1 00:00:01,320 --> 00:00:04,280 Speaker 1: Welcome to Stuff You Missed in History Class, a production 2 00:00:04,400 --> 00:00:14,040 Speaker 1: of iHeartRadio. Hello, and welcome to the podcast. I'm Holly 3 00:00:14,120 --> 00:00:15,680 Speaker 1: Frye and I'm Tracy B. 4 00:00:15,800 --> 00:00:16,200 Speaker 2: Wilson. 5 00:00:17,120 --> 00:00:21,200 Speaker 1: So I finally started watching and quickly got all up 6 00:00:21,200 --> 00:00:22,360 Speaker 1: to speed on The Gilded Age. 7 00:00:22,560 --> 00:00:26,280 Speaker 2: I still haven't watched it. There's only two seasons right now, 8 00:00:26,320 --> 00:00:29,840 Speaker 2: so it's pretty easy to blaze through it. Yeah. I 9 00:00:30,040 --> 00:00:31,840 Speaker 2: binged it all very quickly, in the course of like 10 00:00:31,920 --> 00:00:35,360 Speaker 2: a week. It is as spectacular as everyone says. Thus 11 00:00:35,440 --> 00:00:37,680 Speaker 2: the binging, and it put me in mind of a 12 00:00:37,720 --> 00:00:40,120 Speaker 2: topic that I've had on my list for a minute, 13 00:00:40,120 --> 00:00:44,120 Speaker 2: and that is the Bradley Martin ball. This ball happened 14 00:00:44,120 --> 00:00:47,280 Speaker 2: in the years following what's been going on in The 15 00:00:47,320 --> 00:00:50,400 Speaker 2: Gilded Age for anyone that's watching, and it probably, although 16 00:00:50,400 --> 00:00:53,239 Speaker 2: who knows, falls too late on the timeline for the 17 00:00:53,320 --> 00:00:56,400 Speaker 2: show to get into it in any upcoming seasons. I've 18 00:00:56,440 --> 00:01:00,080 Speaker 2: also debated about doing one on Lord McAllister, but I 19 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:02,800 Speaker 2: I just don't know if I want to. I mean, 20 00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:05,520 Speaker 2: he's fabulously interesting, but a lot of people have covered 21 00:01:05,560 --> 00:01:08,280 Speaker 2: him in a lot of ways, so that's really more 22 00:01:08,319 --> 00:01:12,320 Speaker 2: of the hold up there than anything else. But the 23 00:01:12,319 --> 00:01:15,280 Speaker 2: Bradley Martin Ball, which has not been on the show, 24 00:01:15,319 --> 00:01:16,600 Speaker 2: and I don't know if it will make it there, 25 00:01:16,600 --> 00:01:19,319 Speaker 2: because it happens I feel like a decade after. What's 26 00:01:19,360 --> 00:01:23,360 Speaker 2: going on in the main plot right now. Is sometimes 27 00:01:23,400 --> 00:01:26,760 Speaker 2: referred to as the last big moment of the Gilded Age, 28 00:01:26,880 --> 00:01:31,039 Speaker 2: and it was very ostentatious. This event sparked so much 29 00:01:31,120 --> 00:01:35,039 Speaker 2: debate and in some ways ridicule about it. Some people 30 00:01:35,040 --> 00:01:37,560 Speaker 2: have said helped usher in the crumbling of New York's 31 00:01:37,600 --> 00:01:42,039 Speaker 2: Victorian era society culture and it being considered really important. 32 00:01:42,520 --> 00:01:45,440 Speaker 2: But before we get into the details of this historic ball, 33 00:01:45,560 --> 00:01:48,080 Speaker 2: we're going to start by talking briefly about its hosts, 34 00:01:48,480 --> 00:01:51,320 Speaker 2: Bradley and Cornelia Martin, and the social scene of New 35 00:01:51,400 --> 00:01:55,720 Speaker 2: York at the end of the nineteenth century. Bradley Martin 36 00:01:55,920 --> 00:01:59,880 Speaker 2: was born December eighteenth, eighteen forty one, in Albany, New York. 37 00:02:00,440 --> 00:02:03,720 Speaker 2: His parents were Anne Townshend Martin and Henry Hull Martin. 38 00:02:04,440 --> 00:02:07,440 Speaker 2: Henry was a prominent banker and both he and Anne 39 00:02:07,480 --> 00:02:11,000 Speaker 2: were from old money. They were very active in Albany's 40 00:02:11,040 --> 00:02:15,840 Speaker 2: wealthy social scene. Bradley attended Union University in Albany and 41 00:02:15,919 --> 00:02:19,120 Speaker 2: served with the Union in the US Civil War was 42 00:02:19,160 --> 00:02:22,600 Speaker 2: a first lieutenant in the National Guard's ninety third Regiment. 43 00:02:23,400 --> 00:02:27,480 Speaker 1: In eighteen sixty nine, Martin married Cornelia Sherman. His brother 44 00:02:27,639 --> 00:02:30,800 Speaker 1: Frederick Townshend. Martin described the two meeting in his book 45 00:02:30,840 --> 00:02:34,400 Speaker 1: Things I Remember This Way quote. My brother Bradley married 46 00:02:34,400 --> 00:02:38,040 Speaker 1: Miss Cornelia Sherman on January twenty sixth, eighteen sixty nine. 47 00:02:38,639 --> 00:02:41,400 Speaker 1: He had made her acquaintance at the wedding of Elliott Shepherd, 48 00:02:41,440 --> 00:02:43,880 Speaker 1: who was then acting as aide de camp to Governor 49 00:02:43,919 --> 00:02:47,640 Speaker 1: Reuben Fenton. Miss Sherman was one of the bride'smaids, and 50 00:02:47,720 --> 00:02:49,919 Speaker 1: my brother fell in love at first sight with the 51 00:02:50,040 --> 00:02:54,760 Speaker 1: charming girl. Bradley became a very successful lawyer, and he 52 00:02:54,800 --> 00:02:58,800 Speaker 1: amassed quite a nice fortune. And then when Cornelia's father died, 53 00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:01,840 Speaker 1: he left a great deal of money that was actually 54 00:03:01,840 --> 00:03:03,560 Speaker 1: something of a surprise. No one knew he had as 55 00:03:03,639 --> 00:03:06,000 Speaker 1: much money as he did, but it made the Martins 56 00:03:06,040 --> 00:03:10,160 Speaker 1: extremely rich. In eighteen eighty one, the Martins started living 57 00:03:10,200 --> 00:03:15,079 Speaker 1: a multi national life. They leased the estate of Balmacan, 58 00:03:15,320 --> 00:03:18,800 Speaker 1: on the shores of Scotland's Loch Ness. This was a 59 00:03:18,840 --> 00:03:21,880 Speaker 1: haven for wealthy guests who visited the Martins for the 60 00:03:21,960 --> 00:03:26,000 Speaker 1: hunting season, and they enjoyed Balmacon's twenty eight thousand acre 61 00:03:26,120 --> 00:03:30,679 Speaker 1: deer forest. Bradley Martin's New York Times obituary said that 62 00:03:30,720 --> 00:03:34,960 Speaker 1: the Martin's routinely had as many as seventy guests staying 63 00:03:34,960 --> 00:03:38,680 Speaker 1: with them in Scotland, as well as those guests staff. 64 00:03:39,320 --> 00:03:42,520 Speaker 1: This estate was described in the US papers as quote 65 00:03:42,560 --> 00:03:46,200 Speaker 1: an irregular pile of buildings. Yeah, every time you see 66 00:03:46,200 --> 00:03:48,080 Speaker 1: someone write about it, they're kind of like, this is 67 00:03:48,240 --> 00:03:51,760 Speaker 1: interesting in the way that they don't don't want to 68 00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:54,920 Speaker 1: describe it as like a weird mess. The Martin's daughter, 69 00:03:55,040 --> 00:03:58,440 Speaker 1: Cornelia Martin, married the Earl of Craven, and that connected 70 00:03:58,440 --> 00:04:02,120 Speaker 1: the family to London society. While the groom brought a 71 00:04:02,160 --> 00:04:05,640 Speaker 1: title to the marriage, Cornelia brought the money her father 72 00:04:05,800 --> 00:04:08,680 Speaker 1: gave her seventy five thousand dollars a year as an 73 00:04:08,720 --> 00:04:12,800 Speaker 1: allowance once she was married. This also connected the Martin 74 00:04:12,840 --> 00:04:15,880 Speaker 1: family to London's social scene, and that gave their state 75 00:04:16,000 --> 00:04:21,080 Speaker 1: side standing in society a boost. To contextualize the Bradley 76 00:04:21,160 --> 00:04:24,760 Speaker 1: Martin Ball of eighteen ninety seven, we first need to 77 00:04:24,800 --> 00:04:29,840 Speaker 1: talk about patriarch's balls. This was essentially a system set 78 00:04:29,920 --> 00:04:34,359 Speaker 1: up by the infamous society arbiter, Ward McAllister, and many 79 00:04:34,400 --> 00:04:38,320 Speaker 1: of the wealthiest old money families of New York. So 80 00:04:38,600 --> 00:04:43,840 Speaker 1: think people like the Astors, the Van Rensselers, Livingstons, and Shermerhorns. 