The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-11-13

Early balls are to be the rule this win.
ter. The edict went forth at Newport be-
fore the gay summer season closed. and
1t has prevailed to such N extent that
Eastern hostesses are issuing cards this
winter with Dancing from . to 12' en-
graved in no incorSp:euouG type in the
|-2arG. and they decisre positively tina,
Aese hours are TO be enforced.
The men have brought about the change.
Everybody knows it is almost impossible
to get enough partners to go round nova
ders. so loathe have the mel become to
go to dances and similar entertainments
except ~after-theater suppers, that keep
them out late.
The average American man works, as
you very well know. He gets downtown
the next morning. and every next morn
ing" and his business is more than half
his life.
He likes ~sociability. too, TO a limited de-
gree: but he emphaticaliy does not like
to so night after nigSt 70 balls and routs
that necesSitate his turning in at 4 a. M.
with the rising bell ringing three hours
afterwards. Fence, he stsr IS sway frcm
just az many daaces IS he possibly can.
and lest season in s.. Louis 1 don't know
now many hoatesses who contemplated
giving halls finally decided. after mature
deIiberaton. that the quota of dancing
men being too small. and the consequent
difficulty of giving a function that de-
pended entirely on them for its success
too great, that they would better either
bide a wee. or else give some other form
of observation-disclosures possibly. For
men will go to dinners when they won't
go to anything else.
St Louis has every indication of adher-
ing rigidly to the early hour for balls
this season.
We do manage TO fall into the Eastern
line on things social. especially when the
line Is about six months started, and the
feasibility. almost the necessity. of be-
ginning a dance early recommends itself
to everyone-East or West.
Mrs. Claude Fitzpatrick who starts tire
dancing bali next week by a large func-
ton for her younger daughter, Lois. has
told her friends very generally that her
ball will be most empbaticaIly an early
one. And it is quite needless to say that
the Young men who have been invited
and they include all the smartest fellows
of town-are .jubilant at the prospect of
getting home early.
course a man can Just as well get
to a dance by 9 o'clock as he can at TO-"
declared a University Club man when 1
asked him IL he liked the early idea. And
you may Just Jot 1t down that every man
in town hkes even better the notion OF q
return trip before 2 o'clock.
Everybody gets through dinner by 8 or
a little after. unless it is a formal func-
ton of some sort. which he has no bust
ness to accept If he intends to go TO a ball
later and to take a girl. This isn't Eng
land, you know, with their everlasting
round each night that keeps them going
on from one function to another until
nearly 6 o'clock, and makes all the wom-
ems rouge look CHASTITY in the early sun
light. No. indeed, 1t isn't England. but
dear old st. Louis, when one smart invita-
ton per night is about all for US. and this
news that Mrs. Kilpatrfck's bali Is to be-
gin promptly at 8 and to be over at L is
the best I've heard so far"
The Imperials probably will be the only
balls that will keep to the old hours. Ac-
cording to some unknown precedent no
Imperial ever begins much before II
o'clock. Blu as there are only two each
season, and they are usually f~requented
only by the older married set, they may be
permitted to indulge in as much individual
ity as they choose. Balls for the younger
debutante set this winter bid fair to be
early. though they Will not, generally
speaking. be small
Have you got a large and handsomely
decorated and bejeweled cross OF some
sort or other to hang around your neck?
II not, pray go out and buy one or else
beguile somebody into giving you an I'M
birthday present at once of this descrip-
ton. for it's the latest fad.
The preferred sort Is a large Latin cross
about four by two inches in dimensions
and made Of some Of the semi-precious
stones like amethysts, topazes, Journal
ines, ~olivenes, etc
Very large stones are used, and these
set close to each other, with no interven-
ing gold or metal. The tones are not i'm
bedded in q setting, you understand, but
allowed to show on both sides, with only
q thin border line OF metal. Dull silver is
lovely with the purple amethysts, and
bright gold with the topazes.
I saw Nlla. Wheeler wilcox's topaz cross
and gold chain the other day as Mr.. Bolt
transferred it from its purple velvet box
to the tray in the cleaning shute. The
stones are a very deep yellow and among
the finest that exist, very large and finely
cut. She wears the cross, which Is about