New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-18
COST OF THE ARION BALL.
AN INTERESTING TALK WITH r. F. HAM
ILTON.
ABOUT 10000 WAS EXPENDED on THE LAST ONE.
AND $4,000 WAS PLACED TO THE CREDIT
OF THE socIETY-WHY SUMMER NIGHT
FESTIVALS WERE ABANDONED.


FESTIVALS WERE ABANDONED.
1t may astonish good many people to learn that
the expenses Of the recent Arion Ball were about
$4,000 more rather than less and that the totai
receipts were in the nelghborhood of $4,000. This
leaves profit accrulng to the society of nearly
SIS 900 which will be held over for future entertain
ments Of a similar character. Enough was known
by the managers before the ball took place 10 de-
termine this fact with almost absolute certainty
No one In New-York knows more about the Arions
annual affair than II. f. Hamilton. who yearly mas
leisure enough from his duties with the Barnum K
Bailey shows to attend many Of the more spec
tacuaT effects in connection with the Dali anu I"
guide the committees to success with their pro-
grdmme printing and advertising lie lel 10 lalh-
ing yesterday afternoon with Tribune reporter
about the ball. and said "No, you are right People
do not know ANYTHING about the amount Of labor
and time bestowed upon these annual festivals OF
the Arion Society ! have had more or less TO 90
with every one from the first, nineteen years ago.
| think it was. In old Madison Square Garden. lhey
have always been held there except the one year
that the place was rebuilding. Then the ball was
given In the Academy OF Music. but 1t was not large
enough. In fact there Is only one place In New
York that Is big enough to accommodate the Aroh
crowds. and that is Madison square Garden lou
will hear all sorts OF estimates about thing OF
it, size. vet there not many people VINO reaZeu
the size Of the crowd this last Arion ball. Inc
J. ''''''
leave 1t at II or Y o'clock and others take their
places and remain till morning. However. II was
very closely estl.nlteI that ijetj people re pres
ont and that there were 900 people in the boxes
seats and on the floor time early IN the
night ,,,.,
WORK or PREPARATION.
The work of preparation is something immense
~ 10 the time required. You sec. everything = III
tho hands Of the club members. They control IL
absolutely and divide the work around among the
various committees In 80 far as possible each I'M
poriaut committee $ headed by an expresd dent OF
IA, club. Of whom there great many, because
of the rule that no man may succeed himself IN
Office he may be elected after u few years have
pas..G but he cannot be a candidate Immediately
for rc-olcc; don Woll there Will bc committee on
priutlne another on decorations. another on floats
and another on finance and then any number Of
sub-co;nmittees Each member does Il little work
and when All that is thus done Individually is Jumped
together II make. the show When the time has
arr we'd all tLo various items Of preparation arc
brought tcgcthor for a dress rehearsal, ana there
VOL are The bali ready to open Tn" Arions
20. nd great d. al Of time and money on their floats
for the procession These are different every year
and l"r'lu lies reason Of the success OF tle en-
t.rfl un.uts There l. always something mover anu
n.u. for the crowd Drawings Tor the various 1odis
are submitted by artists. for IN this any one may
sulrrf a design whether a member OF the society
ar NOT hut IL numbers In is own ranks many ar
lists dos grors md architects. Inc pans as sent III
are carefully gone over hy committees. anu thoSc
accented are sent ont to be- made UP Ia PAPER
machd