Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-02-22
THEY DANCED THE WINTER AWAY.
The Dancing Class and Its Campaign
Of Social Pleasure.

w u
The Dancing Class and Its Campaign
Of Social Pleasure.
HOW n VAS ORGANIZED AND THE PLAN THAT II
foLLowED-rHE RULES OBSERVED AT ITS
EEErISes-wHy SQUARE DANCES WERE PRE-
FERRED-rHE cHAPERoSEs AND MENBERs
The month of December as well al the Of
nciai season following il were much eulivened
this yek by the meetings Of the dancing class,
which was organized by a comm ittee OF young
society girls late in the autumn This class has
been to society here what the famous I. C. D. c.
(family circle dancing class) was to New York
society few years ago, while the more preteu-
tious assemblies organized this winter were
analogous to the patriarch, which were supple
mented later by the matriarch bali. the history
OF which form one of the most interesting
chapters of the New York gay world. Both the
New York balls were held as Delmonico's, while
only the assemblies Of this city were held in a
public ball The meetings of the dancing class
were held in private houses.
The dancing class as at present organized
cannot be properly called a revival OF Miss
Vests class. as that was intended TO teach the
younger members of the diplomatic corps in
members of the foreign legations here belong
10 the present class but to teach to dance Is
not the prime object Of the class. but to enjoy
the eNhlleratlng exercise with those who are
already proficient In weaving the intricate
windings OF the may"
The first intimation the committee gave to
their friends that anything material had been
evolved from sundry fugitive meetings that
we're held around at the homes of the girls (the
first one was held at Mrs. Preston's in Novem-
W fha int 49, L., fztl
ton: "A dancing class has been organized for
the ensuing winter of which you have been
elected member. II will meet every week be-
fore the season and every fortnight thereafter"
Slgned-Miss Blaine. Miss Berry, Miss Biddle,
Miss Brooke, Miss Bancroft, Miss Lay, Miss
Mullan, the Misses Preston, Miss Pauncefote,
and Miss Mitchell secretary
THE MEErISas
On Friday night, November 20. the class was
fully organized and held its first meeting in
the beautiful ball room of Mrs. Jno. r. Nc
Lean. The membership roll registered the
names OF thirty girls and sixty men. The class
increased in number and Importance as the
season advanced and the rolls now show over
100 names. The men paid no fees. the girls
each paid % into fund, and the first payment
made out OF it went for huge bouquet Of
white and purple violets and orchids that was
presented to Mrs. Mclean. their frat hostess
on the night of the ball. Following the first
dance came the other meetings which were held
at Mrs. Myers, Mrs. Mullan's, Mr.. DavidGe's,
Mrs. 1. u. NJ. Mason's. Lady Pauucefote's at
the British legation, DIR. and Mrs Vim. A.
Hammond's at Beicourt, Mrs. Wanamaker's,
Mrs. Fullers and at Mrs. ID. Il. McKee's, where
the final meeting of the class was danced. IL
was always the privilege of the hostess who en-
tertained the class to ASK as many of her friends
as she cAose Tor the evening entertainment
'sMALL AND EARLY"
The original scheme for tla finus ~ tbo
dancing class was that they should be ..smalI
and early" At Mrs. McLean's, where the first
dance was given, it began at $50 O'Clock and
the members were in their homes by midnight.
The membership grew apace aud as the dissi-
patlons OF the season advanced the hours kept
grew later and later until ct the last meeting
ON the night OF February IL. dancing did not
begin until IL O'Clock. Instead Of having
dance once fortnight the class danced once a
week throughout the season excepting when,
for the deaths of two beloved members-Mr
Walker Blaine and Miss Tracy-the meetings
were omitted The bylaws of the class pre-
scribed the refreshments which were always
served for one hour during the evening, and
consisted OF a collation. of salads, croquettes,
ices, cakes and punch. and forbade champagne.
SQUARE DANCES PREFERRED.
The favorite dances of the class were the
square dances rather than the round ones.
