Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1880-01-21
The LEAP.YEAR PARTY.
A VERY ENJOYABLE AND sue.
CESSFUL AFFAIR,
The Ladies In Chsrge-The Rules
Adopted, and How Enforced
Some Gentlemen Who "DOn't
Bite"

Bite"
The Leap. Year party given under
the auspices of the Cosmopolitan
Social Club of this city, last Friday
evening, proved even more enjoy
able than had been anticipated.
About half past 8 o'clock invited
guests began to arrive from Empire,
Virginia, Gold Hill and Dayton, and
1t became evident that the attendance
would be large. At 9 O'Clock the
ladies retired to their dressing room,
leaving the members of the stel ner
sex disconsolate and alone in the
hall. Half an hour later they reap
peared, when the names of the man.
ayers and rules to govern dancers
were read, as follows:
Directress-Miss Emma Geyer, of
Silver.
Floor Managers. - Misses Celia
Kline, OF Gold Hill; and Annie
Henry, of Silver.
Committee on Rules.-Miss Bry-
ant, of Empire; Mrs. Curno and
Miss Fanny Carroll, of Gold Hill;
Miss Minnie Leslie, of Dayton; Mrs.
Langabeer, Miss Ella Jones and
Miss Sarah Angel, of Silver.
Ten rules were read-Forbidding
gentlemen to leave their seats, from
any cause, unless accompanied by
ladies; the gentlemen were not to
ask the ladies to dance; they were to
refrain from going out to supper l.
less invited to go by lady; in walk
ing a gentleman was not to offer his
arm to a lady, but take hers. In all
cases not specified gentlemen were
TO behave exactly as ladies did at all
other balls, and vice versa The
penalties prescribed were the loss of
as many dances as were on the pro-
gramme. A committee composed of
Professors McMartin, of Empire;
Baker, of Virginia; Bray, of Dayton;
and Van Wagenen, of SILVER, were 10
act in conjunction with the ladies to
preserve order and to enforce disci-
pline.
The reading of the rules was fol-
lowed by the command from Miss
Geyer--" Take partners for the
Grand Marchr At this order the
gentlemen instantly forgot that it
was leap-year party, the ladies fol-
lowed suit, and all hands found
themselves in the center of the hall.
Professors Baker and Bray were
among the first to claim their part
ners- Miss Henry and Miss Leslie
and the spectacle was thus presented
of two members of the Committee ON
Discipline, member Of the Com
mittee on Rules and floor manager
violating the very rules which they
had established and were expected to
enforce! Realizing the situation they
beat hasty retreat, but on second
thought, the musicians having struck
the first notes and the entire assem-
blage being on the floor, they re-
sumed their places in the line of
march. This example was god
send to all present, as some gentle
men who were in danger OF being
neglected did not hesitate 10 step up
to the ladies, under some pretense or
other, and slyly ask if the next dance
was not that which the lady had
claimed? The ladies, however, were
somewhat more respectful of the
rules; but some of them were glad
that they were not adhered to, as they
could hardly muster up sufficient
courage to ask the gentlemen to
dance. This was especially notice
able during the first hour, when half
q dozen young ladies sat looking
wistfully at the dancers. AS the
sexes were in about equal proper
ton, this bashfulness OF the ladies
deprived as many gentlemen of the
pleasure of dancing. Finally, one of
the latter hit upon brilliant idea.
Procuring few sheets Of foolscap he
wrote upon them, in large letters, the
words: /" We don't bite" This as
surance had the desired effect, and
brought the very reserved young
ladies to the asking point.
The dancing having become gen.
eral all present had a splendid time,
and the ladies behaved las some of
the dancers expressed iD like perfect
gentlemen. The party broke up
about daybreak.