New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-23
THE BRADLEY MARTIN BALI
DIR. TRANSPORTS CRITICISM or LAvrsu
EXPENDITURE.

TUITION IN THE CITY.
For some days New-York society has been eaxsr,x
discussing the fancy dress ball which is TO be given
on February 10 by Mrs Bradley Martin. who has "a
often and sumptuously entertained both In this
country and abroad. The interest In this forth
coming ball Is based upon the impression which pre-
walls that in point Of lavish expense and superbness
of appointments II is likely to rival the famous bail
given in 1883 by Mrs. w. X. Vanderbilt. Mrs
O. r. =. Belmont at the house at Fifty-second-st
and Fifth-ave. That ball the talk Of the coun.
try for some time. and Of society for even longer
time vet and II has probably rot been epualled nv
anything Of It's kind since.
Mrs Bradley Martins ball Is TO he held according
TO the invitations. at No. ~ West Thirty
which Is the home OF George &. Bodt. the pro-
pretor Of the Waldorf. The ball will be In the arrs
ballroom while practically all of the second floor
Of the hotel will he given over to the euer's Of the
evening Mrs Bradley Martin. in sending out her
Invitations gave considerable scope within which
her guests may choose their costumes. mentioning
the sixteenth seventeenth and eighteenth centuries
and for some days there has been going on ran
sacking OF libraries and art galleries for od-fash.
toned portraits, while fashionable dressmakers
have had their hands full In filling the orders tina,
have come to them.
At such a time. when New-York society Is on the
tip-toe OF expectancy such gorgeous and lux
urlous spectacular function the utterance Of The
Rev Dr. Rainsford. rector OF St. Georges Protes.
ferences and the things that tend to widen the
breach between the rich and the poor has created
general interest DR. Ransford. as Is well known.
the rector Of of the most fashionable churches
I'm the city, and his congregation includes some ~
NETWORKS wealthiest citizens also. among them
being j. Pierpont Morgan. ST. Georges Church IL
also the centre Of much OF the charitable and
benevolent work that is done among the poor Of the
lower East Side and DR.. Rainsford has always been
among the foremost in this sort OF endeaVor WHAT
he has to say therefore. on the subject OF the con-
ditons of the poor has especial weight
The immediate cause Of DR. Rainsford's re-
cent utterance upon this subject appears 10 have
been the coming Bradley Martin ball. although the
rectors remarks were of a general nature.
When asked II 1t true that he had ADVISED
several Of his parishoners not TO attend the bal.
DR. Rainsford admitted that he had done so. not
that he had any particular objection 10 the that
function. but that he considered that the present
was not the proper time for the display Of great
wealth In any form OF entertainment. He declared
| that much Of the population OF this country Is
now CRYING out against the existing social cond
tions. and that the useless display OF wealth simply
! aggravated the situation.
WHAT DIR. RAINsFORD SAID
IT am not singular In this belief" said DR. Rains
ford; within few days have heard many prom
inent people, both in society and in the professional
and business circles say the same thing. II was
only last November that several millions Of our fel
low-citizens indicated their disbelief in the benef
cence of the social conditions under which we live.
It is useless to deny 1t. IT is true ard those MILL
ions still discontinued to-day however little We
may like to believe it. The lines between those
who have wealth and those who look at them with
envy drawn more rigidy in this coun-
| try than they are drawn to-day. IL is my belief.
and l know that many agree with me. that In
| times like these. when misery is widespread and
poverty is at the doors of so many. lavish expend-
itures Of money on social forms Of amusement arc
much Of place for the reason that they draw at
tention the growing gulf that separates the rich
and the poor and serve to increase the discomfort
of the latter useessly 1t is such affairs these
that give to demagogues tho texts for their
MONS
do not understand me TO say that do not be-
lieve In social entertainments In brilliant social
entertainments. I do believe in them. but think
the display should he moderate especially in such
times as these. believe il to be deplorabe thing
to do anything that will emphasize the poverty o,
the poor or augment their discomfort.
1T is hardly to the point 10 say that expenditures
OF this do good by setting money in circulation
and giving work TO the unemployed inasmuch as al.
most all the money paid for a lavish social func-
ton goes to wealthy costumers and florists and other
well-to-do merchants OF that sort The meat OF the
matter IS that in time of general depression with
poverty all too prevalent. 1t is unwse give social
| reformers and woud-be revouonists any handle FOR
| their fanatical efforts"
MR.. MARTIN RETICENT
Bradley Martin yesterday afternoon said thar ne
| had no reply to make to DR.. Rainsford He politely
declined 10 discuss the matter further than 70 say
that newspaper controversies and disputes were
TO his liking and were at best extremely undgnlned
number OF society people who spoken to
| gardlng the remarks attributed 10 Or. Rainsfod
| were unwilling to speak for publication. Many
and women in polite society appear 10 think that Mr.
and Mrs Martin in projecting so large and laborae
an entertainment. intend not only give pleasure
their friends but contribute something toward the
various industries In New-York and the neghboring
Cities Mr.. and Mrs Martins guests will not repre-
sent New-York society alone Invitations 10 the
tune ball have been sent TO every man and woman
at present their visiting list,
IL IS fact that when Mrs. Martin mentioned 70
some Of her old friends in society that She Intended
giving a, costume ball. she advised to abandon
we notion ana to give a smart ball and supper hut
Mrs Martin has ideas Of her own and she usually
asserts them in one form or other
MI ana MIS-. Bradley Martins have achieved their
SID" prominence through succession OF mag
hihcent entertainments dinners musicals and one
couoh dinner. which the most gorgeous en-
tertanment OF the winter of 1890 II took place at
Delmonicos There 80 guests at dinner
"hich was served in the ballroom which afterward
WIS cleared for the dance. The fayors in the
co'iiioh and the flowers alone are said TO have
cost over $1,000 Mr.. and Mrs. Martin, at A series
OF dinner parties given by them at their home In
West Twenteth-st. years ago had for the
! tertainment OF their guests Nine. Emma Eames
Mile. Marie Van Zandt and VI. Edouard de- Reszks
LOT OF COMMENT STIRRED Up
| DR.. Ransfords words stirred up a deal OF re-
mark throughout the city and many and diverse
were the opinions expressed upon the subject. The
| Rev. Henry r.. Cobb OF the Collegiate Church
Seventy -seventh-st. and West End-ave. said: =
| doubt IL Mrs Bradley Martins fancy dress ball
| will tend to widen the breach between the rich ana
| the poor and deplore personalities In matte'
| OF this sort, but / much against the "an'on
waste OF money in these hard times and IN tne
face OF the poor / agree with Or. Rainsiord '"~'
| such extravaganza is wicked. but | should con-
denim no one instance OF IL in particular SIN"
| ply make the statement as a general proposition
The Rev. DR.. Madison c. Peters. or the bioo"''"s