81 00:04:44,680 --> 00:04:45,839 Speaker 1: These balls had. 82 00:04:45,720 --> 00:04:49,080 Speaker 2: The stipulation that each of the patriarch families had to 83 00:04:49,120 --> 00:04:52,600 Speaker 2: invite five men and four women to the ball as 84 00:04:52,640 --> 00:04:56,640 Speaker 2: a means of establishing New York society. And then it's 85 00:04:56,680 --> 00:05:00,360 Speaker 2: from this group that Ward McAllister developed his list of 86 00:05:00,400 --> 00:05:03,799 Speaker 2: the four hundred, that was the people he deemed worthy 87 00:05:03,880 --> 00:05:07,799 Speaker 2: to be considered New York High society. The Martins attended 88 00:05:07,800 --> 00:05:10,960 Speaker 2: their first Patriarchs Ball in eighteen eighty three, and soon 89 00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:14,000 Speaker 2: they were on ramped into the high society. As the 90 00:05:14,080 --> 00:05:18,080 Speaker 2: old names were increasingly commingled with new ones. The four Hundred, 91 00:05:18,240 --> 00:05:21,800 Speaker 2: as they were called, were accustomed to very opulent gatherings, 92 00:05:22,200 --> 00:05:25,000 Speaker 2: and while the Bradley Martin Ball was in that tradition, 93 00:05:25,120 --> 00:05:27,800 Speaker 2: it was over the top by any measure. 94 00:05:28,839 --> 00:05:32,600 Speaker 1: The idea for the Bradley Martin Ball was, according to 95 00:05:32,640 --> 00:05:36,680 Speaker 1: the story, actually kind of benevolent. Once again, we have 96 00:05:36,760 --> 00:05:39,880 Speaker 1: Frederick Townsend Martin's account of how the ball got its start. 97 00:05:40,680 --> 00:05:43,240 Speaker 1: He wrote, quote every year, my brother Bradley and his 98 00:05:43,279 --> 00:05:46,600 Speaker 1: wife spent their winters in New York. When they entertained largely. 99 00:05:47,320 --> 00:05:49,960 Speaker 1: One morning at breakfast, my brother remarked, I think it 100 00:05:50,000 --> 00:05:51,960 Speaker 1: would be a good thing if we got up to something. 101 00:05:52,279 --> 00:05:54,880 Speaker 1: There seems to be a great deal of depression in trade. 102 00:05:55,400 --> 00:05:59,520 Speaker 1: Suppose we sent out invitations for a concert and pray. 103 00:05:59,600 --> 00:06:02,080 Speaker 1: What good will that do? Asked my sister in law. 104 00:06:02,360 --> 00:06:05,920 Speaker 1: The money will only benefit foreigners. No, I've a far 105 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:09,240 Speaker 1: better idea. Let us give a costume ball at so 106 00:06:09,440 --> 00:06:12,200 Speaker 1: short notice that our guests won't have time to get 107 00:06:12,200 --> 00:06:15,120 Speaker 1: their dresses from Paris. That will give an impetus to 108 00:06:15,160 --> 00:06:20,120 Speaker 1: trade that nothing else will. Directly missus Martin's plan became known, 109 00:06:20,520 --> 00:06:23,520 Speaker 1: there was a regular storm of comment, which arose, in 110 00:06:23,560 --> 00:06:26,560 Speaker 1: the first instance, from the remarks made by a clergyman 111 00:06:26,839 --> 00:06:30,479 Speaker 1: who denounced the costume ball from the pulpit. There's also 112 00:06:30,560 --> 00:06:34,760 Speaker 1: speculation that Missus Martin wanted to throw the most lavish 113 00:06:34,839 --> 00:06:38,080 Speaker 1: ball ever seen in the city, and in doing so 114 00:06:38,360 --> 00:06:41,719 Speaker 1: out do her peers in society who'd hosted their own 115 00:06:41,920 --> 00:06:46,240 Speaker 1: opulent events. This ball was to be huge, too large 116 00:06:46,279 --> 00:06:49,040 Speaker 1: to be hosted at a home, so the Waldorf was 117 00:06:49,080 --> 00:06:52,440 Speaker 1: selected for the location. As to the exact number of 118 00:06:52,480 --> 00:06:57,080 Speaker 1: guests involved, that number fluctuates pretty wildly based on the source. 119 00:06:57,640 --> 00:07:00,279 Speaker 1: While some say that Missus Martin would simply not have 120 00:07:00,360 --> 00:07:03,719 Speaker 1: had more than six hundred, other accounts say she sent 121 00:07:03,800 --> 00:07:08,320 Speaker 1: out twelve hundred invitations. We'll get to a possible explainer 122 00:07:08,400 --> 00:07:10,200 Speaker 1: on that discrepancy. 123 00:07:09,600 --> 00:07:10,400 Speaker 2: In a moment. 124 00:07:11,280 --> 00:07:15,200 Speaker 1: While the intent may have been economic stimulus, there was 125 00:07:15,240 --> 00:07:18,600 Speaker 1: an early bit of sour grapes over how specifically money 126 00:07:18,680 --> 00:07:21,520 Speaker 1: was being spent for this event. This came from the 127 00:07:21,600 --> 00:07:25,560 Speaker 1: musicians of New York who felt completely slighted when Missus 128 00:07:25,560 --> 00:07:28,800 Speaker 1: Martin hired the Marine Band of Washington for her fete. 129 00:07:29,480 --> 00:07:32,240 Speaker 1: In a quote in The New York Times, Alexander Bremer, 130 00:07:32,360 --> 00:07:35,920 Speaker 1: president of the Music Mutual Protective Union, said quote, we 131 00:07:35,920 --> 00:07:39,080 Speaker 1: were all congratulating ourselves over the coming ball of Missus 132 00:07:39,080 --> 00:07:41,560 Speaker 1: Bradley Martin that is to be given on such a 133 00:07:41,560 --> 00:07:45,360 Speaker 1: magnificent scale, and which will put money into circulation among 134 00:07:45,400 --> 00:07:48,560 Speaker 1: people who need it very badly. We believe in the 135 00:07:48,680 --> 00:07:52,040 Speaker 1: very wealthy spending their wealth and enjoying themselves, and thus 136 00:07:52,080 --> 00:07:55,280 Speaker 1: giving hundreds and thousands of working people an opportunity to 137 00:07:55,320 --> 00:07:58,600 Speaker 1: earn money and maintain their self respect instead of being 138 00:07:58,640 --> 00:08:02,240 Speaker 1: obliged to accept charity. Now we have in our union 139 00:08:02,240 --> 00:08:04,880 Speaker 1: in this city about twenty eight hundred musicians who are 140 00:08:04,880 --> 00:08:07,440 Speaker 1: struggling from day to day to make a living for 141 00:08:07,520 --> 00:08:11,520 Speaker 1: themselves and their families. We calculated on getting at least 142 00:08:11,520 --> 00:08:14,640 Speaker 1: one thousand dollars for our union musicians from this ball. 143 00:08:15,040 --> 00:08:17,680 Speaker 1: But imagine our disappointment when we were told that missus 144 00:08:17,680 --> 00:08:21,320 Speaker 1: Bradley Martin had engaged or would engage the Marine Band 145 00:08:21,320 --> 00:08:24,280 Speaker 1: to play at the ball. Bremmer went on to praise 146 00:08:24,320 --> 00:08:26,640 Speaker 1: the musicians of New York as being as good as 147 00:08:26,680 --> 00:08:30,920 Speaker 1: any found anywhere, even in Europe. We'll talk more about 148 00:08:31,000 --> 00:08:33,880 Speaker 1: criticisms of the ball in just a bit, and coming 149 00:08:33,960 --> 00:08:36,320 Speaker 1: up right after a quick sponsor break, we will dig 150 00:08:36,360 --> 00:08:39,920 Speaker 1: into the press coverage of the Bradley Martin Ball and 151 00:08:40,040 --> 00:08:43,360 Speaker 1: all the juicy details of the events planning and how 152 00:08:43,360 --> 00:08:55,560 Speaker 1: they were shared in the papers. The days leading up 153 00:08:55,559 --> 00:08:58,200 Speaker 1: to the Bradley Martin Ball were covered in detail in 154 00:08:58,240 --> 00:09:01,200 Speaker 1: the