Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-29

riotous and as unlicensed az the French ball,
pat 1t isn't so respectable. They drink cham
payne at the French ball. while ut Billy's they
drink beer and plain whisky. Billy's ball Il
more exclusive, even. than McAllister ball
SO exclusive. in fact, that the date and place of
its occurrence are never printed, and not even
mentioned above q whisper. and police pro-
lection is discouraged rather than demanded
In truth, a postponement of the ball is
very likely to follow a rumor that the police
are ''onto it." The vast agglomeration of
East Side sports, sports male and sports female,
Is invited TO the scarlet ball. and only desperate
illness or shockingly bad fortune" told by a
deck OF cards ever compels the sending Of q
regret. Billy won't thank me for telling that
New Years eve is the date set for his ball this
season, but will be discreet enough not to
mention the place chosen for the dance or the
subsequent banquet. although the hotel
proprietors of New York would proba-
bly, pay, high for information con-
ter event. On New Years eve of 1884, think
it was when the fun and frolic had waxed
high and loose at the scarlet ball. Billy in
vlted every one of his select company to supper
at his expense at the Hotel Brunswick, one Of
the toniest inns on 5th avenue. OF course
everybody accepted. Every cab, hack and ON
nibus on the east side was engaged, with two or
three licensed vendors carts and an undertaken 3
ambulance to carry the company to the hos
telry, and the procession drove about the
streets SO long before reaching the hotel that
temporary air Of sobriety deceived the clerks
when the sports filed in to supper. The few
dudes left around the house at that late hour
stared with stoical wonder at the company, and
the mutton-chop whiskered walters sleepily
marveled a little at SO many pea-jackets
and so few dress coats among the guests, but
the banquet began, at any rate, with q decent
show OF responsibility. As it progressed,
however, the temporary lull of sobriety grad
ually vanished and cyclone of bowling
lnebriety followed. The guests mixed their
pousse-cafes with their Monferratto and their
st. Julien, they swore at the terrapin and
loudly proclaimed a preference for corned
beef and cabbage, and in the end leaped upon
the dinning-tables and went ION with the
dance" to the horror of the walters
and the terror of the awakened guests.
The proprietor was called by the
vain he offered to make the guests a present of
their suppers, and even the tender Of round
sum to Billy if he would call off his sporting
women from the tops of the tables was met
with a refusal. Billy had paid for his guests
accommodation. and paid double rates, too.
because of the lateness of the hour, and
he was going to see that his friends
had their moneys worth. And he did.
1t was o'clock in the morning when the cabs,
he hacks, the omnibuses. and the licensed
vendors carts rolled away from the 5th avenue
hOstelry, and Billy himself was the last to
leave. reclining in solitary state in the under
the clerks. and the walters .'h-ll of a happy
New Year" as he rolled around the corner Of
9th street. And ever since then the Bonifaces
of New York have been a bit anxious as to
Billy McGlory's whereabouts about this time of
the year. II. II. SoULE.