The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-14
CoTILLIoN FAVOR FADS.
New Figures Tint Are Both Bcnuti-
fuI md Unique.

fuI md Unique.
II is everything for a cotillon 10 be dis.
tinguished by mass OF color, and in on,
charming figure the ladies and gentlemen
| taking part in il array themselves in
masks and dominos similar shades dancing
together. They often do not discover
their identity till the waltz is over
The comic element is not wanting and a
good deal OF amusement ensues when the
| gentlemen are seen trundling hoops around
the ball room. the fastest winning the lady
for his partner. The political masks
donned by the gentlemen. who are chosen
| by the ladies without recognizing them
have been prepared on perfectly new lines.
| not only our own statesmen but those OF
| foreign countries, together with warriors
and naval heroes, having been pressed into
the service. Many of the floral favors dis
tributed tc the guests are drawn into the
room in gilt wheelbarrows by the lady and
gentleman conducting. Among the yacht
ing community a great deal of trouble is
taken with the flags. Paper bags filled with
-four should, like the SNOWFALL figure. be
as the floor is apt to be strewn thereby,
says the "Pittsburg News
a couple of bags are hung overhead.
and the two gentlemen chosen to
contest the honor of dancing with :he
lady each have small cane with which
they strike them; they seem identical, but
one is only filed with pieces Of paper
the other with flour. which descends on
the head Of the unlucky man beneath.
covering him with confusion. all the more
that he has 10 execute a pas seul after
HIS fortunate rival and partner. This is
as amusing as the figure in which the
competitors have TO hop on one foot
around the room. the victor claiming the
dance. In another, entitled obstacles,
they have TO jump over chairs, stools, or
anything else that may come in the way.
The nut figure is quite simple, and can
easily be prepared at home with walnuts
covered with gold and silver foil. The
gold ones are given to the ladies and the
silver TO the gentlemen. They bear cor
responding numbers. Graceful and pretty
is the butterfly figure. the ladies carrying
them attached TO wire. while the gentle
men try TO dislodge them with sword.
and those who succeed have the privilege
of dancing together.
In the hobbyhorse the gentlemen don
oanework cages. together with jockey caps
and whips these and the drapery all Of
distinct colorings. Thus accoutred they
ride down the room to secure their part
ners. The ladies wear rosettes of the same
hue. which are placed about the dress so
as to be as little visible as possible, and
the gentlemen have TO fly about on their
hobbyhorses until they discover the OBJ
Jcct Of their quest. Both the parcel post
and telegraph departments contribute their
quota TO the cotillion. In the first small |
cart is drawn into the room filled with 1
parcels directed TO the several gentlemen
These require to be prepared with great (
care. There should be at least twenty I
coverings, difficult TO undo. and in the end /
slip OF paper bearing the name OF one 1
of the ladies present. In the telegraph fig
ure some one taking part in the cotillion I
is dressed as messenger, distributing /
kilograms TO The gentlemen commanding 4
them TO dance with some -peclal lady.
Cannon balls tied with ribbon are sug-
gestiYe Of the happy period when the lion |
and the lamb will lie down together. They |
are rolled into the room and the gentle /
men eagerly seize them The ladies have
small ribbon bows Of corresponding color.
Organ pipes decorated with ribbons serve
the same purpose.
Rose trees Of natural growth are pre-
pared with pink and white paper roses.
The pink for the ladies, the white for the
gentlemen. These are distributed by the
leaders and are pulled to pieces till petal
Is discovered ON which the name Of an ami
NAL is written. Those having the CORE
spending ones dance together.
colored air balloons of different colors |
are carried by the ladies' The gentlemen !
with their swords trying to destroy them
suggest another figure
The baby figure is a comical one which |
had great success recently at Government
House, Victoria, led by Lady Brassey The
lady she selected TO seat in the center Of
the room was presented with wax doll |
dressed as baby. Two gentlemen we're |
then led to her and her ladyship gave the
baby to the one and waltzed of with the
other, the rejected swain carrying the
baby and dancing round with it until the
lgure was repeated
A scarf and fan figure on the same oc-
;asion was a marked feature. The ladies
wearing the scaris danced with the gen.
lemen who had been decorated with the
anne colored ribbons
The canary bird figure is also a new
nd good one. the gentlemen carving cages
With live canary birds. the ladies having
badges OF red roses and dancing with tie
gentlemen whose cages we're tied with
IDENTICAL colors.
lie Wheel ana sasn inquire was amusing, |
n that the gentlemen rolled the wheels
nto the room. the spokes OF the wheels
eing entwined with ribbons Of the same
olor as the sashee worn by the ladies'
The pretty souvenirs and favors include
harming baskets Of bonbons and the new
ulle boas. while for the gentlemen there
are various paper knives with quaint ,
eads. penwipers, and pencil cases. The
eceptscles for the different presents are |
OF the least tempting part OF dainty {
otillion. They include cardboard Louis I
" hats. and otber>devices. while among =
he other adjuncts are small charms in
he form of bicycles. casanets, angels i
'ings, full scarfs for the ladies and fruit @
Or the gentlemen OF corresponding col0rs. Il
nd a most amusing series Of appear UNI
rellss, with comic pictures upon them
oily heads, with bells, the petit due cap Q
'hich is tricorn, made TO fasten to the j
uttonhole with strings, shields and quaint i
eyices attached to ribbon. small VIVIAN S
iere's barrel and pferrots and polichi- C
ellie hats, all glittering with gold and {
liver threads. Sometimes these decora- {;
ons consist OF a horseshoe tiea with rib .
on or a small basket OF flowers formed of a
old and silver threads or Of feathers. C