The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-20

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The costumes were nearly all made especially
for the occasion. and cost from $75 up to several
hundreds of dollars each and the gentlemen had
expenses in the matter of dress amounting to a
considerable sum. These figures are only given
to show that the ball was pretty heavy tax on
the class who have moderate incomes, and in con-
sequence will have noticeable effect somewhere
The opera houses will doubtless be the sufferers.
There are few of the young men earning their
own spending money who attended the charity
ball that will not find it necessary to adjust the
luxury to their incomes by curtailing on other
amusements for time.
A rather laughable and somewhat significant
incident relating to this phase of the matter
occurred yesterday, in group where the report
of the ball was being read. A business man was
gancing over the list of names of persons who
were present. "Mr A." remarked the man
peruslng the list; well, where did he get money
to go2 He owes me $50, and has pro-
tested that he wasn't able to pay.
Mr.. E" is man who borrowed $40
from me about three months ago, to pay part
of his rent, and I've heard nothing from HIM
since Mrs c. is clerk, and gets $50 a
month. How he can afford to go to a swell ball
is more than can understand. MIR. D-'s
wages were garnisheed few days ago, but it
seems that he has money for this affair. And
here's jim Rices name among the list of per-
sons present. Surely the Dime Museum was not
open last night"
The amount spent on flowers by some of the
ladies would purchase winters supply of fuel
for some families. The flowers worn by one
lady cost 500. and, from appearances there were
number of others who were equally as extrav-
agant in their expenditures on this feature of
their toilet. fair illustration of how the work
ing people regard the little extravagances
of this kind is given in a story told by
a young man in one of the State Offices, who
sent the jantOr of the building to pay for fine
flowers, which he had sent to young lady.
With an expression of indescribable amaze
ment the fellow asked upon his return, how
much he was expected to pay the flower dealer
why, sir" said the janitor, "he charged me a
dollar and half"
That's all right" replied the young society
man.
"a dollar and half for flowers! I never
heard of such extravaganza A dollar and a half
for flowers! shall tell my wife"
The astounded janitor returned in a few mo-
ments and frightened the young society man
almost into spasms by remarking that those
beautiful flowers were well made"
DO you mean to say that they were not
natural fowers"
Sure and of course they were not. If they
had not been they wouldn't have been worth more
than cent apiece"
One of the mistakes in the management it is
generally conceded, was in putting so much
stress upon the requirements regarding dress.
1t was wholly unreasonable to suppose that any
lady would go to the ball attired in street cos
tune, or anything but the very best that she
could possibly afford Day after day,
however, the public was informed that
mo lady not in full dress would
be permitted on the floor" AS might have been
expected. it terrified all who did not posses un-
limited resources. Many whose dress would
have met all the requirements of the occasion
were frightened out of all thought of going to
| the ball by the fear that they might be humili-
ated by the floor committee objectng to the style
of their dress Rather than risk ything of this
kind they stayed at home, whereby charity lost
much OF the money that it might have received.
Prior to the ball. much was said about the Gov
ernor's staff, which would be present. in all its
glorious gorgeousness. The Governors staff.
however, was conspicuously absent Why, no
body seems to know, definitely, but there are
various conjectures. Mr. Pierre Gray,
the Governors private secretary, when
asked about the matter, stated yesterday that
there was no particular reason for the absence
of the members of the staff, but afterwards
added that they had received no invitations until
long after everybody else had been invited. The
| information comes from another source that it
| was because there was no member of the State
militia represented on the committees, and still
another reason suggested is that the State mi
| litia could not be expected to give conntenance