press. The New York Times rode on February seventh, 155 00:09:01,240 --> 00:09:04,319 Speaker 1: quote for nearly three weeks, New York Society has made 156 00:09:04,360 --> 00:09:07,400 Speaker 1: the coming ball its one topic of discussion, with the 157 00:09:07,440 --> 00:09:10,680 Speaker 1: result that the usual entertainments of the winter season have 158 00:09:10,880 --> 00:09:15,520 Speaker 1: sunk into comparative insignificance. English, French and German history of 159 00:09:15,559 --> 00:09:18,480 Speaker 1: the period from fifteen hundred to nineteen hundred, which has 160 00:09:18,520 --> 00:09:21,080 Speaker 1: been selected by Missus Martin as that to which the 161 00:09:21,120 --> 00:09:24,800 Speaker 1: costumes of her guests must conform, has been searched in 162 00:09:24,960 --> 00:09:29,239 Speaker 1: quest of facts and information. Old wardrobes have been ransacked, 163 00:09:29,280 --> 00:09:33,839 Speaker 1: and costumes milliners, dressmakers and wig makers, and even jewelers 164 00:09:33,880 --> 00:09:36,840 Speaker 1: have been besieged by a small army of people bidden 165 00:09:36,920 --> 00:09:40,920 Speaker 1: to the ball, and who have labored assiduously to attire themselves. 166 00:09:40,960 --> 00:09:43,880 Speaker 1: As was ever Solomon in all his glory. 167 00:09:44,120 --> 00:09:47,520 Speaker 2: The arrangements of what the attendees could expect were shared 168 00:09:47,559 --> 00:09:50,560 Speaker 2: in detail, so even people who weren't going to be 169 00:09:50,600 --> 00:09:53,280 Speaker 2: in attendance knew all the specifics and of course had 170 00:09:53,360 --> 00:09:57,520 Speaker 2: plenty of opinions about them. Even the schedule was included, 171 00:09:58,360 --> 00:10:01,000 Speaker 2: the ball was to begin at all eleven pm, with 172 00:10:01,120 --> 00:10:04,360 Speaker 2: guests arriving through the manager's door to the Waldorf. The 173 00:10:04,440 --> 00:10:07,080 Speaker 2: write up made it clear that this entry was one 174 00:10:07,200 --> 00:10:10,280 Speaker 2: used for logistics, and the guests would not see any 175 00:10:10,360 --> 00:10:14,240 Speaker 2: decorps in the first five rooms they walked through. The 176 00:10:14,280 --> 00:10:18,240 Speaker 2: finery was all reserved for the party proper. Some of 177 00:10:18,280 --> 00:10:21,640 Speaker 2: this was because guests themselves were not expected to arrive 178 00:10:21,840 --> 00:10:25,560 Speaker 2: party ready in the wintertime. Instead, the Martins had hired 179 00:10:25,559 --> 00:10:30,480 Speaker 2: a team of hairdressers, milliners, costumers, etc. To help everybody 180 00:10:30,480 --> 00:10:35,000 Speaker 2: put the finishing touches onto their attire. The accommodations for 181 00:10:35,080 --> 00:10:38,920 Speaker 2: the guest transformations were spread across fifteen rooms, so the 182 00:10:39,000 --> 00:10:43,400 Speaker 2: stylists had plenty of space to prepare everyone. Those dressing 183 00:10:43,480 --> 00:10:46,600 Speaker 2: rooms also offered spots where, once the party was underway, 184 00:10:46,760 --> 00:10:48,120 Speaker 2: guests could take breaks. 185 00:10:48,440 --> 00:10:48,640 Speaker 1: Yeah. 186 00:10:48,640 --> 00:10:49,960 Speaker 2: I think one of them was set up as like 187 00:10:49,960 --> 00:10:53,120 Speaker 2: a smoking lounge for gentlemen and things like that. On 188 00:10:53,160 --> 00:10:56,240 Speaker 2: February ninth, The New York Times ran another article, this 189 00:10:56,320 --> 00:10:59,000 Speaker 2: one about all of the priceless items that would be 190 00:10:59,040 --> 00:11:03,240 Speaker 2: on display in the costumery of the ball's attendees. It 191 00:11:03,280 --> 00:11:06,240 Speaker 2: opened with quote, there is no estimating the value of 192 00:11:06,280 --> 00:11:08,720 Speaker 2: the rare old jewels to be worn at the Bradley 193 00:11:08,760 --> 00:11:12,440 Speaker 2: Martin Ball. All the jewelers who deal in antiques say 194 00:11:12,480 --> 00:11:14,920 Speaker 2: they have been cleaned out of all they had on hand, 195 00:11:15,240 --> 00:11:19,720 Speaker 2: and people still keep calling for old buckles, snuffboxes, lorgnettes, 196 00:11:20,080 --> 00:11:23,520 Speaker 2: diamond or pearl studded girdles, rings, and in fact every 197 00:11:23,600 --> 00:11:27,920 Speaker 2: conceivable decoration in gems. The rest of the article walks 198 00:11:27,960 --> 00:11:30,560 Speaker 2: through some of the finery that people would be wearing. 199 00:11:31,200 --> 00:11:33,200 Speaker 2: It also notes that a lot of people would be 200 00:11:33,200 --> 00:11:37,640 Speaker 2: taking their priceless family jewels and heirloom pieces out of storage, 201 00:11:37,679 --> 00:11:40,080 Speaker 2: and that there was no way to estimate how much 202 00:11:40,080 --> 00:11:43,080 Speaker 2: all of these were worth. Some had been passed down 203 00:11:43,160 --> 00:11:47,320 Speaker 2: for hundreds of years from European aristocracy. There was a 204 00:11:47,400 --> 00:11:50,280 Speaker 2: rumor that some of the guests were so worried about 205 00:11:50,320 --> 00:11:53,600 Speaker 2: their family jewelry that they were having the real gemstones 206 00:11:53,640 --> 00:11:57,640 Speaker 2: from them taken out to be replaced with imitations. A 207 00:11:57,679 --> 00:12:01,040 Speaker 2: representative from Tiffany's assured the press that this was not 208 00:12:01,240 --> 00:12:04,440 Speaker 2: the case, stating, quote, it is ridiculous to suppose that 209 00:12:04,480 --> 00:12:07,880 Speaker 2: the quality of people who have these rare and costly 210 00:12:08,000 --> 00:12:12,200 Speaker 2: gems whatever, think of attending such a historic function in 211 00:12:12,360 --> 00:12:15,760 Speaker 2: sham ornaments. Don't you believe a word of it. So 212 00:12:15,920 --> 00:12:19,040 Speaker 2: far as we are concerned, we never set bogus jewels 213 00:12:19,120 --> 00:12:22,000 Speaker 2: at all, and we certainly have not been asked to 214 00:12:22,080 --> 00:12:26,720 Speaker 2: substitute rhyme stones by any of missus Martin's intended guests. 215 00:12:27,240 --> 00:12:30,360 Speaker 2: People who are accustomed to these costly things are not 216 00:12:30,520 --> 00:12:34,440 Speaker 2: afraid to use and display them. According to the Times, 217 00:12:34,480 --> 00:12:37,920 Speaker 2: there would also be priceless lace everywhere at the ball. Again, 218 00:12:38,440 --> 00:12:41,920 Speaker 2: much of it passed down through wealthy families. One expert 219 00:12:41,960 --> 00:12:44,880 Speaker 2: on textiles that the paper consulted was quoted as saying 220 00:12:45,160 --> 00:12:47,440 Speaker 2: that replicas of some of the laces would go for 221 00:12:47,520 --> 00:12:50,920 Speaker 2: fifty dollars a yard. Again, replicas, and then when it 222 00:12:50,960 --> 00:12:53,440 Speaker 2: came to the originals, quote, you couldn't buy them for 223 00:12:53,520 --> 00:12:57,240 Speaker 2: five hundred dollars a yard. The papers published lists of 224 00:12:57,280 --> 00:13:00,040 Speaker 2: who was attending and what they would be wearing. A 225 00:13:00,160 --> 00:13:03,520 Speaker 2: Brownick was to be attired as George Washington. Missus John 226 00:13:03,559 --> 00:13:06,240 Speaker 2: Jacob Aster was going to be Marie Antoinette. She was 227 00:13:06,320 --> 00:13:09,160 Speaker 2: one of several that was the most popular costume, and 228 00:13:09,320 --> 00:13:12,880 Speaker 2: there were to be multiple Louis the fourteenths, fifteenth and sixteenths. 229 00:13:13,320 --> 00:13:15,600 Speaker 2: Bradley Martin was to be one of the many Louis 230 00:13:15,600 --> 00:13:18,400 Speaker 2: the fifteenths, although sometimes he's listed as having been dressed 231 00:13:18,440 --> 00:13:23,800 Speaker 2: as Louis the fourteenth though not mentioned in the press beforehand. 