The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-08
FESTIVE TAMMANY.
THE GRAND BALL TO BE GIVEN AT THE WIG
WAN TONIGHT.

The unusual preparations made by Sachem Schell.
Sachem Kelly and sachem Dunlap, in connection
with all the other sachems to celebrate che sixty
fourth anniversary of the battle Of New Orleans. re-
call the memories of other demonstrations made by
Iammany Hall in the days when there were giants in
the land and in the wigwam. So long ago as 1919.
when William Mooney the Grand Sachem and
Andrew Jackson occupied the White House. Tam
many Hall resounded with the cheers of the faithful
and the scent of Monongahela favored its very
rafters. From that time down to 1866 it was the
yearly custom of the sachems and their braves to in
vite the great and good Of the nation with them
commemorate the deeds done in the body by the
original leader of the unterriied democracy when
from behind the cotton bales of New Orleans they
whipped the foe and forced him from the land.
Sometimes these celebrations were confined to the
banquet hall alone where gifted orators displayed
their rhetoric and patriots fired the hearts of their
audience; but the most popular entertainments
were those that copbined-like the of tonight
the aesthetic with the practical. and afforded the
young folks chance dance while their elders gath
cred about spectators sat at the tables enjoying
well prepared menus OF the latter class when bali
and banquet given together, the last was held
in 1860; of the former the last given in 1866.
According to the HERALD of January 1885, the late
Lorenzo b. Shepherd being Grand Sachem. the night
OF the sth very cold and fears freely
pressed that there would be but slim turn out. In
deed until quite late in the evening there were but
few people in the ballroom, and the young men re-
freshed themselves freely with brandy punches.
whskey skins. toddies and gin slinys. Interest
ing letters read from distinguished persons.
nearly all of whom are now dead, as is he who read
them and most of those who heard them.
GALA OCCASIONS.
In 1857, when Daniel L. Delavan was Grand Sachcm.
there was gala ball and bounteous banquet IN the
old Tammany Hail. at which many men then famous,
departed, were present, other men, then young
and frivolous. now old and in responsible posi-
tons. In 1858 similar entertainment given al
which John Van Buren,. James T. Brady John Clancy,
william M. Tweed, Captain Hudson, of the Niagara,
and E. b. Hart the chiefs OF these the last
alone remains. AS can be ascertained the
last combination entertainment was given IN 1860.
when the late e. B. Fowler Grand sachem. and
Mr. Samuel J. Tilden responded to the first toast at
the dinner table.
In 1866 the demonstration confined to ban.
quet and about it cluster "reminiscences. interesting
though sad. Prince John Van Buren, presided. in the
absence Of Grand Sachem Purdy and at the several
tables sat Admiral Farragut General Heintzelman,
Judge RUSSELL j. b. Murray. s. J. Tilden $. s. Cox.
William M. Tweed, p. b. Sweeny. r. M. Connolly.
Mayor John T. Hoffman, John X. Hackett, James T.
Brady and hosts of others whose names are now
familiar Mr.. Burrill responded to The State. Mayor
Hoffman to 'The City" General Heintzelman to fhe
Army" Admiral Farragut to 1.-The Navy James
I. Brady to '.rhe Union" s. J. Tilden to
Hutc 1l to Woman. Il il recalled II that
both Van Buren, and Brady ut their
best on this occasion, and Bradys speech was con-
sdered the happiest of his life. Later in the
ing when Mr.. Brady treating of 'Our Absent
Friends with CHARACTERISTIC gentleness and beauty.
word was brought that Elijah F. Purdy had died at
home while his friends and associates were celebrat
ing the day.
All these famous balls and dinners were given in
the old Tammany Hall, now known the Sun build
and assemblies. The floor is now occapied by
and when with bunting and pictures the place was
as any in the country. There at one time it was tho
fashion for the society bodies of the city to strike
hands with the Tammany people on the 9th OF Janu.
airy, and. in company with all the distinguished of
the nation, hold high revel Congress has repeatedly
adjourned early to permit its members to participate
in the ball, and for years it considered ''the
thing. socially we'll politically All the great
men Of their day have shared its peasures-Douglas.
Houston, Glass; Pierce, Buchanan Clay, Webster, Cal
houn JEFF Davis, Scott and others innumerable Of
later date. After the election of James Buchanan.
press and pulpit. Tammany gave to the President
elect great ovation.
AMEnIcUs vs.. rAMMANY.
With the sale of the old hall new set Of
sachems and new habits; also new club. The
was raging and festivities OF the Tammany kind were
politicians and place hunters, and many Of the best
men in the old organization left it for the The
Fourth OF July was always celebrated in Tammany
Hall, whose new quarters on Fourteenth street
palatial by contrast with those long in use but
made in behalf Of the battle Of New Orleans or the
old hero who won 1t. The balls OF the Americas
Club were given in the Academy Of Music. and Tam
many Hall lost its grip social affairs in many ways
THE PRESENT REVIVAL.
This year it was deemed advisable to revive the
glories OF the past, and, If possible reawaken the
patriotic impulses that made the old Columbians
power in their time After due deliberation the
Grand Sachein, Mr.. Augustus ScheIl, concluded to
delegate to the Sachemic body the duty of making
Tammany howl tremendously on the approaching
evening, and, in consequence. sachems Kelly. Dun
lap. Clinton, Purroy. Jarvis, Gumbeton, Kearney,
Nichols. Ely, Reilley, Haswell. Diofcndorf and Cor
man. aided by Secretary Stevens. Treasurer Leary.
Decharty have been in what the call "a state
OF mind for month.
To select from the multitude Of aspirants the most
competent managers of ball, which it resolved
should combine the decorous enjoyments of the Ger
man with the frolicsome sayety Of the French. was
easy task but glance ut the composition OF the
following list will convince the most queruous that
sachem Schel did not burn the gas of the Manhattan
Club for nothing the night lac made 1t up. The fol-
lowing members OF the great body OF freeholders
to be present, and them will devolve the conduct
Of affairs
pau, Charles T. Loew. GeorgeW. wiugate, James Wen.
msas"
man. Edward L. Gaul. Joseph Koch, John H. Mooney,
William T. SS S%s%
Ss %'% s%S
Cunning IS, Bedford. Jr. samuel conever. An.
Forrest, Martin y. Brown. John J. BRADLEY,
Fernando Wood Jordan L. Mott. Forbes moIIaad,
Isaac HE'LL Charles Place. John Hayes, Daniel s. McElro1
brewster Maverick, Denis Burns, William q. Conner FraI6
r. Van Derveer, Samuel A. Lewis. Lucius X. Wmerdingh
Louis Iorillard Cadwallader Evans w Van voorhis
William Beach, Ambrose sons DAVID Dudley f i
william Dodge, George n. Usntz. John T. Hoffman Samuel
\. Cox, George Law. edwin Meade Philip Mcrkle Isaac
Ode HosoaB Perkins Isaiah Ryndcrs William q. Whit
ncy. james r. Pierce, corge A. Jeremiah j. Requcr,
Aaron j. Vanderpoel, William L. Cole.
DIRECTORS OF THE May"
But while the foregoing gentlemen to guide and
control the general affairs of the festivity II
necessary to hnd TIT to the graceful
Sickes, the gallant Clancy the courteous Brady the
gorgeous Cochrane and the debonadire Van Buren,,
who in other days paid attention to tho convenience
OF guests upon the floor, and Sachem Schell, after
long and careful thought selected his aids in that
direction the following named gentlcmen;-
Arthur Leary Gunther X Alderman, Alfred j. Reagan,
Alex andcr Than, John Won Claim Andrew ! White Louis