The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-11-04
PRINGLE, SOCIAL AMMO UNCER.
ne Created the Once and Made HimseIfI IA
dispensnble 70 BrookIyn SocIety.

Pringle Is ons of Brooklyn's personages.
When the visitor within Brooklyn's gates has
been RECALLED with an account Of its hundred
and one amateur dramatic societies, its ceme-
terics and its politics, then the name of Pringle
Is spoken and his qualifications rehearsed to
dazzle the mere New Yorker or Bostonian
sojourning within the churchly city. Pringle
is the social announcer" OF Brooklyn. The
office did not seek the man nor the man the
Office. He created 1t. "
Until a few years ago Brooklyn had no social
announcer. Pringle at this time was IA society.
detective" His duty was to attend fashionable
weddings In the garb of an up-to-date swell and
keep an eye upon the wedding presents. People
would observe the tall, distinguished Hooking
man standing silent and alone. and would ask
whp the naughty stranger was, and they would
I've informed in whispers that 1t was "Pringle."
All this time Pringle was thinking.
He observed with pain that Brooklyn's pride
and fashion had no system in It's junketing.
Guests came and went and no one knew
whether they were from New York's inner
circle or from Jamaica. except through pre-
Sions acquaintance or a private introdnctlon'
Sis c wnoeyeT P seIs sa aIan orpS Snow th eie neishbors
at dinner or the chief usher from the minister.
They entered drawing rooms as II they were
going to q baseball game instead OF n social
function. In Pringle's brain then originated
the idea which was, to bring, JOY TO brooklyn, He
UAh VIZ NcNN ~ 'hu. hiio ~
would be q pleasant innovation to have him
stand at the drawing room door and, as the
In clear tones. The leader thought well Of 1t
and at the ihpigetonga, ball. the swaggerest OF
the season. Pringle made his debut and electro
fled the guests with his glitter and his voice.
From that time he was rs necessary to a fe>-
tiyity as the punch bowl or the ~sandwiches.
portance was complete without Pringle's
presence. lie gradually enlarged his sphere
social manager and looked after everything,
from the waters to the carriages, He saw that
wedding ring was the right size. He assembled
fle bridesmaids in the lobby OF the church, In
H " psi io srn 1ns a IT riae Of 1o she sri STade deI as s attended, aed
saw 10 it that the happy. pair escaped with
their lives; At church weddings Pringle noti-
10 take them to the, church. and, ten minutes
later he sends word to the bride. When, the
taxes wraps. and signals to the musicians to
play just as the bride and bridegroom are enter
Then" says P'ringie. II take up my position
at the door and announce the guests as they
enter taking care that they do not crowd too
fast, upon the newly made man and wife. At
receptions | am master of ceremonies. l look
after the refreshments and see that there are
seats for all the guests in the dining room at
one time. This prevents unpleasant, crowding.
Caterers walters are as a rule hired by the daY.
and therefore are not reliable. frequently at
steal hundreds of dollars worth OF wine. l see
One OF Pringie's latest achievements has been
TO invent a uniform which he wears when on
duty, and he looks forward to the day when all
walters will be uniformed. The uniform Is
like any full dress suit except that a row OF
narrow gilt braid edges the coat aud extends in
tive, and IL 1t were adopted generally il would
prevent much OF the confusion that exists at
modern functions when walters are not always
dlstinguishable from the guests.
Prtngle makes his own price for his services
his on hours Prin .hs' works as for Tneie Sam In
the garb OF a postman.