232 00:13:24,160 --> 00:13:28,040 Speaker 2: Missus Martin dressed as Mary Stewart and wore a very 233 00:13:28,080 --> 00:13:30,520 Speaker 2: old and very valuable necklace as part of that costume. 234 00:13:31,200 --> 00:13:35,760 Speaker 2: Some costumes, such as one that was intended to be Pocahontas, 235 00:13:35,840 --> 00:13:39,920 Speaker 2: would be considered completely inappropriate by today's standards. The most 236 00:13:39,920 --> 00:13:43,280 Speaker 2: comedic section of the article on what people would be 237 00:13:43,320 --> 00:13:46,640 Speaker 2: wearing focused on the issues that the gentsleman. 238 00:13:46,200 --> 00:13:47,400 Speaker 1: Guests would face. 239 00:13:48,120 --> 00:13:51,520 Speaker 2: It elaborates quote to begin with, the costumer's edict has 240 00:13:51,559 --> 00:13:55,040 Speaker 2: gone forth that all gentlemen who attends to appear in 241 00:13:55,040 --> 00:13:59,079 Speaker 2: a Louis Catour's outfit must begin by turning a barber 242 00:13:59,120 --> 00:14:03,160 Speaker 2: loose on their mista dashes, with plentipotentiary powers to remove 243 00:14:03,280 --> 00:14:07,440 Speaker 2: them to the last hair. Apparently, some men formed a 244 00:14:07,679 --> 00:14:11,959 Speaker 2: pact that none of them would acquiesce to this requirement. 245 00:14:12,520 --> 00:14:12,880 Speaker 1: Listen. 246 00:14:13,000 --> 00:14:16,640 Speaker 2: If you have ever thrown a costume party with specific rules, 247 00:14:16,679 --> 00:14:18,960 Speaker 2: you know this exact discussion because I have been there. 248 00:14:20,440 --> 00:14:26,840 Speaker 1: Listen. But the bigger issue was apparently the shape of 249 00:14:26,920 --> 00:14:30,800 Speaker 1: men's legs. The Times laid out this problem. Quote trouble 250 00:14:30,880 --> 00:14:34,000 Speaker 1: number two is of a rather more delicate nature, as 251 00:14:34,000 --> 00:14:38,240 Speaker 1: it will unmask delusions about the anatomy of certain gentlemen's legs. 252 00:14:38,920 --> 00:14:41,200 Speaker 1: As a rule, it is an easy matter in these 253 00:14:41,280 --> 00:14:44,480 Speaker 1: days to disguise any defects of this kind. But it 254 00:14:44,520 --> 00:14:47,240 Speaker 1: can't be done at all, so the costumers say, with 255 00:14:47,360 --> 00:14:51,280 Speaker 1: those extremely delicate and dainty silk tights which the modern 256 00:14:51,320 --> 00:14:55,800 Speaker 1: cavaliers must wear. All sort of devices have been attempted, 257 00:14:55,960 --> 00:14:59,000 Speaker 1: even down to the buckram covered pads that Ward McAllister 258 00:14:59,160 --> 00:15:01,880 Speaker 1: used to affect. But they will not work, and much 259 00:15:01,960 --> 00:15:05,600 Speaker 1: lamentation is abroad in the social world. They're at Any 260 00:15:05,680 --> 00:15:09,160 Speaker 1: manufactured legs will be palpable at sight, but the raw 261 00:15:09,240 --> 00:15:13,600 Speaker 1: material would be more horrible. Still, many of the cavaliers 262 00:15:13,640 --> 00:15:18,160 Speaker 1: have not yet finished losing sleep over this problem. Oh no, 263 00:15:18,680 --> 00:15:21,720 Speaker 1: they'll find out I have skinny quads like I. 264 00:15:23,160 --> 00:15:26,160 Speaker 2: Are they are They only talking about the legs, though, 265 00:15:27,000 --> 00:15:29,680 Speaker 2: because there's just other parts of the body that's gonna 266 00:15:29,680 --> 00:15:33,600 Speaker 2: be in the very thin fitting hose. I yes, I 267 00:15:33,640 --> 00:15:36,240 Speaker 2: think so, because the one person that shows up in 268 00:15:36,320 --> 00:15:40,320 Speaker 2: thin fitting hoses got thrown out. Yeah, okay, then okay. 269 00:15:40,600 --> 00:15:43,480 Speaker 1: I think they're worried that people will know their calves 270 00:15:43,520 --> 00:15:44,840 Speaker 1: are not manly. 271 00:15:45,480 --> 00:15:48,880 Speaker 2: Okay, I just I could just imagine it being a 272 00:15:48,920 --> 00:15:54,160 Speaker 2: euphemism anyway. The day of the ball, the Chicago Tribune 273 00:15:54,160 --> 00:15:57,280 Speaker 2: published a breakdown of the estimated cost of the whole thing. 274 00:15:58,280 --> 00:16:01,960 Speaker 2: Line items included they like the ballroom rental for the 275 00:16:02,040 --> 00:16:05,840 Speaker 2: night at one thousand dollars, a small ballroom for receiving 276 00:16:05,840 --> 00:16:09,960 Speaker 2: at five hundred dollars, a buffet supper at six thousand dollars, 277 00:16:10,200 --> 00:16:13,480 Speaker 2: a regular supper to be available from twelve thirty to 278 00:16:13,560 --> 00:16:17,880 Speaker 2: five AM at twelve thousand dollars, and the Ketillion Favors 279 00:16:17,960 --> 00:16:22,320 Speaker 2: at twenty thousand dollars. The largest line item was costumes, 280 00:16:22,400 --> 00:16:25,120 Speaker 2: which the paper estimated at one hundred and sixty eight 281 00:16:25,320 --> 00:16:29,880 Speaker 2: thousand dollars. The total the Tribune came up with for 282 00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:33,280 Speaker 2: everything was two hundred and thirty six thousand, six hundred 283 00:16:33,320 --> 00:16:36,480 Speaker 2: and twenty five dollars, but the Tribune said this was 284 00:16:36,520 --> 00:16:41,160 Speaker 2: a conservative figure. The actual cost of the ball is 285 00:16:41,200 --> 00:16:44,960 Speaker 2: often quoted as having been more like four hundred thousand dollars, 286 00:16:45,000 --> 00:16:48,560 Speaker 2: which is already a whole lot of money. In very 287 00:16:48,680 --> 00:16:52,680 Speaker 2: rough estimates, that would be more like ten million dollars 288 00:16:52,720 --> 00:16:55,760 Speaker 2: in twenty twenty four. Yeah, and to be clear, that 289 00:16:55,920 --> 00:16:59,520 Speaker 2: costume line item was not for everyone's costumes. That was 290 00:16:59,600 --> 00:17:03,080 Speaker 2: like the stuff that the Bradley Martins were providing for 291 00:17:03,160 --> 00:17:09,520 Speaker 2: people to help with all of their cars. When the 292 00:17:09,560 --> 00:17:12,720 Speaker 2: evening of February tenth came. The weather didn't really cooperate. 293 00:17:12,800 --> 00:17:15,720 Speaker 2: There was a massive snowstorm, but the ball went on 294 00:17:15,760 --> 00:17:20,440 Speaker 2: as scheduled. This made carriage traffic in New York absolutely awful, 295 00:17:21,000 --> 00:17:24,320 Speaker 2: according to Robert Mussegrosso writing for New York History in 296 00:17:24,400 --> 00:17:27,359 Speaker 2: nineteen ninety four, and my apologies if I mispronounced that name. 297 00:17:27,880 --> 00:17:31,640 Speaker 2: Another thing that literally stopped traffic was people exiting their 298 00:17:31,680 --> 00:17:34,800 Speaker 2: carriages as they passed by Gilbert's photo studio on the 299 00:17:34,840 --> 00:17:38,879 Speaker 2: way because they wanted pictures of their attire. Gilberts is 300 00:17:38,920 --> 00:17:41,800 Speaker 2: said to have stayed open all night, and as a consequence, 301 00:17:41,880 --> 00:17:43,960 Speaker 2: the upside is that today we have some very good 302 00:17:44,000 --> 00:17:48,720 Speaker 2: photographs of the attendees. Arriving at This ball was unlike 303 00:17:48,840 --> 00:17:52,960 Speaker 2: anything the attendees had ever experienced. Frederick Martin described a 304 00:17:53,000 --> 00:17:55,879 Speaker 2: scene this way quote The best I can describe the 305 00:17:55,880 --> 00:17:59,280 Speaker 2: Bradley Martin Ball is to say that it reproduced the 306 00:17:59,320 --> 00:18:02,560 Speaker 2: