The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-01-29
Mr.. Bondurant Talks ON
Alabama Laws
And Their Effect Upon Women-Current
Social and Personal Events
and Gossip.

The organization of the Birmingham
Assembly will mark a brill ant epoch
in the social annals not only of the city but
of the state. Not that the entrance TO
oe'ety viii be through the doorway of
the Assembly as it is with the Assem-
blies' of Philadelphia, New York and Bal
timore but those who wish to be considered
of consequence in society will quite natural
ly enough prize invitations to the Assem-
bly, balls. There will be two balls each
winter at the opening and at the close of
the social season, which will be pre-emi-
nently the exclusive social functions of the
gay world The Assemblies will be man
aged after those of the eastern cities, and
invitations to the Balls will be limited ex-
clusivey to the unmarried social set of
Birmingham and to non-residents.
An article in reference to the Philadelphia
assemblies appeared nthe January num-
Der of the Ladies' Home journal, and in
regard to the invitations to a ball an as
sembly manager is quoted:
I'VE make up our lists and send out our
Invitations each year, with scrupulous care.
They go only to people whose worth respec-
liability ind responsibility are well recog-
nized. Most of them represent families we'll
known. If we make a mistake we very soon
are Informed of it, and tn objectionab BILE
party does not have a chance to attend an
assembly a second time. Our judgment is
final and conclusive. We simply manage
two balls each winter one in January and
the other in February, at which all who are
entitle to consdera ton as members of Phil
adelpha society may meet another
asreeaDly from year to year, and receive
h.. n fb.ar.
worthy people who not invited. They
have no social tastes, or have not been well
bread in polite usages, and would be as I'M
comfortable to themselves to US If they
were to come"
The assembly today guards the portals of
Philadelphia society. 1t is held together,
it has always been, by only an unwritten
law. 1t is as simple today in its organizat on
as it was in 4.49. Now, as then, six gentle
men Of leisure and discretion are its COM
mittee Of managers. Each of them serves
for three years, and the committee is self
perpetuating. When managers time of
service Is about to expire he chooses for his
successor some one whose fitness for the
duty is likely to be generally recognized,
and whom he is confident the rest of the
committee will find agreeable. Nothing
could be more Informal in method. Toward
the end of each year the committee Sc
lects soix patronesses for the events of the
past mothers who are ready to introduce
their daughters into socity. But it is pref
ty custom that one of the patronesses shall
he chosen as the bride of the season. This
distinction. Of course, is eagerly coveted,
and the finest tact is required on the part
of the committee to prevent ii from becom-
ing a cause of murmurs and heartburnings.
These six gentlemen are the social czars
of Philadelphia. The wiles, the strategles,
the Establishments and the appeals which
are employed to find favor in their eyes
are past all calculation. Il would give a
thousand dollars apiece for three invita-
tions to your ball. was the delicate way
in which an ambitious millionaire, or,
rather. millionaire with ambitious
family, once caused his wish to be conveyed
to a manager On another occasion a sue
cessfu politician of somewhat doubtful re-
pute raised an indignat protest. Don't you
know that my wife's grandfather fought in
the battle of Germantown" he exclaimed,
land why are we not invited?" and then he
went forth and proclaimed that society was
madS up Of snobs, and that it had moi pat
made up of snobs. and that it had no pat
The first birmingham Assembly" will be
held Friday evening, February 10. at the
Florence. The matter of flooring the par
quet in the theater has been thought Of
but at the meeting of the board of control
which was held last night at Mr.. and Mrs.
Jack Johnston's, 1t was decided to hold the
first Assembly at the Florence. Just when
the second Assembly will be held has not
yet been decided, although it may be held
after Easter.
The officers of the Assembly are:
President-Henry r. Gray.
Vice-Pres fent-Jack w. Johnston.
SecretaryS1Iampton Smith.
Treasurer-Webb Crawford. -
The board of control S follows.
Mrs. Jack w. Johnston. chairman: Mrs.
Charles O. Locks, Mrs. John w. Tomlinson,
Mrs. Edward w. Barrett Mrs Robert IT.
Baugh. Mrs. TT. L. Badham, Mrs. Richard
Randolph Mrs. Robert Jemison. Mrs Allen
w. Haskell, Mrs. Webb Crawford.
The present list of the Assembly in
cludes the following names, well known as
leaders nthe fashionable world:
Mr.. and Mrs. Charles o. Locke. Mr.. and
Mrs Hampton Smith. Mr.. and Mrs. Jack
w. Johnston. Mr.. and Mrs. Edward w.
Barrett Mr. and Mrs. Allan Haskell, DIR.
and Mrs. Lewis Morris Mr.. and Mrs. John
w RI Mr. Mrs Scion Jacobs