The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-01-19

We are now in the season OF pubic bnlls.
II is the time when people dance for hospi-
tails aud asylums, and wear their finest
garments 10 give splcudor to charity. OF
course we may saw Il NJ if these ball-goers
should hand over for benevolent uses the
cost of their gloves, carriages, and special
adornmcnts, The sum realized would be
much greater than the sale OF the ball
tickets will bring. But they won't do IL,
and there is no use arguing about the
matter. Certainly, they don't 20 TO the
balls to help the poor. but to find nmuse-
ment. display themselves and theirraiment,
and get the distinction or excitement, or
improve the opportunity of mingling In
gay society. 1t is rs natural for men aud
women to desire these things rs it is for
them to eat and you can't preach the APP
petite out of them. Even surrounding
distress VIII not quench it, As soldiers will
cast dice and play poker in the trenches
during brief intervals Of fighting, aud on
the very brink Of death. SO the gay aud
brilliant VIII dance the german and gallon,
As ii life was all frolic, while cannon roar
in the distance, poverty means near by, or
anxious statesmen weigh IN the balances
the claims OF rival candidates for Presi-
dent.
The public ball season is not so active
this year n ii was formerly, when the as
scmbly halls almost nightly echoed to the
sounds of the music and the floors scarcely
had limo 10 cease vibrating with the
measured steps OF the dancers. Some
of the societies, c0tcrios, and militia or
carnations are afraid OF the expense OF
their accustomed balls, and doubt their
ability to sell the tickets, at n time when
the people arc econ0mizing; for the pur-
chase Of Il ticket 10 \ bali involves II fur
Their outlay both for mon aud women, and
| if the purse is not heavy, ii can i'll AFFORD It,
| Therefore the sales OF feminine tinery and
mems dress suits are slower than III lively
| times, aud the cab drivers miss II profit
| able custom.
We usually have n brisk succession OF
militia balls in the winter, but they are less
| frequent this season. To large number
of young men of the city, enlistment in n
militia company means substantially the
| joining of II CLUB. They have n meeting
| place at the armory, ana the affairs Of tho
| organization give them plenty TO talk
| about. The election of officers, the discus
sions "A to new uniforms, or the arrange
mcnt of the arnory, and the comparisons
| with other companies and regiments in
drill and discipline, all afford fruitful
| themes for the minds OF the military young
| men. But no less important than the
| paradcs when they march forth IN all the
| glory Of feathers and plpe clay. Is the win
| ter's bail. That serves the double purpose
Of making happy those already enlisted
| and tempting the enlistment of outsiders.
| A successful militia bali is a great recruit
| ing ground. Forwhat youth who witnesses
the triumphs Of the martial wcarers of the
| gay uniforms rs they career about the ball
room, heroic IN the eyes OF the fair, while
he wand rs hstless in sober black. unahl,
to capture an a lmiring glnnce, can fail 70
wish that he, too, was u doughty knight
| arrayod like one Of thcse2
Last night the Ola Guard, an indie
| pendent SANITATION Of ruuONn, gave
bah -r,ocption they called lt-at th'
Academy ot Music, which was spirited an,
brilliant. The ola Guardsmen's strous
| point IS their uniform, and, rs it seem
to be just IA we'll adapted 10 tho bal
room rs to the CORY field, we anticipated