splendor of Versailles in New York, and I doubt if 307 00:18:02,600 --> 00:18:07,200 Speaker 2: even the was solet ever witnessed a more dazzling site. 308 00:18:07,240 --> 00:18:11,520 Speaker 2: The interior of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel was transformed into 309 00:18:11,520 --> 00:18:15,679 Speaker 2: a replica of Versailles, and rare tapestries, beautiful flowers, and 310 00:18:15,760 --> 00:18:19,320 Speaker 2: countless sits made an effective background for the wonderful gowns 311 00:18:19,320 --> 00:18:22,400 Speaker 2: and their wearers. I do not think there has ever 312 00:18:22,480 --> 00:18:26,080 Speaker 2: been a greater display of jewels before or since. In 313 00:18:26,119 --> 00:18:29,520 Speaker 2: many cases, the diamond buttons worn by the men represented 314 00:18:29,640 --> 00:18:32,880 Speaker 2: thousands of dollars, and the value of the historic gems 315 00:18:32,920 --> 00:18:37,199 Speaker 2: worn by the ladies' baffles. Description the power of wealth, 316 00:18:37,280 --> 00:18:41,440 Speaker 2: with its refinement and vulgarity, was everywhere. It gleamed from 317 00:18:41,520 --> 00:18:44,960 Speaker 2: countless jewels, and it was proclaimed by the thousands of 318 00:18:45,160 --> 00:18:48,600 Speaker 2: orchids and roses, whose fragrance that night was like incense 319 00:18:48,720 --> 00:18:51,400 Speaker 2: burnt on the altar of the golden calf. 320 00:18:52,320 --> 00:18:56,080 Speaker 1: The reception of guests alone took almost two hours before 321 00:18:56,080 --> 00:19:00,520 Speaker 1: the official party activities began. There was dancing, and then supper, 322 00:19:00,600 --> 00:19:04,160 Speaker 1: and then at three am the cotillion. The martins did 323 00:19:04,200 --> 00:19:08,040 Speaker 1: not leave until six am. Many guests had taken rooms 324 00:19:08,040 --> 00:19:10,159 Speaker 1: at the Waldorf so that they wouldn't have to travel 325 00:19:10,240 --> 00:19:11,520 Speaker 1: to or from the ball. 326 00:19:12,359 --> 00:19:17,480 Speaker 2: One slightly scandalous costume was worn by artist Athos Cushing. 327 00:19:18,040 --> 00:19:21,560 Speaker 2: He addresses a fifteenth century Italian falconer, and, according to 328 00:19:21,560 --> 00:19:23,840 Speaker 2: the New York Times quote was in fact thought to 329 00:19:23,880 --> 00:19:27,840 Speaker 2: have gone rather too far in his impersonation. He wore 330 00:19:27,920 --> 00:19:30,160 Speaker 2: tights and a short jacket, and he had a stuffed 331 00:19:30,200 --> 00:19:35,120 Speaker 2: falcon attached to his arm. Apparently, although this was historically accurate, 332 00:19:35,200 --> 00:19:38,679 Speaker 2: this outfit was skin tight and thus rather revealing, and 333 00:19:38,720 --> 00:19:42,359 Speaker 2: he caused such a commotion that Missus Bradley Martin asked 334 00:19:42,400 --> 00:19:43,080 Speaker 2: him to leave. 335 00:19:43,920 --> 00:19:46,960 Speaker 1: Yes, she apparently lost her breath for a moment before 336 00:19:47,160 --> 00:19:51,359 Speaker 1: she collected herself and said that was inappropriate. Once this 337 00:19:51,680 --> 00:19:54,919 Speaker 1: entire party was over, accounts went to press. It was 338 00:19:54,960 --> 00:19:58,960 Speaker 1: described as a triumph, also as a circus, as something 339 00:19:58,960 --> 00:20:03,080 Speaker 1: beautiful and exquisite, and as ridiculous. The New York Times 340 00:20:03,119 --> 00:20:05,719 Speaker 1: noted that many guests seemed to leave as quickly as 341 00:20:05,760 --> 00:20:09,160 Speaker 1: they could, calling for their carriages before the ktillion even began. 342 00:20:09,920 --> 00:20:12,520 Speaker 1: It also stated that the six hundred in attendance was 343 00:20:12,560 --> 00:20:15,160 Speaker 1: a much lower number than hoped for, and this may 344 00:20:15,200 --> 00:20:17,960 Speaker 1: be part of the confusion over how many invites were 345 00:20:18,000 --> 00:20:20,359 Speaker 1: sent out. It's not clear if maybe there was a 346 00:20:21,320 --> 00:20:24,280 Speaker 1: retrofit of how many they had invited to make it 347 00:20:24,320 --> 00:20:27,159 Speaker 1: look like less people had declined than had actually done so. 348 00:20:27,840 --> 00:20:30,320 Speaker 1: But it also describes this whole affair, This New York 349 00:20:30,359 --> 00:20:33,200 Speaker 1: Times write up as quote the climax in this form 350 00:20:33,480 --> 00:20:37,600 Speaker 1: of entertainment thus far reached in the metropolis. Coming up, 351 00:20:37,640 --> 00:20:41,399 Speaker 1: we'll talk about the various opinions that religious leaders and 352 00:20:41,520 --> 00:20:45,399 Speaker 1: everyday people and even tax assessors had of this whole event, 353 00:20:46,240 --> 00:20:48,240 Speaker 1: and we will get to it after we hear from 354 00:20:48,280 --> 00:21:00,960 Speaker 1: the sponsors that keep the show going. Bradley Martin Ball 355 00:21:01,119 --> 00:21:04,240 Speaker 1: quickly became a flash point in public perception of how 356 00:21:04,320 --> 00:21:08,800 Speaker 1: rich people operated. Cornelia Martin's intentions may have been good, 357 00:21:08,840 --> 00:21:11,560 Speaker 1: and the ball certainly did help bolster trades people in 358 00:21:11,600 --> 00:21:15,560 Speaker 1: the costuming, catering, and related business sectors, but that was 359 00:21:15,640 --> 00:21:18,200 Speaker 1: just a small slice of the population of New York. 360 00:21:18,920 --> 00:21:21,639 Speaker 1: To most people, the whole thing just looked wasteful and 361 00:21:21,720 --> 00:21:26,119 Speaker 1: decadent and self indulgent. Given how many attendees had chosen 362 00:21:26,160 --> 00:21:28,480 Speaker 1: to look to the court of seventeenth century France for 363 00:21:28,560 --> 00:21:31,960 Speaker 1: costume inspiration, it became a sort of fitting echo of 364 00:21:32,040 --> 00:21:34,800 Speaker 1: out of touch wealthy people thinking they were helping the 365 00:21:34,880 --> 00:21:38,280 Speaker 1: lower classes by having fun instead of engaging in more 366 00:21:38,320 --> 00:21:42,760 Speaker 1: meaningful charitable works. The press wasn't all bad, though. The 367 00:21:42,800 --> 00:21:45,920 Speaker 1: Boston Daily Globe ran a commentary about the ball on 368 00:21:45,960 --> 00:21:49,199 Speaker 1: the front page two weeks before the event, under the 369 00:21:49,200 --> 00:21:53,639 Speaker 1: headline on Volcano's Edge, where some think the Bradley Martin 370 00:21:53,720 --> 00:21:57,840 Speaker 1: guests will dance, it ran information that had been collected 371 00:21:57,880 --> 00:22:01,359 Speaker 1: regarding the actual impact the ball was having to working 372 00:22:01,400 --> 00:22:04,679 Speaker 1: people in New York. One costume shop had reported that 373 00:22:04,720 --> 00:22:07,199 Speaker 1: they had so many orders it had created work for 374 00:22:07,240 --> 00:22:11,320 Speaker 1: one hundred and eighty seamstresses. The shop owner is quoted 375 00:22:11,320 --> 00:22:14,000 Speaker 1: as telling Bradley Martin of their staff quote, they are 376 00:22:14,119 --> 00:22:16,959 Speaker 1: happy because they need work, and your ball has furnished it. 377 00:22:17,520 --> 00:22:21,680 Speaker 1: Every woman probably represents a family and maybe its chief breadwinner. 