The San Francisco call., 1897-03-04
NOW THAT THE
BALL IS OVER
Interesting Gossip Relative
to the Brilliant
Carnival.
Some Queries as to Reception
Committee That Did
Not Receive.
Dabutantes Who We're Cons picuous
by Their Absence and What
They Missed.

The directors of the Hopkins Institute
oil Art are iubilant, and rightly so, over
the brilliant success of their Mardi Gras
ball.
Horace G. Plat, the president of the as
sociation, expressed himself yesterday as
thoroughly pleased, not only with the
social side of the affair, but the financial
end as well. I'VE took in about $780,"
he said, land that figure will just about
cover expenses. We did not expect a sur
plus. These balls are not given with that
object in view. Our desire simply is to
keep up the interest in the art associa-
tion, and the many encomiums have heard
from all sides more than satisfies Us that
that purpose has been accomplished"
Naturally, the brilliant ball was the all
absorb ng topic yesterday in social and
bust circles, as well. Gossip was busy
with many amusing little phases, not the
least interesting of which was the con-
spicuous absence of the debutantes. But
two sweet buds graced the realm of his
majesty of misruIe.
Many explanations were offered to make
clear the cause of this misfortune. AS
usual the OLD gag of hard times was the
first to be advanced. $50 much has been
done for the debutantes this year," ex-
StFeTal mOtueTS, dCCOIQiuR "
Dame Rumor, "that really we felt they
might omit the masked ball. Then times
are hard, and an expensive costume at the
tail end of the season." Another YER
sion, according TO the same reliable au-
thority. is that papa objected. "There
are so many sricy stories ahoat regarding
mask balls, you know, that we found it
best to let our daughter wait until next
year."
The real knowing ones, however, affirm
that the papa theory came the nearest OF
all, and this is their story.
1t happened last year that the vener-
BILE papa of a prospective bud, upon
whom had been conferred the enviable
duties of one OF the wise committee, was
indiscreet enough to permit woman-a
very pretty woman-who had neglected
the formality of applying for card of ad-
mission, to enter the ballroom. He spent
all the evening by her side. The men
envied him. and she was ignored by the
women. The sequel of the story runs that
his wife declared he should never go to
a masked ball again. So what could the
poor man do? He had to stay at home.
Consequently his wife had to stay at
home, and, naturally, the debutante
daughter.
This debutante leads in her very exclu-
sive set, and her absence meant the abb
sence OF her next-door neighbor, the belle
of all the buds. The poor little girls
passed the word. and the result was that
only two of this seasons debutantes wit
messed the short but merry rule OF Prince
Carnival. That, However, was their loss,
and there were tears and gnashing of
teeth-stiil the same reliable source for
authority--in blue and white and white
anu gold boudoirs this morning.
Other absentees at the much discussed
ball were the ladies who constituted the
reception committee, but did not receive.
When a meeting of the honorary
patronesses some few weeks before the
ball was called the ladies promised to
stand by, provided a reception committee
was appointed to give tone to the affair.
A reception committee at ball is an in
novation of the fashionable Monday Night
Club. The directors of the Institution,
only too happy to conform to fashion and
at the same time please the ladies, ap-
pointed the committee desired. A plat
form hung with costly rugs was erected
pected to stand in imposing array on
either side of the carnival prince. But
like the buds only two ladies of the recep-
ton committee put in an appearance.
Various causes have explained their a b.
sence. One lady had a dinner party. An
other was not feeling well. Still another
feared the chilling effects Of the incle ment
weather, and 80 on down the entire list.
Nearly all, however, sent some member
of their family to represent them in the
merry throng, and in spite OF anything
the goSsips may whisper. no one missed the
ladies of the reception committee, no one
missed the buds. The loss was simply
and only theirs.