The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-03-02
REBELLION or TIE HOSTESS.
Punishment Coming 10 the Young Men
Who Can Dance hut Won't.

Tn words rebellion of the hostess de-
scribe the attitude Of some New York
women who entertain and have begun TO
expect from their men guests something
more than the mere pleasure of their So
ciety.
At a recent ball given here the hosts
were men who had been popular in society
and felt that they ought 10 return some Of
the courtesies they had received. So
many Of the mon invited preferred the
atmosphere Of the smoking room to that
Of the ballroom that half the women pres
ent seemed destined to have 10 partners
for the cotillon.
As a matter Of fact. onc-third Of the
women went home early rather than be
left with nobody TO dance with. Yet there
was no lack Of dancing men present. They
merely happened to prefer the smoking
room.
Cases like this are frequent enough.
Women who nave plenty Of men acquain-
tances among those present" find them
selves waiting for partners until they are
faint from dispense and their nervous
dread Of being left without a partner has
robbed the evening Of half its pleasure.
Men are likely to postpone their invita-
tions until the last moment in the hope that
the women whom they ask may already
have partners. and they may thus get the
credit OF having invited somebody 10 dance
without the necessity Of having TO dance
with her.
This il n hard view to take of mems
motives said n matron, who has had OK
pericnces which make her suspicious Of
the gallantry Of the men Of the day. but
there is something TO be said in excuse
for them.
In tho first place, a man who takes a
partner for a %cotillon IL fairly certain that
he has 10 remain az the dance until IL is
over even II the end does not come until 4
O'Clock in the morning. For a man who
has to he at business in the morning such
a prospect is discournging.
Another motive that prevents men from
taking partners for n ~cotillon is the desire
to he free from the responsibility Of having
a girl on his hands all evening. II is much
easier for him 70 go 10 a dance and stand
among the stays talking 10 the particular
girl he likes, even If she has another partner.
and not disturbing himself in tho least
about the fate Of tho girl who may not
happen to appeal to him.
Even IL he has taken Dime al her house
the night before. a man Of 2 certain kind
will not he in the least conscienc e-strickel
IL he secs his recent hostess without n part
ner for the %cotillon. Men are too indolent
to he worried by girls in whom they take
no interest, whatever their social obligation
to them may be.
Il have known men who we're invited
TO dinners before cotillons with the idea
Of course, that they would ask some Of the
girls there to dance with them, to say moth
ing OF the subject and either take no part
ners at all after they got TO the dance, or
select some girl they found there who suited
them better,
"Of course, no man ought 20 he compelled
TO dance with a girl he doesn't like. He
ought 20 have the night TO his own choice.
AT the same time society il in tho highest
a game of give and take. 1t is only
hy observing that rule that its affairs are
10 he carried along successfully.
Then II IS the duty of every man who has
received courtcsies at the hands Of a girl
or her family 10 show his appreciation Of her
kindness hy returning them in the way
a man can. Else the wheels Of society
can't be made 20 go around 1t all de-
pends on give and take.
Young men who are invited 10 dinners
or other entertainments ought. Of course.
TO know and do know-that they are eK-
pected 10 return these po~litenesses when