The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-01-03

In the social world only small raceneio,,
and the usual quota Of teas and Tnino,
events are taking place Society pennI.
are holding back for the great functions -
the season. Mr. McAl-ister's subsc-int;o,
balls and the great anGrAl Charity ball
which have been the features of New
forz's winters for tae past thir.v.txo
years, and which IS this year set for TIA
2SJl Inst. The subscription calls are cot.
ten up merely Tor pleasure. A certain
amount Of money IS subscribed bv a Coz.
tain number OF persons. Each one OF tina
persons who have thus given the money
are entitled 10 receive 3 certain number a.
tlcSe-s which may &c distributed among
personal friends. The method is very
simple, and py the excgusiveness n
the subscription list the affair i
guaranteed 10 be q gilt-edged one. Ths
mode OF operating Is something Ike this
suppose the leader wishes TO give ball
which shall cost SI5.000-to place il alta
very moderate sum. Perhaps fifty peous
are invited 70 subscribe $500 each, and il
return for VeIue received each one Of the
subscribers Is presented with fifty tickets
Tor personal and private distribution. All
this differs greatly from the Charity ball,
which l. started primarily for charity and
that object IN view The only way and
the only time when the charitable intent
Is lost sight Of Is when some one not in
favor with the glIt-edged Four Hundred
attempts TO purchase ticket. To the -Four
Hundred and 70 friends Of the Four Hun.
dred tickets 30 the Charity ball are S. each.
To others they are not Ootainanle at any
price. About ], Coo tickets are issued, and,
81 50 each. the snug sum of 5000 is rea-
"a
ever been netted. and only one year did
the amount falI rs low IS this. For some
reason. not clearly understood by anyone,
money L more plentiful some years than
others. There are years when everybody
seems cram ped n funds. And then there
are Others when people are flush. Nothing
feels q structure IN the money market as
quickly as does 5 charitable institution, or
q charitable affair Of any kind. When peo-
pie md out they must economic they i'm
medlately cut down on the sum which
they had intended 10 give away. So
though the greatest social event of the
wlnter-the charity bal-neyer suffers
greatly. there are yet seasons when the
Golfers are not as heavy as IN Others. The
greatest boom in the history of the charity
ball was enjoyed IN 1850. the year the
Prince Of " ales was over here. Although
the charity ball was only celebrating its
second anniversary. the tickets sold at
such prices that over $500 was gathered
IN lump for the pet charitable institution
which the ball is designed 10 benefit.
1t IS not generally known that the be.
ginning of the Babies Nursery and Child's
hospital was very small building, rented
by some charitable people for the benels
OF the children Of wet nurses. These poor
little waits had been left 70 get along
haphaZdrd as best they could IN aims
houses and almost anywhere, and the
mortality among them was go per cent
The mothers of the children we're eway
caring for the babies Of strangers, vhie
their own children were thrown upon
cruel world. And very cruel they found
II, too. After the hospital was
made state affair and received alarge an
nual contribution from the Legislature. the
ladies' who had been interested in 1t from
the very beginning decided 10 give the %.
tients of the hospital all home comforts
and such delicate care as babies and slcK
people crave. And this was the rea-
son for inaugurating the charity ball
Every year II has gone triumphanIly
on, and today there is no mors
heightened socisl event Of the season IN
New York. Many of the heaviest SUD
scrloers 10 the bali do not attend. Ihey
buy certain number OF tickets and ies
the money go in the general fund withols
a thought Of getting their moneys worIa
at the ball. Many weIl-known people
who were society hgures thirty years ago
when the ball vas started. but who do nos
now miug.e with the giddy throng, stu
claim the privilege of paying large prles
Tor the ticket which IS never USED. lls
Babies Nursery and Chlid's Hospital,
which is now in commodius quarters on
Lexington avenue, is one Of the mos'
luxurious hospitals IN the city. The M
fortunate women and the neglected cnli.
dren who ind their way there nave
occasion 10 bless New York sweldom
tor enjoying itself once . year for thef
benefit