The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1899-05-20
AUSTRIAN SOCIETY BALL
Novel Methods OF Raising Money for
the Asstrian Peor OF the CITY
Of New York.

In the popular mind there has always
existed an idea that the ordinary
church fair. with its various enticing
suares for the MAJ with a pockgtbook,
could carry of the palm al any time for
separating 4 ina from bis money,
There is. however, an institution that
can give the church fair cards and
spades and all the casinos OF half a
dozen packs and then roll up a score in
the treasury that win make the church
fairs receipts look almost literally
like 30 cents" That Is the Austrian
Singing society Of this city.
This organization has given, ii is
said. 10 or 20 annual balls for sweet
charity in this city The proceeds 40
to the Austrian poor. hu, a man who
watches u Of these affairs is inclined
10 think that all the Austrian poor must
soon become rich unless they spend a
great deal Of money. Atleast, that was
the conclusion one man reached who
attended the annual ball Of the society
at the Grand Central palace last Tues
day night. 4 sort Of village govern
ment that had been previously chosen
in some way, presided over the affair.
There was a burlesque mayor, who sat
in an Office in a burlesque town hall;
there was a fat, jolly friar who had his
headquarters conveniently near TO the
dancing space, and there were consta-
bles, village policemen, and other Of
feers and limbs Of the law scattered
around in the crowds Of villagers.
When the grand march was over they
began their work OF collecting.
The friar had perhaps the most in
teresting job of all. When ayoung man
among the dancers wants a partner he
asks:
Miss Blank, are you married?"
Now. the girl can't get out Of the
coming matrimonial complication in
any way. II she says that she is mar
ried and can show a gift ring on her
finger the young sutton Immediately
suggests that she obtain a divorce. As
the new sutton will pay all the expenses
of this legal freedom, the pair wend
their way to the priest.
He is ready for them.
"A divorce, eh?" he asks in German
or dialect. THAT Is good. The church
forbids it, but there are ways to over
come the difficulty. Let me break the
ring that you wear"
The girl hands the gilt ring to the
priest, who Immediately breaks it, and
then having collected ten cents from
the young man p%ronounces the girl
free TO marry again. This ceremony he
performs for ten cents more and the
pair go away and joint the dancers in a
waltz or a polka mazurka.
The burlesque policemen are even
more vigiiant and grasping. They act
like Russian spies hunting for an
archists. No conversation in a quiet
corner escapes their ears. II they hear
a man addressing his companion by her
first name they Immediately arrest the
man and take him to the mayor on the
charge OF some crime that TO an or
binary observer appears rs terrible as
lese majestic. The mayor hears the evil
dence for a few minutes and then in
yariably sentences the criminal 10 pay
q fine of ten or twenty cents, according
TO the enormity of the offense.
These policemen also keep a watch
ful eye on the smoking-rooms and other
points where the Indifferent dancers
congregate. No man who Is smoking u
cigar that isn't Of the brand that is
sold at the society's cigar stand Is safe
from the law. Such al offense costs tho
ignorant or daring smoker a-heavy fine.
One thing that attracts a strangers
attention is sprig OF wheat that every
one wears. One OF the dancers ex-
planned II all.
Everyone" he said, has TO wear one
Of those sprigs, which he has to buy. II
you are caught without one you are
not a true Austrian, and you are liable
TO instant arrest and heavy fine. You'd
better buy one right over there now.
Hurry up. There comes the constable
The stranger bought one and hurried
out, thanking his stars that he had car
fare left.-N. Y. Sun.