The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-01
A BALL WITHOUT A MAN.
Young Ladies in Swal1ow-Tailed Coats an
Knee Breeches ssPIaying Dudes"

Young Ladies in Swallow-Tailed Coats and
Knee Brooches s'PIaying Dudes"
Pittsburg Commercial-Gazette.
There was ball at the Pennsylvania Female
College last nght-a ball the like of which is not
often seen. The irreverent youth who listened
near the entrance to the grounds said a ''hen
party" was going on, and a companion who
claimed to possess superior knowledge denied
this, explaining that ''the girls were just playing
dudes" Up on top of the hill from the long
windows of the chapel came light only seen
when the youag ladies are at home Within the
chapel the floor was cleared and every bench
pushed back, and on the little stage at the east
end an orchestra was seated. Under the many
lighted chandeliers gay throng was moving,
and as the music of waltz sounded swayed off
in the onetwo three step of that favorite dance
The costumes were brilliant and the scene re-
markabe. Everybody was young and every
body was handsome.
At first glance spectator could not but help
notice tho men. They didn't seem to be quite
the usual thing. Smooth-faced youths they
were, all of them with bangs, and most of them
blessed with more back hair than the average
young man can handle with any degree of grace.
Their garb was not exactly the regulation The
black swallow-tail coat. the standing collar, the
exposure of snowy linen and the black waistcoat
were according to standard. But the breeches
were something new. They were made of some
sort of striped stuff and stopped at the knee.
From there down to the patent feathers the
limbs were encased in black silk stockings The
carriage of these gallants was strange, too, and,
on a second glance, the remarks of the youth at
the entrance could be understood. These boys
were girls. 1t was the annual ball of the college
students, and one half of them were masquerad
ing in male attire Not a real man was in sight
except the musicians, who don't count-but
there were plenty Of limitations, and right hon
estly did they fill their parts. To be sure, some
of them needed coaching in the matter of hand
ling crush hats, and lolling in the doorways, but
the majority of them had seen enough of the
simon pure to go through the motions without a
break.
The ladies, that is the ladies who were appear
ing in their own character, were dressed in the
height of style. The assertion that women won't
dress for women wouldn't have had half chance
at the college last night Low neck and short
sleeves were the rule, trains longer than their
powdered hair. 1t was full dress for a certainty.
The rules that are in force in ordinary social as
semblages of this kind were strictly observed,
and there was due soemnty about the affair.
Only in one place was this infringed upon, and
that was where the dignifed lady principal and
her corps of assistants stood watching the pro-
cecdings. They were privileged characters. and
laughed until handkerchiefs were necessary to
wipe away the tears.
'How was this thing fxeds How did you
decide who should be gentlemen and who should
be adies2' was asked of one bright-eyed little
lady, who sat waving fan almost as big as her
self.
"Oh. all the girls wanted to be boys. It's
such fun, you know. / had no chance was
too little and all the other little girls were put
off in the same way. Then the big girls drew
lots, and that's how it was fixed Amt it funW
seemed to regard it. The music started early,
and was ringing until the early hours of the
morning came, and through it all not man was
there.