Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-04-15
SOCIETY GERMANS.
THEIR BANfRUL REJECTS UPON THE
SOCIAL WORLD.
Joanna Thinkwsll Gives Fer Views Upon
the sutject-The Harm that is Being
Done in Oar Midst
IFOr the Disnafch.l

tFor the Dispstch.l
M Dear Mrs. 7aikWeH:
In our quiet town the young people
have for some time wished to form a
german club to be chaperoned by your
self and me, and l promised when
came 10 Richmond TO attend a german
and make all inquiries concerning it. and
if | saw no greater objections TO il than
those l have heard urged heretofore
would accede to tho request OF the
young people on my return. II is neces-
sary that 1 should give you the benefit
OF my impressions since We are TO act
together for the pleasure and profit Of
our sons and daughters. A kind young
friend, in full sympathy with our plan,
procured an invitation for me, and was
fortunately seated by a most gracious
and agreeable chaperone, who was in
terested at once when made known my
object. The hall was bright and fresh
and the music had already begun, and
soon the long rows of cOuples-beau-
tifully-dressed girls and handsome
men-were leading out to the
strains OF lovely and inspiring
waltz. Their bearing was dignitied and
graceful, they danced well and with
spirit. figure after figure, intricate and
beautiful, until was forced to exclaim,
"How shamefully this elegant amuse-
ment has been slandered nothing could
be prettier or more refined than the ger
man." And so tits. / turned to my kind
acquaintance, and said: ~ suppose
! every young lady in society is here to-
night?" "Oh, no, by no means many
of the most charming girls in the city
are not asked" "They cannot come
unless asked by young mem" Ger
tainly not, and it happens so frequently. "
"Then young ladies are entirely de-
pendent upon the young men for the po-
sition they hold in society ?" almost
entirely" ! made mental note to this
effect. "The german is unjust" This
hall, music, and all the accessories must
cost a good deal" remarked. "Only
about two dollars, to each gentleman, [
believe" And the carriage {" "AbOut
three" | did little sum at once. "And
the exquisite roses most of the ladies
wear 2" From two to five" "Two,
three, and three more, ei9hL" "All the
young mon in this club are wealthy.
I suppose ?" "The average salary is
about fifty dollars a month. Board,
clothing, germans, and all other neces-
sary expenses, and fny dollars to do it, "
ran through my head. "Six will not go
into five and leave a remainder by any
process of reasoning I've ever tried, 4"
thought /. "Ihis is all wrong; the
poor young men just beginning life bear
the burden and expense of society"
SECOND NoTE.-"Tho german is too
expensive for youug men,"
Accosting my companion, ] said: " Is
there much taste and cultivation in
music here among the young ladies ?"
NO, l think not. The girls haven't
time, you know. They go to two or
three germans a week during the season,
and are obliged TO rest nearly all the
next day; so they can't practice. In
fact. home accomplishments have en-
tirely given place to dancing here"
THIRD NOrE.-"The german absorbs
too much time and destroys taste for other
and more enduring accomplishments. "
"a young lady seems to be i'll, and is
being taken to the dressing-room, !"
"Yes, her mother always comes with
her She is very delicate, but WiH
come, though she has been adj
vscd often not to do so, AMI her
mother has to come and sit I'M
til a late hour, though she has large
household, and her duties require her to
rise as early tomorrow rs on any other
day"
ForRrH NorE. -"The german makes
its votaries selfish and inconsiderate of
health
At the close of the evening as passed
through the dressing-room l caught
snatches of "Poor Alice couldn't come
tonight. Her grandmother had to go
and die yesterday, as if she couldn't
find any other time. Alice is furious,
and SAYS she certainly intends to come
TO the next german. The old lady did
not live here, you know.
FIFTH NoTR.-" The german makes
young people heartless." Ny polite ac-
auaintance invited me to come next eve
ming and witness a party at her house.
The hours were from 8 to /. General
dances of different kinds the first part
of the evening. german to begin at II.
Being anxious to see how party OF this
kind was managed in private
house | accepted. The house was
a charming old homestead, every
room thrown open for dancing
or supper A large number of invita-
tons we're issued, but the guests came in
one and two at time, very slowly. and
at half-past 10 there had but just begun
to be enough to dance the lancers, and
the Young men stood off and looked
rather tired, and / caught snatche9 Of
"She'll be here for the german "she
doesn't care iOr this sort of thing and
presently there was a great crowd OF
newcomers, who had evidently arranged
10 arrive as near the same time as posi-
bic. They laughed and talked to each
other. scarcely taking time to speak TO
the hostess, who stood between the par
lor doors they settled like locnsts all
over the rooms, chatting always together.
The Young men, tired no longer, in the
most alert and perfunctory manner rush
ed around collecting chairs, clearing the
rooms of all useless incumbrance, unseat-
ing every lady who was enjoying tete-d-
tete in the hall, moving those who stood
about the rooms, until they knew they
were not wanted there, tying chairs to-
gether, seating themselves, blowing the
whistle, signalling the music, and, in fact
occupying all the rooms thrown open to
the whole party Of guests, and driving
even the hostess to a stand next the front
door. SO that the ill-used remainder Of the
company could not do less than take the
hint and retire. Two thirds, therefore,
of the number invited to large private
dancing party from 8 to l o'clock were
routed at IL, and found themselves com
fortably doing at an hour when the ma
Tor portion, gloating over their victory,
had the floor and the music all to them
selves. And the conclusion of all this In
nv mind, as | considered it that night.
was that the objections L had always
heard to the german had no foundation,
bnt the results of the fascinating amuse-
ment upon young people bring me to
see that
/. Society is regulated by its young
men. and should be by its young ladies.
2. The expense of society is borne by
Young men, and should be as it once
was--by the parents of young ladies.