378 00:22:21,800 --> 00:22:24,159 Speaker 1: So the good does not end with these one hundred 379 00:22:24,160 --> 00:22:27,240 Speaker 1: and eighty people, but in many cases benefits two and 380 00:22:27,359 --> 00:22:30,800 Speaker 1: three times that number. The write up also explains that 381 00:22:30,800 --> 00:22:34,520 Speaker 1: many of the attendees purchased art reproductions so that costumers 382 00:22:34,520 --> 00:22:37,760 Speaker 1: could copy the clothing in them, hinting that the art 383 00:22:37,760 --> 00:22:41,520 Speaker 1: market also saw some movement because of the ball. The 384 00:22:41,600 --> 00:22:42,360 Speaker 1: opening of this. 385 00:22:42,440 --> 00:22:45,480 Speaker 2: Multi page look at the economics of the Ball also 386 00:22:45,680 --> 00:22:49,720 Speaker 2: noted that, in addition to expected beneficiaries of additional work 387 00:22:49,840 --> 00:22:54,320 Speaker 2: like wig makers and boot makers, even errand girls were 388 00:22:54,320 --> 00:22:56,679 Speaker 2: making a lot more money in the weeks leading up 389 00:22:56,720 --> 00:22:57,280 Speaker 2: to the Big. 390 00:22:57,160 --> 00:23:01,320 Speaker 1: Night, The Globe got quotes from all people on the matter. 391 00:23:01,640 --> 00:23:04,879 Speaker 1: Francis Peabody Junior was quoted as saying, quote, I believe 392 00:23:04,920 --> 00:23:09,360 Speaker 1: in hospitality. The rich should be very hospitable, but ostentation 393 00:23:09,560 --> 00:23:14,199 Speaker 1: without hospitality is essentially vulgar. Mister Peabody also mentioned his 394 00:23:14,280 --> 00:23:17,040 Speaker 1: two big problems with the ball, noting that such an 395 00:23:17,040 --> 00:23:20,119 Speaker 1: extravagance would take away attention from the real issues of 396 00:23:20,160 --> 00:23:22,920 Speaker 1: the poor, and also that there were likely people who 397 00:23:23,000 --> 00:23:25,399 Speaker 1: might be inspired to live beyond their means as a 398 00:23:25,440 --> 00:23:29,760 Speaker 1: result of normalizing such events. Mister Edwin D. Mead stated 399 00:23:29,760 --> 00:23:33,359 Speaker 1: to the Globe, quote, wicked, wasteful, and wanton luxury is 400 00:23:33,400 --> 00:23:36,160 Speaker 1: one of the greatest sins and dangers in our American 401 00:23:36,200 --> 00:23:39,120 Speaker 1: life today. And I repeat it with emphasis now when 402 00:23:39,200 --> 00:23:41,480 Speaker 1: such an illustration of it is proposed. 403 00:23:42,240 --> 00:23:45,359 Speaker 2: One man said, quote, I wish this ball costs ten 404 00:23:45,520 --> 00:23:48,600 Speaker 2: times whatever it will cost. It will get the money 405 00:23:48,600 --> 00:23:52,119 Speaker 2: into circulation. Why the butcher, the baker, and the candlestick 406 00:23:52,160 --> 00:23:54,200 Speaker 2: maker get much of the money and they need it. 407 00:23:54,880 --> 00:23:57,080 Speaker 2: If the Martins pay their bills, I don't feel I 408 00:23:57,119 --> 00:24:00,399 Speaker 2: have any right to criticize. There were other people who 409 00:24:00,400 --> 00:24:03,680 Speaker 2: felt like the ball was doing as intended, giving work 410 00:24:03,760 --> 00:24:05,800 Speaker 2: to people who would need it, and who would then 411 00:24:05,920 --> 00:24:09,480 Speaker 2: spend that money throughout their communities. One of the lengthier 412 00:24:09,520 --> 00:24:13,880 Speaker 2: responses from Rabbi Charles Fleischer examined more deeply the ethical 413 00:24:13,920 --> 00:24:17,000 Speaker 2: issues of the money that the Martins were spending. He 414 00:24:17,119 --> 00:24:19,440 Speaker 2: spoke to the paper about every man having the right 415 00:24:19,520 --> 00:24:22,240 Speaker 2: to himself and that not being something other people should 416 00:24:22,280 --> 00:24:25,720 Speaker 2: infringe upon. He then continued, quote, I am not blind 417 00:24:25,760 --> 00:24:28,840 Speaker 2: to the fact that these expensive functions give employment to 418 00:24:29,000 --> 00:24:31,760 Speaker 2: quite a little army of workers. If I thought that 419 00:24:31,840 --> 00:24:35,120 Speaker 2: the question had only this temporary interest, perhaps I would 420 00:24:35,119 --> 00:24:38,560 Speaker 2: not hesitate to say, eat, drink, and be merrier than usual, 421 00:24:38,960 --> 00:24:42,640 Speaker 2: dress and entertain more lavishly than ever. For every unusual 422 00:24:42,680 --> 00:24:46,959 Speaker 2: extravagance puts more money into circulation and gives added opportunity 423 00:24:47,000 --> 00:24:50,639 Speaker 2: of employment. Your indulgence in luxuries will enable many a 424 00:24:50,680 --> 00:24:54,359 Speaker 2: wretch to earn the bare necessities. But my view of 425 00:24:54,359 --> 00:24:57,520 Speaker 2: the question is a large one. Even in these times, 426 00:24:57,560 --> 00:25:00,480 Speaker 2: we must not expect to revive business and set the 427 00:25:00,480 --> 00:25:04,199 Speaker 2: wheels of industry in motion by artificial means. You might 428 00:25:04,240 --> 00:25:07,040 Speaker 2: as reasonably expect to sail a boat when becomed by 429 00:25:07,080 --> 00:25:10,480 Speaker 2: the wind which results from your whistling for it. After 430 00:25:10,480 --> 00:25:13,880 Speaker 2: being questioned for clarity, the rabbi responded, if the fortune 431 00:25:13,880 --> 00:25:15,879 Speaker 2: that will be spent and wasted at the ball was 432 00:25:15,920 --> 00:25:19,240 Speaker 2: put into some permanent investment that would continue to give 433 00:25:19,240 --> 00:25:22,480 Speaker 2: employment and to yield returns, the gain to the world's 434 00:25:22,480 --> 00:25:26,280 Speaker 2: wealth and the benefit to labor would be incalculably larger. 435 00:25:27,160 --> 00:25:30,680 Speaker 2: Even before the ball happened, According to Bradley's brother Frederick, 436 00:25:30,800 --> 00:25:34,679 Speaker 2: there was criticism from the city's religious leaders. He quoted 437 00:25:34,720 --> 00:25:37,639 Speaker 2: one minister who included mention of the ball in his 438 00:25:37,760 --> 00:25:41,480 Speaker 2: Sunday sermon, quote, you rich people put next to nothing 439 00:25:41,520 --> 00:25:44,800 Speaker 2: in the collection plate, and yet you'll spend thousands of 440 00:25:44,880 --> 00:25:47,280 Speaker 2: dollars on Missus Bradley Martin's ball. 441 00:25:48,280 --> 00:25:52,320 Speaker 1: Reverend William S. Rainsford urged invitees in his congregation to 442 00:25:52,359 --> 00:25:55,840 Speaker 1: skip the ball, noting that social conditions were already both 443 00:25:55,920 --> 00:25:58,879 Speaker 1: awful and a hot button issue, and hinting that it 444 00:25:58,880 --> 00:26:02,199 Speaker 1: would make them look really bad to attend. When he 445 00:26:02,280 --> 00:26:05,080 Speaker 1: was questioned by a New York Times reporter about the sermon, 446 00:26:05,400 --> 00:26:07,760 Speaker 1: he stated that what he said in his church was 447 00:26:07,800 --> 00:26:10,960 Speaker 1: between him and his parishioners, But he also noted to 448 00:26:11,000 --> 00:26:13,760 Speaker 1: the reporter that while spending for the ball quote, might 449 00:26:13,840 --> 00:26:16,359 Speaker 1: benefit a large number of well to do people, and 450 00:26:16,440 --> 00:26:19,560 Speaker 1: through them the poorer people. He thought such benefit was 451 00:26:19,640 --> 00:26:23,000 Speaker 1: overbalanced by the discord which would or might be created. 