The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-29

Christmas has come and gone, and
society finds itself on the tioodtide of the
season with everything as bright and CAV
as possible, and as much offering Gs its
members can do. The season has but six
weeks left before Lent February 49,,
and it will be with difficulty that the en-
tertainments can be crowded into Sc short
time. After Christmas is The period
when society is really in earnest; all that
goes before is more or less preparatory ;
many people, especially the married
women, do not make their appearance at
all until after the new year.
This season has been an exception to
this, however, for it commenced unusually
early and has been very gay for San Fran
cisco from the first, ali of which THE
GALL predicted as far back as September.
Just why this has been so no one seems
to know, unless it could have been the
early October weddings. The debutante
list was smaller than usual. People are
not particularly well off this year, but
they have been full of energy and enter
prise, and have made this season marked
one among our society years.
After the new year has come the invita-
tons VIII 60 out with a rush. The char
acters Of the entertainments having
changed with the season, OF course, the
tea and reception must now give place to
the dance, the theater and dinner party
and suppers after the small dancing classes
A great many dinners were given this year
before Christmas, usually before the larger
dances, but these are never given in quite
the formal and swell way that the dinners
yet TO come will be.
The dinner before the large dance but
leads up to the dance to come. Its hours
are short, the quests, SO far from being
able to linger on the good things of the
meal and the evening afterward, are always
hurried to get to the hall before the dance
is too far over. The men almost always
have partners and nowadays when the
seats are in such demand and the girls so
energetic in arriving early to get good ones,
a man must be on hand by g or $50 O'Clock,
so german dinner must be slurred over
somewhat.
The dinners are also given generally to
the younger people, who prefer dancing
to the pleasures of the table, but the
season is now at hand when the married
people commence to entertain, and to en-
terrain for their own benefit and pleasure.
There is certain set that bid each other
to dinner, and the dinners are not divided
up in any way, but are made the business
Of the evening, ana it is seldom that the
young people, especially the young men,
get a chance at them.
Dinner invitations in New York are said
TO be sent out month beforehand, so as
to secure the requisite number of guests.
and, although those invited appreciate the
necessity of such course, they often re-
luctantly accept, as one does not like to
promise for even pleasant thing SO long
ere it takes place, as it is well known that
nothing but sudden death can absolve
from dinner engagement.
The prospects fer gay New Year at Del
Monte and Burlingame were never more
promising. Quite a number left on yester-
days train fer the former place, and on
Tuesday the residences of Henry Scott, Joe
Grant, Will Croker, the Dick Tobins,
L 6SC1 OOAdauS SilQ w after hOUdTI VIII De
filed with their friends. There will be
polo, some races and dance at the club
house on New Years eve. At Del Monte
there is sure to be an enjoyable time, and
mine host Arnold has everything in readi-
ness. The music is already there, so a
good time is assured. The bathhouse is
open and a midwinter plunge and swim
will not be a bad idea. The annual ball
will take place on the night of the 31st and
some good sport will be enjoyed on the
New Year.
Mrs. Horace Blanchard Chase has ar
rived in Chicago, where she is visiting her
husbands relations.
Miss Marie VOORHEES,, who went to At
lanta to represent the branch here of the
Daughters of the Revolution, is now the
guest OF her sister. Mrs. Malcolm Henry,
at her home in Washington, DC.
The return OF Mrs. Southland Hoffman,
Miss Hoffman and Miss Alice Hoffman is
yet uncertain, but they are expected some
time before the Lenten season.
The theatcr party given by Miss Nina
schwabacher was thoroughly enjoyable
affair. After the performance the young
people repaired 10 the California Hotel,
where dance followed.
NlSf MARY Kin rave a very en- iovable