New-York tribune., 1901-10-27
EAST SIDE "BALLS."
FLOURISH AND MAKE OR UNMAKE THE
LEADERS OF THAT SECTION.

In nearly every store window on the lower East
Side may be seen placards announcing the dates
and places where balls 70 be held in the sea-
which has already begun, and which lasts until
the latter part of April. Many of these affairs
like the Tammany outing parties in the summer
time, only for pleasure but Tor the
political and pecuniary aid of some person or
society. The man whose name the ball pears Is
known al the standard bearer" He is usually the
head of The association which holds the affair In
theatrical parlance he would he an angel He Is
supposed to meet all financial requirements in case
the pecuniary results become a source OF anxiety
creditors But this seldom happens. as the tick
cts for admission are sold o or 30 cents. and
this price the various storekeepers whom the
members patronize are expected to buy several
tickets. If one fails to do this he Is branded as a
mean man. not worthy Of assistance in his efforts
10 his living. The saloonkeeper and the un-
dertaker generally buy the most tickets. With
them it is a business investment.
Preparation for the ball begins few months
before the affair itself is held. Weekly meetings
are held by the association, at which officers
selected to badges and an air Of importance
and the hiring Of the hall. the printing and other
needful work is delegated TO committees. which
may also wear badges and an air not quite so i'm
portant on the floor. The sum needed 10 pay for
the arrangement is raised by a pro rata subscrip-
tion among the members. For the amount each
gives he receives in its equivalent in tickets
OF course the first thing necessary to make the
regardless Of the number Of people the hall will
hold. Then # is necessary to get crowd to at
tend the ball and to patronize the bar for it is in
the sale Of ager beer that the profits count up
The smaller the number Of dancers the bigger the
thronE around the If the affair draws good
attendance and the bar is well patronized the
sociation gets the hall free Of charge the next
time il wishes TO hold ball
When the receipts counted up after the ball
II often happens that the profits are so large that
each member receives several times the amount
he
There other than monetary in which
these affairs help the standard bearer and the
proves popular il is looked upon tribute 10
their leadership. and they are sought after by
become leutcnants. The leader is not forgotten by
the officials of the bah when il comes to selling
tickets. The oJncr political offceho!ders also sub
nit with smiling ia6e a9i Teady re3ch ntc pocket:
party when election time comes
The standard bearer or the president of the
the ball He has The largest badge, with
the most gold fringe on il. and generally wears
dress suit" ana white starched shirt. His lady
has glad rags that are supposed 70 outshre
movements freely criticised. Sometimes the
criticisms are not Judiciously expressed and
fight enliVens things.
A veteran who has attended many of these
tertainments said that there were more balls being
held each year hut that the fashion TO the dress
be them dying out In former
years. he said. III thought proper to wear
fun dress suit. which could he hired for from -
cents 10 81 N for the ni~ht. but nowadays the in
are few worn now. compared with former years,
Some of the social clubs besides giving balls
hold receptions on Sunday afternoons several times
during the season These "re also popular. There
women organizations, which hold balls under
the OF the LADY Margarets" the sun
Blossoms the ''Trilbys.' etc