The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-11-05
BIRMINGHAM's LATEST
~.--SOcIAL FAD


SOCIAL FAD
Birmingham's society. or more strictly
speaking, a part of Birmingham's so
ciety. has a new fad. It is not entirely
a modern fancy. for, If the records of
the primitive villages and country
neighborhoods of fifty years ago We're
carefully examined no doubt it would be
discovered that the present form of en-
tertainment just introduced into the
exclusive circles of Alab1ma's metz, polls
by a fsw young club men, was a favorite
with the provincial bellies and bsaux Of
long ago. Perhaps the announcements
made lately by enterprising journalists
that the fashions of our grandmothers
are being repeated, may in a measure ac-
count fer the revival of the surprise
party! Perhaps the love of novelty. per-
haps safety. born of innumerabje and
constant swell cotillions given at th=
club, may account fer the introduction of
this kind of party, which the fseh5en-
able people OF other cities believe in
of sun-bennets. corn-shuckings ard
every other undesirable thing. The
chrorieler of the daily happenings can
no longer close his or hsr eyes to the
fact that Birmingham has new fad,
contribution surprise party.
Maybe tine older and more mature of
the masculine contingent of Birmingham
society. who have been inclined to calm
a very desirable and aspiring condition
of social life in the city. will become
more reconciled TO this innovation when
they learn that several of ths 'sswagger"
young club men have exercised great
discretion and consideration in selecting
their contributions for the surprise par
ti=s. One walked into the beautiful home
where the party was not expected
with a live, squawlxing chicken in his
hand another carried well-filled bottle
of paragcric. This may appear passing
strange to many Birmingham people
who know something of the lovely home,
the generous hospitality and the unfail-
ing refinement and courtesy of the In
mates of that homa. Some may consider
that a great liberty was taken with these
ladies and gentlemen, who We're invaded
with chickens, paaagorbc etc, but the
young gentlemen who originated the
scheme and regarded it in the light of a
huge, overpowering joke, are SAID 10
have had any amount of fun. Those per-
sons who have boosted of Birmingham
social life and of the elevated tone of
it's society, have decided that the CON
tribution surprise parties are somewhat
too primitive and too provincial for the
present day. They may be exeruciating-
ly amusing to men who contribute chick
ems and paragoric to the pleasure of an
evening, but they have long since BEN
RELOCATED to the retirement crossroads,
and backwocds. Fashionable young msn
can expand their surprise energies in
many more agreeable pastimes that will
not subject them to the unp1sasant
criticism that has come from the latest
social fad. A few club cotillions or the
organization of a few library and
dancing classes will afford an outlet for
the exuberance of youth. and at the
same time place Birmingham society in
a much more favorable light to those
persons who nave an ambition for its
advancement and improvement, instead
of its refrigeration. Let the chickens
continue to roost high and the physic
remain in the drug stores, young gem
tlemen, and organize fsw literary and
cotlllion clubs instead of giving contri-
button surprise parties.
Birmingham can and does entertain
as well as any city in this broad land,
and 1t is to be hoped that this recent fad
will die from ananition. The social rapu-
tation of the town will necessarily be
impaired by contribution surprise par
ties.