The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-01-02
BACHELOR "REMINISCENCES.
From an Humble Beginning Grew the
Big Ball Events.


The Bachelors balls of the present
differ greatly from the modest aspira-
tions of the twenty-one young men
who nine years ago perfected the Bach
elor organization In the office of Mont
rose Barnard in the Grand Army Re
public building. The purpose at that
time was to combine forces and give
several dancing parties each season at
private houses and thus pay social OBJ
legations. The members We're young
men, prominent movers in society,
popular and who We're being constantly
invited to social events in Scranton
homes. Their popularity, however, was
a sort of boomerang as they We're en-
barrassed for some means of returning
the favors shown. So the early Bach
elor plan was hit upon.
The scheme was all right in theory
but it didn't work well in practice, as
it quite naturally followed that in the
first few modest parties some of the
people invited were not corgenial to
the families in whose houses the social
debt affairs were given. The Bachelors
were quick to recognize this and as a
substitute method, the annual balls
were established. And thereby hangs
another tale which led to the present
elaborate subscription plan which has
of course no sembance to the early
purpose of returning social favors.
The expense of the first few balls
was equally divided among the Bachel-
ors, excepting those who had married.
The benedcts We're by rule exempted
from payment. SO many Bachelors en-
tered WedlOck. that when was divided
the cost of the last pro rata ball held
at the Wyoming house in 1893 each of
the few unmarried members left found
themselves taxed $50 apiece for the
satisfaction of giving Scranton's we'll
to-do and best known people and no
end of strangers, q holiday society en-
tertanment. The cost per Bachelor
might have grown ad intin. if in 1894
| the subscription plan had not been
| adopted.
That 1894 ball in the rockingham
was, by the way, arranged with great
| many misgiVingS as to the financial out
| come. 1t was to cost $1,000 and the
| Bachelors had a deficiency in the treas
| ury tC start with but when ii was all
| over the expenses had been made, the
deficiency wiped out and small sum
| netted for a surplus. But what was
| more pleasing, the ball had been most
pronounced social success and it served
to firmly establish the repute of the
Scranton Bachelors bali as an annual
event that is not outdOne for excellence
in any Pennsylvania city.
Encouraged by the big success of the
first subscription, the ball Of New
| Years eve a year ago was given at q
still greater cost and with an increased
| elaboration of arrangements. Its hap
py outcome is still fresh in the minds
of the 500 persons who attended it. Its
cost was religiously guarded, but is be-
lieVed to have been $1,000, and ye
there was a treasury balance. Much OF
the pleasant success of that ball was
due to Chairman II. j, Simpson, of tbs
| Bachelor committee.
Finally comes the bali of last night
splendid, grand, enhancing and mark
ing the course of improy Iment that ha:
run along the line of Ba[helor history
What was done in the earliest Bachelor
days and who did it, are indicated b!