Birmingham state herald., 1895-10-17

As the winter approaches it is gratify- ing to note the indications of most agreeable social season, which will come so us with the kindling of fires upon hos pitable hearths. And there is every req son to believe that there will be much private entertaining this winter, more than usual This will add in every way to the pleasure and improvement of our community It will bring our people to- gether in kindly intercourse, which will result in a closer and better knowledge ore of the other and tend to show the brightest sides of our natures and teach LIS that there is something in life besides the greed for money and our own seltSh and narrow instincts. Nothing broadens us like constant intercourse with our feI- low creatures. And peep into our neighbors' hearts will oft times show us a measure of human sympathy that will make Us forever hold a truer estimate of our fellow men. The cynie and the mi santhope are never social creatures. They are the human bats and owls who prefer the creviees and shadows, and hide from the sunlight of life. They only see in the darkness and frighten the timidu with their uncanny ways. Like Poe's Raven they are forever perched above some life less object, and croak their dismal words, while just outside their gloomy chamber warbles the mocking bird and chatters the sparrows whose every chirp is thanksgiving to God for light and life. So it is well for us to gather together at appropriate seasons and 10 develop there by the best instincts of our beings and to make the existence of ourselves and friends sweeter and better because we will react one upon the other.
 We need not be deterred in our hos pitable desires by the fear of great ex- pense, for genuine hospitality should have no moneyed value, and the we'll bred people of the world never estimate our entertainments according to the amount we have spent. There are very many homes in Birmingham peculiarly adapted for entertaining, and certainly Inc other city can surpass us in the class of men and women who constitute the social life of our town. Every communi- ty in Alabama and nearly every state has contributed some of it's best represent tatives to our citizenship, and these good people form cultivated, charming so- cety rarely equaled in any other city, no matter what it's age or it's advantages.
 
 The social clubs of Birmingham are in a more flourishing condition than usual. The Southern club, our oldest and largest organization, is considering the propriety of establishing itself in permanent quar- ters and it is to be hoped that their plans will mature and that they will soon have a home fully in keeping with the prestige of the club. The Philhedonians are already settled in their comfortable rooms and will entertain constantly through the winter. Both the Southern and Phihedonian clubs have been eX- ceedngly generous and hospitable and have contributed very greatly to the brightening of our social life. So untir- ing have they been that it is well that the time is upon us when their consider of mn 1 md na hn vii more private entertainments. There are several other organizations, among them the Highanders, who have been unre- mltting in their efforts to entertain their friends, although they have not yet es- tabIished themselves in regular quarters. When we discuss social matters we must always remember that society is very faulty and incomplete which ignores the married contingent and entirely relegates parents to background. There cannot be that dignity and elevation which is es- sential to proper social conditions where the married people of a community take no part in these matters. This does not imply that all gatherings of young peo- pie must be spTinkled with a goodly company of married friends. Far from it. for this would prove very onerous undertaking for the average hostess but married people must contribute their part towards sustaining the interest and dignity of society in every appropriate way. Mothers and fathers owe it to their children to keep in touch with the people about them. and it is their boun- den duty to make their homes bright, cheerful and attractive It should be their pleasure to make all the conditions of life which surround them the bright est and best that is possible for them and their children.
 Speaking of matters which pertain to tAf, .,,,1t people to read what a New York paper says of the latest dances:
 The belles and beaux of New York rociety may be fickle in many thi1gs. but to the two-step' they remain true. Again this year the gay little dance heads the list of even the new dances planned for the coming season. 1t mas NueradeS under a new name, as the 'Trilby.' but it Is the same ot' two-step he favorite which every one enjoys. An Fther variation of this dance Is the Yale two-step, where four walking steps are introduced. It is trifie more dignified, but none the less enjoyable. The fact is that the two-step has so won the hearts of society that it predominates in all the new dances this year. The tendency of the coming season is for an open position at the beginning of dance and then united position This is particularly seen in the 'Trilby' two-step
 "But to give variety to the dancing order there must be other dances save the two-step. and so when Professor Bournique and his colleagues of the American Society of Professors of Danc- ing met in convention at Saratoga this fall they put their wise heads together and decided the fate of the new dances submitted by the members. One impor- tant feature of the convention was the adoption of a standard set of lanciers In past seasons there have been so many variations to the regular lanciers that it was most embarrassing to the uninitia- ted to attempt this simple square dance. Now when society dances the lanciers it will dance it according to one particular rule. The standard lanciers omits the salute and is cut down to four figures The first figure is danced four times
 Hike history, the waltz repeats itself every season. This year it will be danced with more stately grace than of old The hop waltz is quite a thing of the past The caprice is another somewhat old dance which will be high in favor this year but it will have to share the horors with the polka. for apparently the latter will be danced by old and young until the end of time. The step is so simple and the polka music always so hard to resist that the popularity of that dance FNNN-