452 00:26:23,600 --> 00:26:26,240 Speaker 2: On March fifth, The New York Times ran a brief 453 00:26:26,440 --> 00:26:30,160 Speaker 2: piece quoting doctor Samuel Johnson's opinion of the ball, which 454 00:26:30,200 --> 00:26:32,520 Speaker 2: read quote, A man cannot make a bad use of 455 00:26:32,560 --> 00:26:36,120 Speaker 2: his money, so far as regards society. If he does 456 00:26:36,160 --> 00:26:38,720 Speaker 2: not hoard it, or if he rather spends it or 457 00:26:38,800 --> 00:26:41,879 Speaker 2: lends it out, society has the benefit. It is in 458 00:26:41,960 --> 00:26:44,720 Speaker 2: general better to spend money than to give it away. 459 00:26:45,280 --> 00:26:47,639 Speaker 2: A man who spends his money is sure he is 460 00:26:47,720 --> 00:26:50,080 Speaker 2: doing good with it. He is not sure when he 461 00:26:50,160 --> 00:26:53,320 Speaker 2: gives it away. A man who spends ten thousand a 462 00:26:53,359 --> 00:26:56,080 Speaker 2: year will do more good than a man who spends 463 00:26:56,119 --> 00:27:00,280 Speaker 2: two thousand and gives away eight. Public opinion about the 464 00:27:00,280 --> 00:27:03,280 Speaker 2: Martins and their massive ball had become so vitriolic in 465 00:27:03,320 --> 00:27:05,760 Speaker 2: the days leading up to it that there was concern 466 00:27:05,840 --> 00:27:08,200 Speaker 2: there might be a riot outside of it, or even 467 00:27:08,280 --> 00:27:12,880 Speaker 2: a violent attack on the attendees invit. Theodore Roosevelt, who 468 00:27:12,920 --> 00:27:15,000 Speaker 2: was on the board of Police Commissioners in New York 469 00:27:15,040 --> 00:27:18,000 Speaker 2: at the time, skipped the ball while his wife attended 470 00:27:18,080 --> 00:27:20,679 Speaker 2: because he wanted to be outside with his police force 471 00:27:21,080 --> 00:27:23,720 Speaker 2: ready to lead them in case something happened. I read 472 00:27:23,760 --> 00:27:25,439 Speaker 2: one theory that he didn't really want to go to 473 00:27:25,440 --> 00:27:27,000 Speaker 2: the ball, and this was a good excuse, but we 474 00:27:27,000 --> 00:27:27,320 Speaker 2: don't know. 475 00:27:28,040 --> 00:27:31,120 Speaker 1: There were two hundred police officers covering the area, as 476 00:27:31,160 --> 00:27:34,640 Speaker 1: well as a number of plane closed policemen. No problems 477 00:27:34,640 --> 00:27:37,200 Speaker 1: ever really arose, other than people on the street being 478 00:27:37,320 --> 00:27:40,959 Speaker 1: kind of irritated by all the commotion. It hadn't helped 479 00:27:41,000 --> 00:27:43,480 Speaker 1: that a huge chunk of thirty third Street had been 480 00:27:43,560 --> 00:27:46,760 Speaker 1: closed to pedestrians the night of the ball, so that 481 00:27:46,800 --> 00:27:50,240 Speaker 1: the carriages of the wealthy attendees could more easily make 482 00:27:50,280 --> 00:27:54,200 Speaker 1: their way. This was presumably also a security measure, given 483 00:27:54,240 --> 00:27:57,320 Speaker 1: the large number of valuables that were walking in and 484 00:27:57,359 --> 00:28:00,320 Speaker 1: out of the event. The sent a message that rich 485 00:28:00,359 --> 00:28:04,800 Speaker 1: people were more important to the city than average citizens. Roosevelt, 486 00:28:04,840 --> 00:28:05,360 Speaker 1: because of his. 487 00:28:05,440 --> 00:28:09,280 Speaker 2: Role with the police, dismissed these complaints as nonsense, and 488 00:28:09,320 --> 00:28:11,840 Speaker 2: stead in a statement to the press that anyone with 489 00:28:11,920 --> 00:28:14,600 Speaker 2: business on the street had been able to pass, and 490 00:28:14,640 --> 00:28:18,160 Speaker 2: that the police were trying to avoid accidents from onlookers 491 00:28:18,240 --> 00:28:21,560 Speaker 2: obstructing traffic on the clogged street more than anything else. 492 00:28:22,200 --> 00:28:24,600 Speaker 2: He insisted they would have done the same thing for 493 00:28:24,800 --> 00:28:29,960 Speaker 2: any event, regardless of the grandeur. As for Frederick Martin's account, 494 00:28:30,000 --> 00:28:33,359 Speaker 2: though he did mention the combination of refinement and vulgarity 495 00:28:33,400 --> 00:28:36,439 Speaker 2: in his description, he also said to the ball, quote 496 00:28:36,480 --> 00:28:39,880 Speaker 2: I cannot conceive why this entertainment should have been condemned. 497 00:28:40,520 --> 00:28:43,280 Speaker 2: We Americans are so accustomed to display that I should 498 00:28:43,280 --> 00:28:45,280 Speaker 2: have thought the ball would not have been regarded as 499 00:28:45,320 --> 00:28:49,120 Speaker 2: anything very unusual. Everyone said it was the most brilliant 500 00:28:49,120 --> 00:28:51,920 Speaker 2: function of the kind ever seen in America, and it 501 00:28:52,080 --> 00:28:55,800 Speaker 2: certainly was the most talked about, not just talked about, 502 00:28:55,800 --> 00:29:00,000 Speaker 2: but also satirized. On March twenty sixth, just forty five 503 00:29:00,160 --> 00:29:03,760 Speaker 2: days after the Ball, a new burlesque musical opened at 504 00:29:03,760 --> 00:29:07,960 Speaker 2: the Olympia Music Hall titled Missus Radley Barton's Ball in 505 00:29:08,040 --> 00:29:12,720 Speaker 2: Greater New York. This work, created by Oscar Hammerstein, got 506 00:29:12,800 --> 00:29:17,360 Speaker 2: mixed reviews, while one syndicated review said, quote all the 507 00:29:17,360 --> 00:29:20,920 Speaker 2: manifold resources of the Olympia were concentrated in the music 508 00:29:20,960 --> 00:29:25,400 Speaker 2: Hall with a superb production. In the opinion of competent critics, 509 00:29:25,400 --> 00:29:28,560 Speaker 2: the production equals in splendor anything of the kind ever 510 00:29:28,600 --> 00:29:32,520 Speaker 2: seen in New York. Other critics were far less kind, 511 00:29:32,600 --> 00:29:35,360 Speaker 2: with one commentator noting quote on the whole it was 512 00:29:35,440 --> 00:29:39,480 Speaker 2: without a redeeming feature, and Hammerstein got embroiled in a 513 00:29:39,560 --> 00:29:42,680 Speaker 2: back and forth with the press about it. Alas, the 514 00:29:42,720 --> 00:29:45,840 Speaker 2: libretto to this has not survived and there seems to 515 00:29:45,880 --> 00:29:50,320 Speaker 2: be no real information about the contents of the play itself. Yeah, 516 00:29:50,360 --> 00:29:53,840 Speaker 2: even historians of Hammerstein are like, we don't know, we 517 00:29:53,920 --> 00:29:54,800 Speaker 2: don't know what was in it. 518 00:29:55,040 --> 00:29:55,960 Speaker 1: Wouldn't it be fun? 519 00:29:56,000 --> 00:29:57,000 Speaker 2: Though? Oh? 520 00:29:57,040 --> 00:30:00,400 Speaker 1: The dream? That's my dream for unearthed? One day in 521 00:30:00,440 --> 00:30:03,280 Speaker 1: the wake of this ball, the Martins found that they 522 00:30:03,360 --> 00:30:07,720 Speaker 1: faced a significant increase in their taxes. Their property in 523 00:30:07,760 --> 00:30:10,800 Speaker 1: New York was reevaluated and determined to be word double 524 00:30:10,840 --> 00:30:14,080 Speaker 1: what it had previously been assessed at. This was not 525 00:30:14,240 --> 00:30:16,560 Speaker 1: a case where all of the high end homes of 526 00:30:16,600 --> 00:30:19,920 Speaker 1: New York simultaneously got reassessed and went up in value. 527 00:30:19,960 --> 00:30:23,000 Speaker 1: It was the Martins alone, and they felt this was 528 00:30:23,040 --> 00:30:26,520 Speaker 1: retribution for the Ball. This led to a lengthy dispute 529 00:30:26,520 --> 00:30:29,520 Speaker 1: with New York authorities and large tax sums being paid 530 00:30:29,560 --> 00:30:33,040 Speaker 1: by the Martins. And having that issue after also having 531 00:30:33,120 --> 00:30:37,040 Speaker 1: endured constant criticism from the press, really soured Bradley and 532 00:30:37,080 --> 00:30:40,840 Speaker 1: Cornelia Martin on New York society life. In the spring 533 00:30:40,880 --> 00:30:43,440 Speaker 1: of eighteen ninety nine, Martin sold his home in New 534 00:30:43,520 --> 00:30:46,640 Speaker 1: York with the address twenty and twenty two West twentieth Street, 535 00:30:46,920 --> 00:30:49,520 Speaker 1: that is in the Flatiron District, and he hosted a 536 00:30:49,600 --> 00:30:52,840 Speaker 1: much smaller farewell dinner for their closest friends, eighty six 537 00:30:52,880 --> 00:30:56,400 Speaker 1: of them, before leaving the US for good. They purchased 538 00:30:56,440 --> 00:30:59,440 Speaker 1: a home at for Chesterfields Gardens in London, and from 539 00:30:59,440 --> 00:31:02,960 Speaker 1: that point on Bradley and Cornelia lived exclusively in the 540 00:31:02,960 --> 00:31:07,120 Speaker 1: British Isles. They continued to spend summers at their Scotland estate. 