The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-01-28
THE BALL A GOOD THING
INDIANAPOLIS WOMEN COMMENT ON
THE BRADLEY-MARTIN FUNCTION.
Expenditure of Half q Million on So
lavish a Scale Will Benefit
Many People.

Now that the good dominic of New York
has censured the quarter-million dollar
fancy-dress ball, TO be given by
Mrs. Bradley-Martin, in New York. and has
thereby secured notoriety for a few days,
the whole feminine country is talking of
the affair. Some expressions have been OBJ
tanned from indianapolis women. Mrs. May
Wright Sewall says she never troubles her
self about the way rich people spend their
money. She thinks it is much better to
have them spend it than to hoard il.
1T is much better to spend a quarter of a
million dollars for an innocent pleasure like
a party than for a war ship, which is only
to KILL" said she, to a reporter. Il am
very glad that there are people who have
that much to spend. 1t perhaps may be
that the people who are invited TO the ball
will have to do some studying In history,
and that will not hurt them. A little study
may even be of benefit TO them. The money
expended will not simply go to the head
of the house providing for the different de-
partments for the ball. The criticism was
made by Dr.. Rainsford that the people who
were patronized by the ball guests
already had enough money. If
all OF the men who are de-
pendent on their business for a large in
come should cease to have business, they
would not long have their income. The
people to be patronized for the ball may
be rich, but if all of their business should
stop, their wealth would soon be dispersed.
1t is not only the head of Il business that
is to be benefited by the ball, but all who
work for him. The modistes have their
employees, even to the apprentices; all the
people who furnish the refreshments, 10 the
far-away places where the food is first
bought; the carriage men and their en-
ployes: the vast army of people in the no.
tel; the florists and all will contribute their
work for the ball and receive enumeration
There are always people ready to criticise
your manner of spending money, but L
hold that no one has a. right TO know how
1 spend my money except myself and my
creditors, if L have any. To spend the
money even for so short a pleasure as a
fancy-dreSs party is better than to give it
away. Mrs. Bradley-Martin is not only
TO spend a quarter of a million, but the
thousand or more guests whom she has in
vited will spend their money. and so the
good of such an event and the money it
will put in circulation will go a great
ways"
Mrs. l.. H.. Levey said that she was glad
there were people who could give such
events in this country, that she thought the
spending of so great a sum was a greater
good than in giving ii away in a few big
donations. Some people say that Mrs.
Bradley-Martin might give that money TO
the poor. She might give 1T To the poor
to-day and there would be just as many
poor line themselves up for help tomorrow.
TO put the money in circulation, whereby
the people who received any share OF it
would earn it. was much better than to give
1T outright, where its value and the gift
would not be appreciated. Mrs. Levey
thinks it is better to let people earn what
they get than to give it to them.
Mrs w. r. Brown was inclined to Mrs.
Levey's opinion and would encourage fine
entertaining where people have the money
to do IL with. To give away the whole
sum or even large parts of it ~ould not
benefit so generally as such Il party as the
one under way.
One woman. who entertains handsomely.
every week if she could. She could not
give il on so grand a scale as Mrs. Bradley
Martin was going to do. but she would
spend all she could every time she enter
tanned.
Another said that people always criticised
| panies, and there were always Kind friends
who would repeat TO her any criticism they
heard. She thought that even with her
ways entertain her friends TO the best OF
her ability and TO the limit of her pocket
book, because the people she invited to her
house she thought enough of TO do that.
Mrs. IL. c. Sewall said that she approved
of such social events ana thought that it
was better TO spend n quarter OF a million
| dollars. which would be shed broadcast enc
do good in many ways than 10 buy some
! Jewel or picture for merely selfish reasons.
In giving the ball, Mrs. Bradley-Martin was
giving pleasure to a thousand people. and
that many more were receiving the benefit
of her money.
One lady said that she. for one, was glad
that the ball was going TO be given, for
she likes TO read about such fine things
and that she hoped the papers would have
a full description of the whole thinS. For
her part. pink teas. weddings with Bride
roses. and receptions with a single kind
of flowers in each room, was fine for lnui-
annapolis. but orchids and satin hangings
and gold plates and gorgeous gowns and
Jewels would be very nice TO read about
and discuss. She thought Mrs. Bradley.
Martin a public benefactor, and that she
should really be called the Lady Bounti-
full"
There does not seem TO be a bit of doubt
but what Mrs. Bradley-Martin viii
nave the full approval and consent Of
many of the people in Indianapolis in giving
the ball.