13 June 1885

[Daily Prophet]

JUNE 13TH 1885

Coming Out Balls Are Stupid A Letter To The Editor

My niece graduated two weeks ago. She had spent the entire year making plans about her coming out ball. My sister and her husband spent a monstrous amount of money just on her ball gown alone, an amount that I would only consider taking out of my pocket if I was offered a private island. (Here, I should note, that I am exaggerating.) Needless to say that my niece was heartbroken when the coming out ball was cancelled. And so were my sister and brother-in-law. They can thankfully afford to host her a private ball later this summer, but I’ve heard many of my friends say that the cancellation of Hogwarts’ ball was truly devastating for they cannot afford to host a ball of their own. _____________________________________________________________

And I wonder. Why should there be a ball? Why should there be a ball to dictate whether a girl is “out” or not? Is a fifteen-year-old more eligible for marriage than a twenty-five-year-old because the first had a coming out ball and the latter didn’t? Coming out balls are just a waste of money and time. It is not like our daughters are or can be presented in front of the Queen, which is part of this coming out business! Do we want to be muggles so much that we do sad copies of their functions? We spend fortunes on silly ballgowns according to the muggle fashion. And then we parade our daughters in front of gossipy old aunts and disgusting old men! If I ever have a daughter I will absolutely not partake in this silly custom. AUTHOR: Anonymous

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