Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-08-08
THE CHARITY BALL
And How a Newspaper Man
Saw 1t.
CASEY WOULD WALTZ WITH
Upstairs While Downstairs It's Gimme
Three Beers"-The Strains of
Home Sweet Home."

It was o'clock a. m. Graveyards had
already yawned and gone to sleep, but
hell continued to breathe out contagion.
A charity masquerade ball was yet in
progress, The music was engaged until
4 and the bar privilege sold for the night.
The scores of dull editors and bright
reporters had given perfection to the
papers service and deserted the editorial
rooms. The Goals in the big base burn
ers were going to sleep in their ashen
coats and but dim outline of the office
holdings could be seen. A lazy Sleepy
copy boy dozed on the chief tripod, rath
err than arouse himself and go home, and
diminishing rats were accommodating
with purpose to attack the paste pot.
Down stairs an array of carriers, far
too vast to find accommodations in the
counting room filed the street before
the office, drew their coats close about
their threats, jostled each other and
stamped their feet upon the ice-like pave
ment, awaiting their turns in the circu-
lation quarters
In the press rooms the dozen immense
machines were moving at their utmost
speed delivering 1856, 900 copies of S4-page
papers per minute, folded ready for
breakfast, while in the counting room
the little man a the head of the city cir
culation was in turn reading the morn
ing news and counting out the 20, 130, 900
Sunday circulation.
Not it is evident that this story is not
local.
Hackmen were having a good time of
1t. They were in constant demand, and
the wheels of their carriages kept up a
constant thunder, as attendants upon the
ball were whirled through the streets to
their beds for the night. Some of the
inmates were singing, others dreaming
and still others too stupefled to speak,
think or dream. AS rule, the men were
incapacitated for speech, action or more
beer. Their fair companions gave the
number and the streets.
A man was seen to emerge from the
office of a great newspaper. He was well
wrapped For a moment he paused in
front of the building, then started to
look at his watch, but he paused again.
The loan office was closed
at must be about 8. The music will
go until A. 1 will see the last hour" he
said, and, thrusting his hands in his
pockets, he struck lively gait down the
street.
He met many masqueraders on his
way. Most of them were In merry
moods. Some were bosterous and reel
ing on the street. Women were support
ing and steering men, some their hus-
bands some their sweethearts and some
drunken men and women. He passed a
dozen groups where women were begging
the men to proceed homeward, but were
generally powerless against the effect of
too much beer.
TT must be sloppy, now" commented
the newspaper man as he pushed
through the masses.
Finally he neared the building. The
music was audible, but accompanied by
roar of human voices, such as the rab-
BILE make when coming upon the stage
to seize the hero or some tyrannical rul-
err, as the case may be. Everybody
seemed to be singing, speaking and ap-
plauding campaign orator at the same
time.
AS he entered big masquerade
bawled out: "Ca-a shy d walsh-wis'
a strawbury-." The song was not con-
tinued. 1t was concluded with a finale
in the charact of an Indian war whoop
that shook the ball room and provoked
storm of yells and laughter from the
other half-drunken dancers
The applause pleased the big singer,
and he seized a girl who was with an
other fellow, placed her arm upon his
own shoulder and
promenade ALL" he shrieked.
She was pulled from her perch by her
former partner, the boisterous masquer-
ader laughed, and in moment was lost
in the crowd, which was moving mass
of drunken men, women, boys and girls.
The galleries were deserted. Those
who came eagerly to witness The charity
ball on mardi gras night had more than
satisfied their desire long since and gone
home. All who were left were there for
fun. The only occupants of the vast
galleries were q few scattered couples
who were perched far back. and there,
well stupefied, they gazed in maudlin
way upon the whirl of bright costumes
below, and locked in each others arms
made love as their passion dictated
Brain had fallen dead in mad charges
against the bar, and even passion was
well nigh MORALLY wounded. The gal
lery occupants are not there now. They
either stayed all night or were carted
away by persons less drunk.
"Why, are you here YETI? the news
man said with surprise, addressing a
pretty figure in gay costume which ne
recognized and with whom he had danced
early in the forenight.
She was a mere child, perhaps II, who
was innocent and well brought up. She
had prepared her costume with great
care. and upon the assurance that the
charity ball would be properly conducted
she had secured permission to attend I'M
til midnight, and for many days mad an
ticipated the affair with delight.
II thought you were at home long ago
Come take this dance with me-" con-
tinued her newspaper friend, and he
drew her away from the Keeling fellow
with whom she was.
"Ain't it nish," the poor girl said, with
a laugh almost hysterical. The news
man stopped dancing, and his arm fell
from about her. He realized with horror
that she had been drinking. In an in
slant they were dancing again.
Say. femme tell you," the girl began
again, II had three beers tonight. oh,
never had as much fun i'm my life" and
she laughed again and squeezed her