening the splendid
effect.
Sir. John Haggerty Draper the accomplished
auctioneer. had been Invited To act as salesman
on the occasion. but in consequence Of bis deten.
| ton IN Philadelphia by pressing business an
other Gentleman cnnscnted 10 assume the duties
Of aucdoneer, snd Mr.. Francis r. Freeman ot
| the firm OF Davis X freeman. acted aa
Secretary. here was "A great heap 81 pack
ages OF various shapes. sizes. and coors,
each warranted 10 weigh one pound; but MOTH
| Tne salesman performed hIs duties in most
| busihess ike and agreeable manner, although
| he said he had been In an auction room but once
| In his life. and then 1t was only a mock auction
The terms were that each article WIS to he sold
| To the highest bidder cash on delivery no dis.
count, no mistakes corrected. and nothing but
| bdnkablo money received. The entire proceeds
| t. be given to that most excellent Institution,
the Young women's Christian Association.
There was great excitement from the start, and
opened their boxes aud discovered what thoy
had got for their money. one little oox wls
| knocked down atter a very llNtW. contest
| for s.S. and the lucky purchaser found himself
the happy p9ssessor Of white poodle with
| tlack eyes. which was handed To young lady,
| who declared IL was worth double the money.
| Anulnyr purchaser wac made happy on opening
| hi- lhte y. Tor zen h, Ia .paid the tlnIng
sum Of SO 10 md himself tho owner OF
| a ptnk-eyt.l rabbit. somebody else, tempted by
the look of a bulky pack -. gained tho urize Of
apOund OF pop corn, at the cost OF a barrel Of
HouT; another gOt "a kitten for hNe dollMs; an-
other pound Of candles, short skies some got
cake, some SUGAR. some rai-ins. and sone
smoked beef. one lucSV gentleman uaid three
doll r. Tor a tiay box which was found 10 con-
tain pound sterling in gold, and anothcr
h'u-ht coruucoyiA Tor = ~ Whch was nllvd
with five dollars in copper and nchle.
Eut the great sell Of the evening WAS mvste-
riou- uach iEs, bearing an inscription ia verso
! ttstifyiut that II contained the prctrcst Jewel
that ever WAS seen--a uecSlice nj for fairy
| queen. This or ated the liveest ana most ex-
| cited bidding OF the evening, and the prize was
| Bt last knoched down ~ S2i to "a wealthy bidder,
| who was determined t. have IT at any cost. and
| who on oueniug the c.-kct looked rather dis.
mayed to lind himself the owner OF i've liDks OF
country. made sausages.
Among the active bidders were Jaw Could
brokers, Cnarley Osborn and sam Mills, Uut j.
G.. himself did not put In au apnodGduCc. Mr..
| Russell sage. formerly Of st. Paul and Pacinc
Mail, hut at present ct the Church OF the Disci-
pies. was also a liber.l buyer. The heaviest
| purchasers were Mr. William II. Vanderbilt,
father OF the hostess. and the cry Chan befain,
whose packages Cu't them each all Jut so.
The proceeds Of the sale amounted to about
$3.50.
Aftcr the sale there music dancing, and
supper. and the company separated with the
pleasing consciousness Of having spent mos
enjoyable evening, while aiding Ia prOmotln.
this blessed cause Of charity.