The San Francisco call., 1909-10-24

- OCiETY flung Itself with great ar
dor into the Portoia festival and
every day Of the celebration vas
gay. indeed. for tie set that ordi-
nariy occupies itself with its exclusive
business and does not worry about the
routine Of common affairs. Fatigue. as
a result OF the festivities viii cause
society to take the rest before inaugu-
rating the parties OF Novembe-. which
are te be really the most important and
the gayest Of the new season, accord
Ing to the announcements of the. last
few days There are 10 be debutante
parties that viii resolve themselves
into the. merriest OF dancing parties
and teas that viii be remarkable for
brilliant detaiI-but that is another
story.
The real interest Of the week was in
the Portola festival and the two great
dancing parties OF the midweek
The frst ball given at the Fsirmont
was a semioficisl affair. but society
had its fling there and among the dan
GERS were many OF the most popular
girls in the local set, who enjoyed their
first diplomatic party with all the en-
thusiasm Of so many debutantes out
Co. holiday. The visiting officers and
ehe well known faces from nearby posts
made 2 brilliant assemble ge that win
not be soon forgotten by those whose
memory likes TO linger over the re-
splendent picture Of officers Of all ma
tions in all the glitter and brilliance
Of fun dress uniforms.
The Portola colors in the ballroom at
the Fairmont was an effective innova-
fion and the softly shaded lights in
oased in their hImy wrappings Of red
and yellow tissue shone with a sub
oued light on the attractive scene.
The PortoIa ball Thursday evening
st the Auditorium was an event thar
attracted society in surprising num-
bers and those who had been skepticaI
about the interest that the Fashionable
set was giving TO the celebration were
convinced against their will that the
interest was real and amounted to en-
thusiasm.
The rows Of boxes around the agd
itoriUm where the bal anasque was in
fUll swing proved. more than any other
occasion Of the week that the CITY mas
revived its metropolitan spirit and viii
rival The large cities OF the east in the
future lnaEnifcence or its entertain
nents There was flavor too. Of for
eign manners, that was q former pos
session of the city but has been Tor
gotten temporarily in the rush of CON
Inercial affairs and this spirit Of what
the French call @lOiterings" was de-
lightful reminiscence of the DAYS that
were before the city had to become alb
sorbed in the work OF rehabilitation.
The gowning on the occasion was a
touch o. foreign fashion. for almos;
every woman wore an evening gown
and picture hat in the box parties.
There were many dinner parties be.
forehand and among those who enter
tained at an elaborate party was Mrs
Eleanor Martin, who had really a fam
fly group in her box. The baroness Won
Schroeder. who has taken an Interest
IN the Portola festival and has been in
town almost every day for the festivi-
ties. was among those present and
Miss Genevieve Walker came with Mrs
Richard Sprague and Miss Isa0e
Sprague from their home at MenIo FOL
the occasion. Peter. Martin returae.
from Seattle that morning and was ons
Of the party He had been enjoying
brief visit at the fair in the north.
ern city. but cut short the trip in ordei
to be here for the Portola. Another
guest OF the evening was Miss Gene
We've Harvey. who came up from De
Monte and has been an enthusiast
spectator at everything that was par
Of the Portola festival last week
Mr. and Mrs. William r, Wheeler