Dancing in the barn, the Alsatian, the lanciers,
Virginia reel and Sir Roger de Coverly's favor
lite were the forms OF this elegant exercise
most affected. The diplomats did not take
kindly to waitzes and polkas. but they danced
the square dances with spirit and abandon.
The chaperones appointed in the autumn,
and who were most faithful in the perform
ance of their duties. were Mrs. Blaine Mrs A.
Z. Barney. Lady PauncofOte. Mrs. j. X. Nc
Lean, Mrs. Klndleberger, Mrs. Henry May,
Mrs. Hearst, Mrs. Michael, Mrs. Hammond,
hrA nj rfr Ma Ia l.,
son, Mrs. Cabot Lodge, Mrs. Morton, Mrs. I.
Il. NJ. Mason, Mrs. Pollock, Mrs ID. r. Mckee,
Mrs Wanamaker, Mrs. Wilmerding and Mrs.
Handy.
THE MEMBERS.
The members were Count dArco Valley. Mr..
Won Mumm, Mr.. Paul Andrews, Mr.. Philip
Alger, MIR. Addison, DIR. Bispham, Mr.. Bliss
Mr.. W. Blair, Mr.. Jessup Blair. MIR. III. Blair,
Mr.. Arthur Brice, Mr.. Truxton Beale. Mr..
Harold Binney, Mr.. Chas. Barry. Mr.. W. v r.
Berry, Mr.. John NJ Biddle Col. Carpenter.
Mr.. Campbell. Mr. Claperede. Mr.. da Costa
MIR. Cunningham, Count dc Chambrun. Miss
Alma. MISS Ashford Miss Letter Miss Rosalie
Brown. Miss Beach, Miss Bancroft. Miss Biddle.
Miss Elsa Bliss. Miss Brooke. Miss Berry. Miss
Mildred Carlisle, Miss Card, Miss CorkhilI,
Miss Cameron. Miss Cooper, Miss Dahlgrcn.
Miss Deerins, Miss Mui!an. Miss Davidge, Miss
Edie, Miss Emory, Miss Mildred Fuller, Miss
Greer, Miss Horsey, Miss cambridge
h Hon, Mr.; Chiffon. Mr.. Colwen, Mr..
Henry Edwardes, Mr.. Eckerstein. Mr.. Eldridge.
Baron Fava, MIR. ]. Renee Fava. jr., Mr.. Fer
riere, Mr.. lie CHAT, M. Grip. Mr.. Hendrlck-
son, Mr.. George HELEN, Mr.. G.. Hunt. Mr. Hos
mer, Mr.. Hansen, Mr.. Arthur Herbert. DIR.
Jenkins, Lieut.. Kellogg, Mr.. George Levi, Mr..
Blair Lee, Mr.. Frank Lee, Miss Stith, the
Misses Taylor, the Misses Window, Miss Wanna
maker, Miss May Williams, Miss Williams.
Prince fturbide, MIR. Wallace, Mr.. dc Week.
herlin. Mr.. Wallach, Mr.. Wiley the Messrs.
Webb, Senator Walcott, Mr.. Ward Thoron. Mr..
Truxton. LIE Chevalier Tavera, Mai. Turnbuu
Mr.. Steedman. Coun. Sala, Mr.. Van Swinderen,
MIR. Sanford. MIR. Sternberg. Lieut. Schofield,
Mr.. Rowan Stevens DIR. Ruth. Mr. s. Rodgers
MIR. Harry Reynolds, Mr.. de LAMA Roza, the
Misses james, Lieut.. Refer Miss Laura Jack
son, Miss Lay, Miss Lowery. Miss Mitchell,
Miss keever. the Misses Myer. Miss
Mcmillan, Miss Ogsden, Miss Parker.
the Misses Pauncefote, Miss Penui-
man, Miss Porter. Miss Roth, the
Misses Preston. Miss Redfern, Miss Speed. Miss
Coudit Smith, Miss Stoughton, Miss Souires.
Miss Story, Mr.. w. Lowery. the Misses Legare,