Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-02
THE SLAYISH CHAIN.
a NEW FIGURE OF THE COTTLLON
THAT Will NE INTRODUCED.
NOVEL, COMICAL, And ORIGINAL.
Ccorrespondence Of the pI.patch.l

correspondence or the DiSpatCh)
NEW YORK. December 31.-The cotillon
s. 10 be the most popular of dances in
society this season. and the leaders.
whose regulations depend largely upon
their ability to present an appearance as
nearly as possible like the Apollo Belve-
dere I'm a dress suit are in strict train
Ing. To the cotilon leader who can in
vent new figures for the coming dances
that will be novel as well as pretty goes
the palm and the honor of winning APP
plause whore almost every one is a star
and the calcium light is impartially dis
tributed. Nothing is ridiculous when sug-
gested for the cotillon. The sight Of
grave men Of business wearing eccentric
hsadgear and going through evolutions
chat belong by right TO the inmates OF an
asylum for the insane is not regarded as
ct all out OF place in a society ballroom.
whatever a stranger to the social whirl-
say, enc Of the Esquimaux now s%ojourn-
ing I'm New ~York-might think Of the
spectacle.
Many curious suggestions have been
made FOR the cotillOn that tend to show
that this is TO be a great cotillon year
but that which takes the lead for novelty
s. a figure that its designer calls "The
Slavish Chain" The accompanying Illus
tration gives some idea OF the novelty
OF the figure and the comic element thai
attaches TO II and make It a charming
suggestion for q social gathering.
The lady upon whom falls the honor OF
taking the lead in the figure is presented
with a long chain OF gold, in which. at in
tervals. are fitted golden rings large
enough to go over a mans head and en-
circle his neck. With this chain in her
hand, the lady begins a tour Of the ball
room. while victims quake and tremble
every time her glance fans upon them.
Well. IS IL for those men who have not
secured partners before the lady Of the
golden chain comes their way. Never
was woman's protecting influence more
sorely needed than at this moment for
lonely and forlorn wanderers are power
less to escape from the chain. The first
man the lady OF the chain sees alone Is
attached by the passing OF one of the
rings over his head, and he IS led away
with mournful aspect, following his cap
tor wherever she may choose 10 guide
him. Presently another victim is cap
tured and harnessed by the golden chain,
and the procession wcnds It's way through
the ballroom until every ring encircles a
neck. and the lady who leads the line has
g. many men on her chain as the chain
Will hold.
ONLY ONE WAY.
There Is only one way by which the
victims can make their escape, and here
the fair sex have their revenge Tor So
cial rules and regulations that place
The lord Of creation upon a higher plane,
and condemn the women to wait until
they are asked before taking part in the
whirl on the waxed floor. In order for
one OF the captives attached 10 The
alavish chain 10 escape the thralidom,
he must be rescued by a lady. who APP
proachcs and requests him TO dance with
her. II no one asks a captive 10 dance, |
then he must needs walk through the
cOtlllon attached 10 the chain--a spec
tacle for which the stoniest heart should
fecl compassion.
A feature that lends additional conf
callty 10 this new idea for the cotillon is
that the paper hcaddresses worn In pre-
ceeding figures must be worn by the cap
tipes. Woe 10 the man who tries 10 as
fume a dignined air when lead captive
by the lady Of the golden chain. III ms
connection with the chain fails TO make
bis appearance ludicrous. his headdress
surely Will, and dignity viii be "A ve-y
much Out-of-place attribute for a time
al least. These caps are being made In
oil kinds OF new patterns, Paris being
chiefly responsible for tho designs. There
IS the mandarin's cap. with It's peacock
~-.'hArs; tina rabbits head. and the sun