New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-12
THE FIGURES EXAGGERATED.
MONEY SPENT FOR THE MARTIN BALL
NOT ENORMOUS.
FACTS ABOUT THE RENT OF THE HOTEL. SOME
OF THE COSTUMES AND THE DECORATIONS
POLICE EXCEED THEIR POWER.

OF THE COSTUMES AND THE DECORATIONS
POLICE EXCEED THEIR POWER
Now that the Bradley Martin ball IL matter OF
social history. many OF the opinions that were
formed of 1t In advance will have to undergo con-
siderable revision. 1t Is certain that NEST OF the
estimates Of It's cost which were the basis OF much
OF the hostile criticism that was expressed, were
greatly In excess of the real figures. This does not
mean that Mrs Martins ball was not a lavish, even
Il sumptuous affair 1t was undoubtedly complete
in all its appointments. and nothing that could
contribute to the comfort or the pleasure OF the
guests was lacking. But. FOR all that the expenses
OF the affair were not unprecedented. nor. so far as
appears. We're they enormously 'xtravagant. Ihe
estimates of the cost of the ball which appeared in
several newspaper were sufficiently large 10 reach
the point of absurdty one OF these estimates was
100000 another was 10000 still another was $780,
Goa quarter Of . million dollars All Of these esti-
mates plainly far beyond the truth as to
make this contradiction scarcely worth while.
Various wild guesses have been made at the
OF the Of the Waldorf for the ball. As a
matter of fact that cost is known 10 have been
less than 5000. 1t had been predicted that the
supper would be more profuse and more varied
than any before provided for any social func-
ton in this city. a glance at the menu card as
published in Yesterdays Tribune will suffice to
show that, wA.e il was Of an elaborate and ex-
pensve nature. it, like is not unprecedented. The
wines used at the bail were brought b. Mr. Martin
from Europe
Another Of the incidenals OF the ball. whose
cos,liness has been much overestimated. Is the
TUNES These were undoubtedly brilliant and APP
prOpriatc but their Ike I'm many cases at least
has been seen in this country before. II Is known
that some OF them were neither new nor made
especially fox Wednesday nights affair.
Some Of thet1 were borrowed from the singers OF
the Metropolitan Opera House. Others lent
by actors wlO had worn them In various costume
plays. Still others had formed a portion OF the
stock IN tIade of local costumers and fur
b.she W and ,reshencd for the Martin ball 9th
still had been for the first time long
~ Mr.. William K Vanderbilt, fancy dress
ball IN 1889.
The bin for carriage hire too could not have
been nearly .argc it is said be in
tn" cxtravagan. estimates mentioned. Many II
not majority. Of tho guests both came to and
departed frcm the Waldorf in they own equ.-
pages. Again. the actual number Of guests In at
tendance was considerably less than that
nouncel I'm the oXtravagant estimates: and finally
tho floral decorations. aside from the extent Of the
space upon which they were bes.oweJ. were not
OF a characte' to involve enormous expense They
were faithfully described In yesterdays Tribune,
ana were seen to be tasteful and dainty and deli
cate throughout. but neither profuse nor heavy
nor especially rare.
Complaints have been made TO The Tribune. ana
are current in the city that the police arrange
mens for the Martin ball such to
much unreasonable annoyance TO pedestrians whose
engagements took them near the Waldorf
Wednesday night II appears that at about the
time the guests began TO arrive the crowd near the
hotel became 50 great that the police established
a Gordon across the Ffth-ave. end OF Thirty-thirl
ST. and across the west end Of the thor
oughfare near Broadway ana that thereafter they
allowed pedestrians to pass except those who
lived ir the hotel This naturally worked much
hardship those who lived in that block or
who's business took thern through the street There
seems to be no reason in tho world why the mere
fact OF "A private ball being held in the Waldorf
should justify the police in closing the street to
pedeStriaTs
The present Police Board has recently obtained
for its uses the full quota OF policemen 1t would
have been easy to provide Tor the presence OF a
sufficient number OF officers to keep the crowds
moving 50 that the walks should not become OBJ
structed bur appears Iaat even s9mc OF ths
practically to fight for permission to enter what
was for the time being their home There can
deed the police seem have thoroughly misunder-
stood their duties. gone beyond their authority ana
completely mismanaged their task
Earle? in the evening, before the police AT the
Waldorf demonstrated their nctfC iency Policeman
Jctzucr. of the West Thirtieth-st. station. was
making a show of himself in front or the housr OF
W Scaerrerhorn. No 70 West Twenty-third-st
Mrs. ScheImer:)rn was giving q costume dinner
for some friends wo were II attend the bal! later
and there was an awning on the walk In front OF
their carriages Frank Wafren of No 2.52s Madi-
sOn-ave.. arrested by JctZner for alleged as
ing In jefferson Marke; Court Yesterday morning
the policeman said Walfren walked PACK ana forth
under tn. awning several times. Magistrate Simms
told JetZacr he had right 10 arrest the prisoner
"C'itizens have right to use the sidewalks, pro
vided they do no. obstrUct them" he said The
only thing you should have done was to remove the
awrrng II had business ObStructlng travel
without a permit. Discharge the prisoner