The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-03-16
ROOSEVELT OUTDONE.
NEGRESS DANCER ENTERTAINED
BY THE 400 AT DELMONICO'S.

BY THE 400 AT DELMONICO'S.
Robert HargOus, of the Swell Set,
Cushions Her WOOlIy Head
Against His shirt Front and
Mrs. Walker Broadens Her GAS"
and Adds Swell ExcIamations to
Her Vocabulary.
From the New York Press, March A.
Gleefully ignoring the color line
Robert Hargous waltzed with Mrs.
Ada Overton Walker, a Skinned
soubrette, at his dinner in honor of
Mrs. Arthur Paget, in Delmonico's, a
few nights ago. A crowd of fashion
able folk viewed the unusual dance.
To be sure, Mrs. Walker was there
as hired entertainer, but she acquit-
ted herself as good fellow" so COM
mendsbly that Hargous ordered the
orchestra to play a waltz. He bowed
calamity to the dusky matron, and
with her woolly pate cushioned on his
shirt front they danced. This recog-
milton of the equality of the races was
made in the presence of Mr.. and Mrs.
George B. de Forest, Mrs. Frederic
Nelson, Mr.. and Mrs. Jules S. Bache,
Mr.. Arthur Paget, Mr.. and Mrs Will
liam Jay, Mr.. and Mrs. T. ]. Oakley
RhinelandeP Elisha Dyer, Jr., Mrs.
George Law, James V. Parker, Charles
NJ. Robinson and Stuyvesant LIE Roy.
Nor was the host the only one to
honor the dancer. For an hour Mrs.
Walker enjoyed the attention of all the
to the chivalrous Hargous they dane
ed cakewalk-that is, Mrs. Walker
danced and Hargous manipulated the
cane and his handkerchief.
Danced at Parties.
The dusky dancer followed up her
triumph by appearing in Mrs. Paget's
apartment in the Waldorf on the next
afternoon, and when Mrs. George Law
gave dinner on the following night
Mrs. Walker was again the bright par
ticular star.
Now that all society is aghast at
the recklessness of elevating a colored
actress to it's own high level, public
denials are forthcoming, but Harry
Seamon of Hurtig & Seamon, who es-
corted Mrs. Walker to Delmonico's, af-
firms that she danced with Hargous.
She now has a record THAT Paderewski,
Ethel Barrymore, Katie Barry or 9TH
er professional favorites of society new
er have equaled.
She will follow up her social con-
quest. She will go abroad soon-after
she has finished teaching the fashion
able women under Mrs. Paget's aus
pieces how to dance the cakewalk, the
serpentine and buck-and-wing On
next Monday afternoon she will have
her first class in the Waldorf. To be-
long to this class is a distinction bare
ly overshadowed by being on Mrs. As
tors invitation list
Although Mrs. Walker made her de-
but in society only five nights ago, she
has acquired some high-bred manner
lsms. He "a 5" have broadened. Her
conversation is punctuated by Really,
now, Don't you know" and "Oh,
fancy" In her dressing room in a
Broadway theater last night she was
preparing for her soubrette role Elise,
high the midnight kinks" of the
young woman. Mrs. Walker was ar
rayed in white silk eiderdown robe.
"AII Very Proper, You Know"
Really, now, this is astonishing"
said she. why should all this fuss be
made? / was Mr. Hargous partner
gether. 1t was all very proper and
rather good sport, and l found the
dinner company charming, you know.
My husband was not with me. That
is not fashionable, you know. Mr..
Seamon was my escort. When I came
IN they were playing bridge. Then
sang bit and danced a bit, and there
you are. 1 was there for an hour or
more. No, indeed, 1 was not enter
tanning all the while. What was I
doing? Oh, chatting-small talk, you
know.
DO you know all this notoriety is
most annoying to me? My rogue now
Elise. What gown did l wear that
night? Aren't you rather inquisitive?
What frock was it, Elise? Oh, yes;
1t was Irish point lace, relieved with
blue chiffon-a rather simple affair,
but appropriate. Mrs. Paget is ex-
tremely considerate, you know. She
was awfully good about offering me
her automobile. But, you see, always
use my little brougham. We are crea-
lures of habit, aren't we? l shall spend
my summer abroad Now, please don't
quote me, because it is not pleasant to
be in the newspapers"
"RidicuIous," Says Mrs. Paget.
1T is Misrepresentation to say there
was any familiarity with the girl who
no one dance with her. and all this
gossip is most ridiculous"
Il know nothing of Mrs. Walker or
the occurrence in Delmonico's," said
Robert Hargous. Besides, II is a sub
Ject / prefer not to discuss"
The colored woman was at my
house as a hired entertainer, and no
more" said Mrs. George Law. "Of
course, she was treated with politeness
by every one. How else should serv-
ant be treated by men and women of
breeding? This girl danced and sang
amusingly, and that is all there Is to
1t. Naturally, we resent the avalanche
or gossip her managers are rousing."
Il call this unmitigated impudence."
said one of the guests. 1T will teach
us to select our entertainers with care
] know the girl is not responsible for
the 'hurrah.' 1t was her manager who
brought her to the dinner and who will
reap the benefits of this nauseating
notoriety. IL would be an injustice
TO our host to say whether he waltzed
with the young woman. Some persons
ieft the dinner. you know, before Mrs.
Walker did"