Los Angeles herald., 1910-03-03
TAFT FAMILY IS
BOOSTINGDANCE
CABINET MEMBERS JOY0USLY
FOLLOWING SUIT
UNCLE JOE CANNON HAS NEVER
GIVEN UP HABIT
Speaker Wishes, Though, That Good
Old-Time Schottsches and
Reels Could Be
Revived

WASHINGTON, March. 2.-Great has
been the speculation now that Lent
has put stop to the activities of
swaggerdom, as to just what form OF
diversion will be adopted between now
and Easter. Dinners will continue
popular, of course, but there must be
something more exciting to enlist the
interest of the younger men and girls.
Bridge cannot wholly fill the void left
by the cessation of the ordinary func-
tions, and it has been openly pro-
claimed in several quarters that anna
teur theatricals will have great
vogue from now on till Easter.
This fascinating form OF diversion
is so attractive both to young and old
that it would be strange indeed if it
should not have a revival during the
time when other forms of gayety are
eschewed. The rehearsals are the
best part OF the fun, say the men and
girls who participate in them. Every
one who can sing a little, dance a lit
tie, or look we'll waving a wand or a
bit of foliage is pressed into service
and there is no lack of real sure
enough talent TO make the perform
ances genuine successes. All the girls
who have participated for the past
three seasons in the plays given for
theatrical craze in a most virulent
form. and Lent will afford them fine
opportunities for the exercise of their
talents. Every season brings new re-
cruits to the front.
One of the Beauties
Among the most beautiful of all the
amateur singers is Miss Yvonne Town
send, daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. Law
renee Townsend. the former at one
time American minister to Portugal
and later to Belgium. Handsome Miss
Townsend must be named in any cat
egory of clever personages among the
younger set. She sings charmingly,
dances like a sprite and is altogether
one of the most attractive girls in
Washington society. She is stunning
too, with a vividly pink and white
complexion and a mass of reddish
brown hair. She is tall. slender and
graceful and makes an ideal figure in
a picturesque production. Miss Town
send made her local debut on the anna
teur stage last winter at the benefit
for the Italian earthquake sufferers.
Miss Bessie Sessions, the second
daughter of Mrs. Benjamin Reeves
Russell and the granddaughter of Gen
eral Hancock, is another striking girl
who appears at her best in amateur
theatricals Miss Sessions is a verit-
able "beaute de theatre" with features
of a pronounced Latin type, jet black
hair and the flashing dark eyes of the
true Spanish senorita.
Striking in Stage Garb
In stage garb she is striking in the
extreme and is usually cast for Span
ish roles where her clever dancing and
cooling contralto voice add to the illu
sion. She has dramatic ability of a
high order, and like petite and dainty
Miss Olga Converse, youngest daugh-
ter of the late Admiral Converse, she
has received frequent offers of posi-
tions on the professional stage. Miss
Converse, who is the cleverest amateur
dancer who ever claimed Washington
as her home, would fill with delight
the soul of the ordinary dramatic pro-
ducer who wished for soubrette with
good voice, magnetism and tempera-
ment.
Mrs. Theodore c. Noyes holds high
rank as a singer, an amateur actress
and a beauty and can be depended on
to do more than her share to make
production "go" well.
The Senoritas Maria and Marta
Calvo, the lovely daughters of the
minister from Costa Rica, are the
youthful David Belascoes for many an
amateur society performance. Not only
do they do their share of the acting,
but when it comes to scenic effects,
stage management, business acumen
and the ability to Jolly along mem
bers Of the caste who show signs of
fractiousness, the CalVo girls have no
equals. Aided only by their brothers
and one or two intimate friends, they
gave a couple OF performances OF
French and English comedies last
spring which won them whole punches
of laurels from those who attended.
Miss Marta CalVo, a debutante of the
winter, will have prominent part in
the coming theatrical performances.
A Picture in Draperies
Miss Ethylle de Koven, who rein
forced the Washington contingent at
Gently, can usually be depended upon
to shine in any production in which
she is Interested. Miss De KoVen is
handsome, talented and tempera-
mental. Clad in diaphanous draperies,
she makes a picture that is not to be
forgotten.
Miss Mathilde Townsend's patrician
loveliness shows to great advantage in
the amateur productions in which she
sometimes takes part. Miss Town
send is so engrossed with hunting at
present, however, that she will hardly
be counted to do much for the Lenten
theatricals. She finds her chief pleas
ures in riding and driving and can be
seen any day, a lovely apparition on
her handsome mount, taking the road
over Fort Myer way with a party OF
friends or accompanied only by
groom
Some new recruit must also be de-
pended on to take the part once play
ed by Mrs. Lee Philips, the stunningly
handsome young wife of "the most
popular bachelor in Washington" for
Mr.. and Mrs. Philips are receiving
CONGRATULATIONS on the birth of a
dauphter last Tuesday, Mrs. Philips