The San Francisco call., 1897-01-26
MORE USE OF
{ THE BLACK BALL
The Ebell Society Has a
Secret Committee of
Three.
One Member Says the Club Has
"Ultra.FaShionabIes" and
"Ordinaries."
President Bunnell Is Charged With
Being an Autocrat, Which Her
Friends Deny.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN FRANCISCO GALL, |
QA9 Rrnadwav Ian. 25.

OAKLAND OFFICE SAN FRANCISCO CALL,
908 Broadway, Jan. 70. }
The fashionable Ebell Society is serl-
oUsly disturbed over the secret use OF little
black balls. The beautiful Grecian tenn pie
at Thirteenth and Harrison streets that
was dedicated with much eclat about three
months ago is now the scene OF factlona1
war, the cause of which is so much at
variance with the objects for which the
society was formed that the efforts OF the
members are about equally divided be-
tween unfolding their end of the contro-
Eersy and trying to prevent the details
Ifrom becoming known outside OF the
charmed circle.
a short time since it was decided to in
crease the mem bership from 800 10 400,
and sufficient number of applications
we're received to make the list complete,
but, although several applicants were in
every way worthy of becoming memb bers
so far as their fitness to discuss higher
subjects" is concerned, they were quietly
blackballed by a mysterious committee Of
three, whose identity is being very care
fully concealed.
Mrs. Alice w. Bunnell, the president of
the society, names one lady, who appoints
TWO more, and these three constitute the
committee which passes on the names OF
all applicants. The president refuses 10
dIvulge their names and preserves dignl-
fed silence that is very exasperating to
those who have been Inundated by the
use OF the little ebony balls. There was q
time when all the members OF the Ebell
Society were not nursed in the lap of lux
ury, and the feeling is.manifested that
there is a desire on the part OF what one
lady calls the Ultra iashionables to trown
upon the "ordInaries. Acting on this
idea the intellectual feature Of the club has
been subordinated to tae social side and
the outcome is in doubt
What tTanspires within the society
does not belong 0 the public" said Mrs
Buunell to-day. at appears that some
one is inclined to think that have made
myself an autoCfat of The society, because
/ refused to divulge the names of the COM
mittee. 1 have nothing to say in regard
II The entire matter, for believe that this
is question which concerns the society,
and not the public"
One of the leading members OF the
Eoeil, who has been on the roll since it
first started, gave the following synopsis
of The situation this evening: The start
Of the whole matter" sne said, Twas when
the leaders tried to outdress each other.
There are many members who could not
afford to follow the fashion, and conse-
.quently it as very apparent that the
Acluo would soon be transformed into
\ Very exclusive fashionable society. On
1.-THE roll are many schoolteschers and
ladies who maintain themselves. In the
intellectual debates these ladies take
prominent part, and do mol seem TO be
liked for doing so. This investigating
committee OF three is all wrong, ana mem
bership should be limited only by the
will of the club as expressed by major
ity vote.
Then, again, there is too much gossip
at the lunches in the clubrooms, and the
Service is abominable Covers are some
times prepared for 100, and twice that
number is invited. Then there is a
scramble for. seats, and only two attend
ants are there to do the waiting.
This secret committee, appointed by
the president, has the fate of every lady