The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-04-26
THE AMENITIES Or SOCIAL LIFE.


l 49, hS A4Nn Aaha $3.50 w.
thereof. 1t ia proper for intimate friend
to make Il request for invitations to a ball
for friends, distinguished strangers, or TO
young and desirable dancing men, but no
for ladies.
No offense must be taken if any sucl
request is refused. for ones list may b
full. 1t Is well to have a tea-room opel
on the second floor, where bullion, tea, cot
fee mi Il plate of sandwiches may b
found, for those who do not wish a heav,
supper. also a large bowl of iced lemonade
A smoking-room open downstairs may o.
provided for the gentlemen: it is the heigh
of impropriety for gentlemen to smoke IL
the dressing-rooms. At public balls ther,
should be managers, ushers, stewards and
if possible, a committee of ladies to re-
ceive.
1t is much more conducive to the ele-
gance and responsibility of a ball, 1t there
are ladies Yho assume the role of hostess
for the evening.
An awning and a carpet should be placed
at the front entrance of a house i'll which Il
ball is to be given, to protect the guests
against the weather and the gaze OF the
crowd of bystanders, who are always on the
watch in q great city to see the we'll dressed
ladies alight.
Garden parties are becoming very fash
ionable at Newport, Bar Harbor II in our
rural cities and at country houses which
are accessible to q town.
When invitations are sent + ON such a
place a card should be inclosed stating the
hour at which trains leave, which train
or boat to take, also carriages will
meet the two O'Clock train from such
a station all desirable information.
in the open air. the refreshments are
served out of doors. but there should
be a reserve inside in case of rain, there
should be chairs. turkey rugs and every
preparation for the rheumatic and elderly.
4 hostess should nave her lawn tennis cur
tain in order, the croquet laid out, the
archery tools in place, SO that her guests
may amuse themselves. Sometimes a plat
form is laid for dancing; but whether
there is dancing or not a band OF
music is a very great advantage to the
of a garden party.
If a rejection is served out of doors all
the dishes must be cold. Pate de foie gras,
salads, birds, ham, tongue and
cold pates, %jellies, ices. charlottes. cakes,
claret cup and punch arc in
The hostess receives out of doors
her bonnet on. The carriages drive
up to the doc n the ladies go indoor and
take off their wraps, brushing Off the dust.
Coffee and tea are served in the house
those who wish them.
Now that hunting is SO much the fashion,
now that women enter SO very much nto
opSAp, a Y III Il ptIb VA WA 49,
give hunt balls, and hunt breakfasts, which
resemble a garden party at the varl-
Gus hospitable country houses and club
houses near the large cities.
The garden party requires more manage
ment on the part of the hostess. People
not accustomed to them get stranded and
find them dull.
The servants, too, must be we'll trained
and preserve the good appearance OF the
table and the feast.
No doubt the garden party is a trouble
some affair. but when once ~lnaugurated it
is very we'll worth the trouble.
In England they have added on the CIV
Of a play in the open air. A You
Like It, and midsummer Nights Dream
some young people OF Oyster bay or Elber-
on improve the shining hour
getting up such a pastime
a rustic masquerade, a copy of the gar
den parties. which Boucher has immortal
lied, i'll which we see the gay marques all
paint and powder moving nature with her
fair and airy graces, a delightful combina-
ton although somewhat affected, forced
and conventional in those garden parties
which Vatican has put on his fans; we
lave only to copy them to light up a
neighborhood by gentlemen in
fine silk coats and lace, and ladirs of
the time of Louis XIV. to have a garden
party which could be most attractive to
those who got it up as we'll as to those who
saw it. Some of the villa owners about the
great cities have made of their country
places a terrestrial paradise by these festivi-
ties.
Then, to add hunting to the charms of
perennial season, what is required? 1t
is a very expensive thing to be a Diana.
What o a young girl need who rides
to hounds?" For Diana no longer hunts on
90 che Ii6 in +ha dave of ApfanO
She must have two thoroughbred hunters;
she mast nave a groom. a English habit, a
considered outfit; she must be q
we'll taught and fearless horsewoman.
The mon in this country aunt in pink,
as they call bright scarlet coats in Eng
They have a master of the hounds, a
lofty creature who says: Ladies and gen
dogs start off, and follow over fence and
over stone wall the hunters, a pretty sight.
The habit of ridlnp every day should
precede the break-neck jump. No one
should pretend to hunt who has not a good
seat, a good horse and p enty OF nerve:
The terrible accidents, the death of one
or two prominent members of the Queens
manning and injuring of several ladies
over the stone walls at Newport,
should warn us that this is not a hunt
ing country az yet. Dancing beng the
favorite amusement of every season, and
even the hunt bail now being an institution
at which the scarlet coats are worn, and tie
brush is presented to the best rider, it may
not be inappropriate TO say Il few words
about the salutlng act.
The valse a deux temps keeps the pre-
cedence in Europe varied with galop, polka
and polka mazurka. In America we add
dancing in the bain,' which is really 6
Spanish dance.
The minuet de la cour is a most stately
and beautiful dance. as is the pavanne
and worthy of study, especially for fame,
dress balls.
But the german, born at Brussels afte.
the battle of Waterloo, holds it's own.
This grand round quadrille, with it
many figures, was invented to bring tn,
whole ballroom into a state of intimat.
commotion. and to lead it we'll requires thu
genius of a Wellington or Il Napoleon, il
it's way. 1t is the perfection of tact AM
tactics.
1t Is an allegory of society III its com
pllcated and beWildering complications
its winding and nnwinding of the tangled
chain.
In every large city a set arises whose ain
is to be exclusive. Sometimes this privileQ
seems to be pushed too far. Again one j
astonished at the black sheep who lea
over the we'll defined Enclosures. In Londol
formerly an autocratlc set of ladies vel
known as Almacks turned out the Duke O
Wellington because he wore a blac
crayat. In our republican country per
petual Almacks arise offensive and de
f%enslve, which has it's awkwatdness and it
advantages. 1t keeps up an interest in sc
clety. 1t IS like the fire in the engine,
makes the train move. even ii it sends on
smoke and cinders which get int
peoples eyes and make them weep. 1t
Il part of the inevitable friction which ne