The sun., 1896-10-17
MINOR CHARITY Balls.
A Variety or Objects for Which They Are
Given in tho Public Halls of New York.

"A variety OF ohJecta Tor " hich Ihey Are
Given in tho Public Halls OF New York.
The big balls OF the winter season. eliminating
on Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras. are for char
liable purposes usuaily-for a hospital fund. tho
benevolent fund Of n fraternal society. the
maintenance OF sick beds or sick fund or some
similar benevolent object. The charity balls"
OF the minor order, which are less often heard
about and the season for which is just now be-
ginning. have q somewhat similar design. and
only those familiar with the undercurrents OF
lite in New York come to be acquainted with
the way in which they are gotten up and the
uses TO which the proceeds are applied.
There are in town more than two hundred
halls having what is known as a bar and hat
room attachment. These halls in the poorer
parts OF town in which rents are light and space
is not much in demand. Connected with each
hall. either down stairs, below tpe hall. or in
front OF II, is n saloon, and the hal! owner main
tains the hall AS Il sort OF annex 10 the saloon.
The rent OF the hall is nominal five or ten dol
lars. Sometimes 1t is less, If there is what is
free conditional upon the guarantee Of pur-
chases OF a certain amount at the bar or the Civ
sell drinks to the patrons TO the proprie-
tor. such halls are rented usually by
cal organizations. at other times of pol,-
ical organizations. but most frequently
committees got together FOR the purpose In
the price OF tickets Of admttance is twenty
five cents. and the price OF hat checks. n neCes-
sRry condition Of entrance. is twenty-five cents
additional. bringing the total price up to half a
dollar for each male patron. the female patrons
being free. The hall owner derives his profit
from the bar. and the only expenses attendant
upon the giving OF such charity bail are two
in mum nber-the music which must be paid for
in cash and the printing Of the tickets.
Where an individual well known and popular
in neighborhood is accused OF some crime
and his legal defence requires n sum OF money
which ne is unable TO supply. II is no uncommon
tuinC for his friends to get together and give a
ball the proceeds Of which are devoted, as the
tickets declare. TO the payment Of his legal eX-
pen>cs. The gctttu. UP OF = petition for the
pardon or the Communication Of the sentence OF
man in prison is frequently the object OF
charity ball. The family OF man killed IN an
accident benefits sometimes from such ball:
the relief fund OF an organization or union on
strike for higher wages or against a reduction
gets the proceeds OF a ball and the money
raised BY such devices amounts often to
several hundred dollars. as the expenses
nre light and the opportunities of enjoyment
are considerable Tickets are now being sold
throughout town for a ball designed to secure
the pardon OF a well-known man. whose name
has frequently and quite recently appeared in
THE SIN. Many OF those who knew him be-
lievc that the penalty imposed upon him for an
assault was unduly rigorous. and have been
selling tickets for charity BALI OF this kind,
| the proceeds to be used for the legal prelimin-
| aries incident TO n request for his pardon.
The season Of charity balls Is now on. 1t Is at
| Its height on the night preceding Thanksgiving