The morning times., 1895-09-01
THE BABY BALL AT ATHENS
Attended by Children Invit-
ed by King and Queen.
NIGHT AT THE ROYAL PALACE
How the Ball Is Conducted.
Little Princes and
Princesses.

1llCCSSCSos
The greatest event in the life of a little
Greek girl is the childrens court bah, which
takes place at the royal palace in Athens
every year in the autumn. OF course, little
boys also attend this ball, but they do not
have as good time as the girls, for rea-
cons which 1 win presently explain.
About 800 children make their debut at
this grand affair every year, the average
age for their first appearance being 10
years, although have seen little girls there
as young as 8. These new comers, how
ever, are not the only children present.
for those who have attended in previous
years are allowed TO go again until they
become big girls and boys, in fact until
they are quite grown up. So highly do
they prize this privilege Of dancing before
the King and Queen that young ladies of
20 DO not scorn TO be seen on the floor with
their little brothers and sisters.
No little Athenian girl or boy may be
present ut this ban, except on an invitation
addressed personally by the prime minister.
And this honor is reserved for the children
of distinguished families and those whose
parents belong 10 the diplomatic circle.
Great is the excitement, therefore, among
these lO-yCar-old ladies' and young gentle
men OF Athens as the time approaches for
the invitations to be sent out. Many are
the eager faces at the doors and windows
OF Armenian homes, watching for the
mounted soldier in green and red uniform;
whose mission IS TO distribute the precious
miBsives. These are engraved in French
on square, cream colored cards enclosed
in envelopes, bearing the large red govern
menU seal. The invitation, signed by the
prime minister, read as follows:
Their MaJcsues, the King and Queen OF
the HelIcnes have requested the pres
enee of --- at the palace on the day
OF this month"
l shall never forget the day when my
invitation came, and how my heart beat
as the soldier drew Up his big black horse
in front OF the American Consulate, where
was living / can still see him taking the
paper from his kuapsack-the paper that
had my name inside, and l remember how
imposing he looked with his chin held in
the strap from his cap, and his long sword
at his side I was just eleven years old
The etiquette OF the court is very strict
about dress, and the girls costumes are
carefully prepared sometimes for weeks in
advance. The frocks are of white silk
or satin covered with lace, the skirt reach
10 the knees. The waist is cut low with
short sleeves, and with these are worn long
silk mits TO match the sash and stockings.
The hair is usually worn flowing loosely
down the back, or Enotted with a bow OF
ribbon All Greek children wear a fine
chain around the neck with some medal
given them at their baptism. This, and a
few bracelets are the only ornaments that
can be worn at the children's BAH. All
the girls wear little bronze dancing shoes
strapped up over the ankles, just allow
ing the stockings to be seen. An odd fea-
ture or the BAH is that the children never
carry flowers.
The costume for the boys is more easily
disposed Of as most OF them attend either
military or naval schools, and simply wear
their fun dress uniforms.
The bah always takes place on a Sunday
evening, this being gala day in Athens,
and by 9 O'Clock a long line OF carriages
finedwith children and their mothers, or
chaperons, is drawn up in front of the Kings
palace. The palace stands in the heart OF
the city, and is a large, white marble build
ing, not very imposing, but placed in the
midst OF beautiful gardens. a the door
gorgeous flunky receives the children and
escorts them into an room, where two
or the Queens maids OF honor inspect the
little debutantes. This Is merely a matter
OF form, for it rarely happe4s that anyone
OF the little girls receives anything more
severe than a smile OF encourag cement.
was a little frightened as we entered the
palace, and was surprised 20 see the self
possession shown by most OF the Greek chill
dreD. Isuppose they were more accustomed
than to the idea OF being ushered in before
a genuine King and Queen.
The large ballroom used on this occasion
is in the interior Of the palace. 1t is an i'm
mense room, with a ceiling like the dome OF
a cathedral. The walls are beautifully fres-
coed, and a long galleEy runs the entire
length OF the sides. At one end is a raised
platform on which, as we came in. were
seated the royal family, conversing with
various ambassadors in fun dress.
The king and queen sat in chairs, covered
with canopies Presently the master OF
ceremonies, no other than one ofthe cabinet
ministers, gave a signal and the royal or
chestra struck up the opening polka which
is a favorite dance among the Greeks I'm
mediately there was a great clanking of
spurs and swords as the officers came for
ward 10 ask the little ladies and their older