541 00:31:07,880 --> 00:31:12,000 Speaker 1: Bradley Martin died in London on February fifth, nineteen thirteen, 542 00:31:12,120 --> 00:31:15,640 Speaker 1: after a short case of pneumonia which developed at the 543 00:31:15,680 --> 00:31:19,320 Speaker 1: tail end of about of the flu. Even then, sixteen 544 00:31:19,400 --> 00:31:23,440 Speaker 1: years after the Ball, his obituaries ran with subtitles like 545 00:31:23,800 --> 00:31:27,800 Speaker 1: gave great Ball in eighteen ninety seven. When he died, 546 00:31:27,880 --> 00:31:30,959 Speaker 1: he left his entire estate, which was valued at between 547 00:31:31,080 --> 00:31:35,240 Speaker 1: ten and fifteen million dollars, to his wife, Cornelia, much 548 00:31:35,320 --> 00:31:38,400 Speaker 1: to the chagran of American tax assessors, because he had 549 00:31:38,480 --> 00:31:43,320 Speaker 1: established legal residency in England that massive accumulation of assets, 550 00:31:43,720 --> 00:31:47,840 Speaker 1: which consisted of railroad bonds, stock and cash, was not 551 00:31:48,040 --> 00:31:51,760 Speaker 1: taxable in New York according to newspaper records of the time. 552 00:31:52,400 --> 00:31:56,640 Speaker 1: His wife, Cornelia died seven years later. Yeah, and all 553 00:31:56,680 --> 00:31:59,200 Speaker 1: of that bad press, some people have said, kind of 554 00:31:59,240 --> 00:32:04,560 Speaker 1: harkened the of New York society. I could talk about 555 00:32:04,560 --> 00:32:06,840 Speaker 1: this ball forever because it fascinates me. It's such a 556 00:32:06,880 --> 00:32:10,040 Speaker 1: weird and sort of wonderful. But also what kind of 557 00:32:10,080 --> 00:32:16,840 Speaker 1: situation in the meantime? Listener mail? I have delightful listener mail. 558 00:32:17,000 --> 00:32:20,240 Speaker 1: Oh good our listener Jen who writes Hi, guys, longtime 559 00:32:20,280 --> 00:32:22,720 Speaker 1: listener here And whilst I've threatened to write in before 560 00:32:23,040 --> 00:32:25,960 Speaker 1: the episode on Margaret E. Knight tipped me over the edge. 561 00:32:26,360 --> 00:32:29,400 Speaker 1: You speak about industrial mill accidents and I specialize in 562 00:32:29,480 --> 00:32:33,520 Speaker 1: Lancashire dialect weaving songs and ballads from Manchester and Lancashire, 563 00:32:33,600 --> 00:32:37,800 Speaker 1: UK from the nineteenth century. Shuttles were certainly dangerous and 564 00:32:37,840 --> 00:32:41,400 Speaker 1: this is reflected in the songs. In Poverty Knock there's 565 00:32:41,440 --> 00:32:43,800 Speaker 1: a verse about a shuttle flying out and giving a 566 00:32:43,800 --> 00:32:47,120 Speaker 1: weaver a clout, and Sam Fitten of Oldham caricaturist and 567 00:32:47,120 --> 00:32:49,840 Speaker 1: weaver drew an image of a weaver being hit in 568 00:32:49,840 --> 00:32:52,360 Speaker 1: the head with a shuttle and a caption of e 569 00:32:52,640 --> 00:32:56,040 Speaker 1: how nice, Oh, how nice in the cotton factory times. 570 00:32:56,640 --> 00:32:59,200 Speaker 1: I have dedicated my life to making the songs relevant 571 00:32:59,200 --> 00:33:01,920 Speaker 1: to a modern popular to keep the flame of local 572 00:33:02,040 --> 00:33:05,320 Speaker 1: history lit, and most recently have written a manuscript using 573 00:33:05,320 --> 00:33:09,720 Speaker 1: the songs to understand the contemporary garment industry in Bangladesh today. 574 00:33:09,960 --> 00:33:12,240 Speaker 1: My work is here. You can go to Jennifer Ballads 575 00:33:12,280 --> 00:33:15,760 Speaker 1: dot com if you want to check that out. Jennifer 576 00:33:15,800 --> 00:33:17,680 Speaker 1: also writes, keep up the good work. I love driving 577 00:33:17,720 --> 00:33:19,680 Speaker 1: the van and listening to you both. I don't have 578 00:33:19,720 --> 00:33:22,000 Speaker 1: a pet, but here's a picture of my boyfriend and Puffin. 579 00:33:22,320 --> 00:33:24,960 Speaker 1: She also answers to Tiffin and she has the sweetest heart. 580 00:33:26,200 --> 00:33:30,480 Speaker 1: Puffin looks like a husky or malamute and is gorgeous 581 00:33:30,760 --> 00:33:33,920 Speaker 1: and looks like a big baby, which I love all 582 00:33:33,960 --> 00:33:36,400 Speaker 1: the best, And she writes all my best, Jen, thank 583 00:33:36,440 --> 00:33:39,120 Speaker 1: you so much. I love knowing that there's someone out 584 00:33:39,160 --> 00:33:42,560 Speaker 1: there working to make sure this stuff, which we talk 585 00:33:42,600 --> 00:33:47,440 Speaker 1: about as historical past events, yes, stays relevant to people 586 00:33:47,480 --> 00:33:51,160 Speaker 1: and is easy to draw the line from things that 587 00:33:51,200 --> 00:33:53,480 Speaker 1: happen in history to things that are happening today, because 588 00:33:53,520 --> 00:33:56,920 Speaker 1: that's really kind of our whole jam and it's cool 589 00:33:57,080 --> 00:33:59,520 Speaker 1: and I love it. I haven't gotten to go check 590 00:33:59,520 --> 00:34:01,600 Speaker 1: out your work kitchen, but I will after this. 591 00:34:02,640 --> 00:34:07,680 Speaker 2: I only clicked on the url, but I do already 592 00:34:07,720 --> 00:34:11,080 Speaker 2: know the song Poverty Knock because I used to hang 593 00:34:11,080 --> 00:34:14,760 Speaker 2: out with a lot of Renaissance festival performers and folk singers, 594 00:34:15,520 --> 00:34:20,080 Speaker 2: and I think the like, unless that's your jam, unless 595 00:34:20,120 --> 00:34:22,680 Speaker 2: that's like the circle that you move in. I feel 596 00:34:22,719 --> 00:34:25,640 Speaker 2: like the place that people might have encountered that song 597 00:34:26,880 --> 00:34:31,680 Speaker 2: is on a chumble Wamba album, which if the only 598 00:34:31,800 --> 00:34:36,280 Speaker 2: chumbawamba song you know is tub Thumpin' that one. 599 00:34:36,520 --> 00:34:36,919 Speaker 1: That one. 600 00:34:37,800 --> 00:34:41,880 Speaker 2: There's just a whole catalog of songs about like anarchy 601 00:34:42,000 --> 00:34:45,400 Speaker 2: and labor and all of that, including a whole album 602 00:34:45,800 --> 00:34:50,320 Speaker 2: called English Rebels Songs that includes a version of Poverty 603 00:34:50,360 --> 00:34:52,799 Speaker 2: Knock on there. I actually like that song quite a lot, 604 00:34:52,840 --> 00:34:56,040 Speaker 2: so I was very glad to get an email about it. 605 00:34:56,160 --> 00:34:59,680 Speaker 1: Nice. Nice. If you would like to write us an email, 606 00:34:59,680 --> 00:35:03,319 Speaker 1: you can do so at History Podcast at iHeartRadio dot com. 607 00:35:03,360 --> 00:35:06,040 Speaker 1: You can also find us on social media as Missed 608 00:35:06,040 --> 00:35:09,040 Speaker 1: in History, and if you have yet to subscribe, you 609 00:35:09,040 --> 00:35:10,719 Speaker 1: can do that right now. It's super easy on the 610 00:35:10,719 --> 00:35:14,960 Speaker 1: iHeartRadio app or anywhere you listen to your favorite shows. 611 00:35:18,880 --> 00:35:22,000 Speaker 2: Stuff you Missed in History Class is a production of iHeartRadio. 612 00:35:22,360 --> 00:35:26,960 Speaker 2: For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, 613 00:35:27,080 --> 00:35:29,120 Speaker 2: or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.