Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-01
TIE New ApnorY WBpE The EAnouo HOPS ARE HE'LL
BANCROFT Hall

ings and recommendations. Every one
stops to catch his or her breath and tel
everybody else what a glorious time he o.
she Is having Not for now the headaches.
the regrets for laces torn or dances cut.
or the feeling that one has not made just
the impression on his or her heart for
which one has so long been awaiting the
opportunity Now there Is time only TO-
exultatton at the pretty speeches one has
heard. the button one has obtained from
a spot just over some handsome middies
heart. and the purely physical. but for
the time satisfying, pleasure of the dance.
The music strikes up again nons too soon,
and Immediately the floor is covered with
couples gracefully turning and gliding
over its polished surface as though this
were the very first dance Of the evening,
instead of the twentiath.
All good things must end some time a.
the girl dancing here for the first time I'M
willingly discovers when the hop comes 10
a close. The evening that has seemed
so long to the tired and neglected chan
eron waiting patiently for the end In tire
gallery, to the girl has seemed all too
short. She feels as though 1t had end
ed before II had scarcely begun. and.
naively confiding this as her opinion TO
her escort. is consolsd with the answ
that there are more hops coming. whic''
she will undoubtedly attend. In her
heart the girl feels that this Is So for
she has accepted more invitations to at
tend hops. during the course OF the even
always continued to live In Washington
and always remained young.
Back to the hotel after the usual ex-
ASPIRATION of the poor chaperon over the
disappearance Of some Helen or Gertrude
who has strollcd on ahead with her mid
die. The good nights are all too short
for both girls and mids, but the inexorable
chaperon finally succeeds In getting all
of her charges to their rooms. counseiinG
instant retirement and speedy slumber.
Talking It Over.
She knows we'll her counsels will be UNI
needed, but she has done her duty. The
girls gather in chattering. giggling groups
in the different rooms and the evening
is lived over and over again. What he
said, and the way he said 1t. are faith
fully described. The heartless veteran"
cools little of the enthusiasm by con-
fiding in a mocking tone that the same
"he'' made the same observation to de.
ponent at a hop just one year before. In
fact it is discovered that some chaps
have a rema rkable propensity for handing
out the same candied conversation to each
and all of their partners. This fact es-
tablished their lack OF originality re-
ceives its deserved punishment in the
whitening contempt of the assembled
maids. and could 1t have reached its OBJ
ject the slumbers of several Of the nlids
who have thought themselves among the
most dashing on the floor would be dis
turbed.
It is hard work rising early in The
morning. but then the engagements TO walk.
to visit the boathouse and 10 look at fh-
quarters of their friends in Bancroft and
the other halls must not be forgotten. 10
see the fresh young things as they meet
their friends one would not believe tha'
al the ladylike excavations that greeted
the rising summons could have been III
tered. The couples separate i'm so mary
different directions that a chaperon would
indeed have to b. Arsus-eyed to Keep
check on them all.
Chapel is a ceremony to which all OF
the midshipmen are marched, in accord
ance with regulations. After chapel Their.
is more visiting i'm nidshipmens quar-
tiers attended by countless volleys OF
more or less intelligent questions ana
more or less truthful answers from the
hosts. When dinner time comes the for
tunate middies who are In the proper
grade as regards dement's are dragged en-
to the hotel to dine with the fair ones
The dining room of the hotel again pre-
sents an appearance that makes one BE-
lieve that the greater part of the batta!-
ion of midshipmen has deserted the mess
hall for the hosiery.
AS the time for saying goodbye draws
nearer and nearer the necessity for seek
ing out secluded hooks for the exchange
of sacred condolences becomes correspond
ingly greater and greater. Tie troubles
of the chaperon increase. The most de-
mure of her charges who up to now has
not left her sight. develops a noticeable
fondness for sheltered benches and a
general tendency for turning every con
ceivahle corner that is almos; maddening
The more bold have long since perma-
nently disappeared. The chaperon rushes
about. endeavoring to instil little haste
into the movements Of her unsympathetic
charges. who would not care a great deal
il the car was missed. At length every
suit case is packed and downstairs, and
the whole expedition awaits the coming
of the car for the homeward journey.