New-York tribune., 1910-01-09
DANCE HALL OPENS
RUNS ON NEU PLAN.
Mss Potter, Niece of Former
Bishop, IN CHARGE.

One more dance hall was added last night
TO the five hundred dance halls and dane
ing academies that dot New York 1t
opened at No zoo East 23d street, and it Is
perfectly respectable, with a respectabiiity,
however, that is not allowed TO obtr1de it
self in the least
A rumor that there were to be chaperons,
a rumor for which the New York Associa-
tion of Working Girls Societies which is
managing the dance hall was not at all re-
sponsible, rather kept the young women
and men from focking TO the place but by
10 o'clock there We're a least fifty there.
and thew were growing quite we'll
quainted- It proved that. although there
were chaperons. they really couldn't be dis
tnguished from the dancers.
Miss Constance Warren of Albany. was
one OF them. and others were Miss Jean
Hamilton. Miss Elsie Cole and Ralph ".
Horne, who wds one of the organizers of
the Wall Street club for East Side boys.
MISS POTTER IN CHARGE
Fifteen cents was the price OF admission.
This includes lessons on the floor from the
urbane Professor Furmau, who has been
engaged a. teacher door manager ard
partner for any girl who happens to be in
need OF one Professor Furman arrived
Virginia Potter who has this thing in
charge. and who must take after Bishop
Potter, her uncle. because this dance nah
is to be 10 ether dance halls what Bishop
Potter's Subway Tavern was to be 10
saloons
Bill was the next arrival Bill was the
pianist bur quite heavy enough to serve a s
bouncer if a bouncer should be needed He
clutched long black cigar between his
teeth all the time he pounded the piano, but
out Of Difference TO the respectability of
the place ne didn't light it,
The first patron to arrive was a young
man. tall and serious. and he wanted to
consult the professor.
We got a case TO put to YOU he said
soemnly. 4 broke my leg ten years ago.
can 1 learn 10 dance? I'd like to, because
got engaged the other day and
The professor assured him that expert
dancers had been made of people whose
history was eheckered with broken legs
and the solemn young man paid his Is
cents.
THE GIRLS FLOCK IN
The next arrivals were TWO pretty shop
girls III neat shirtwaists. and then came a
young stenoErapher. a flock of factory girls
Of the better paid class and youthful
teachers. The men were Of all ages and
heights. Some were boys who hadn't their
mustache yet and some were gray haired
men, obviously nervous but nobiy deter
mined 10 learn the social graces. There
were no intrOductions by the chaperOns. be
cause introdUctions are not good form, but
before the evening had advanced beyond the
third figure of the IanCers everybody was
so we'll acquainted that a blond haired
y.1.s
tumbIed Psyche knot of the pretty factory
girl he was dancing with
But none of the boys grew brave enough
TO sit down by the girls in the pauses be-
tween the dances. Throughout the evening
strict separation. of the sexes was observed
in these intervals. a long row of coated fig
ures on one side of the room facing a line
of wistful looking girls on the other.
Al $50 o'clock the professor took the
middle Of the floor and made a speech.
Ladies and gentlemen he said. this
dance hall will be open every Saturday
night throughout the winter and we hope
you'll come and encourage your friends
TO come You'll be taught all the dances
in vogue. so that you won't have to go
anywhere and ask What dance is this?'
You'll know all the dances and You'll do
them"
PROFESSOR STARTS THE BALL.
Then the professor, who is little man.
with a cheerful bald spot on the top Of his
head that winked in the gaslight, picked
out a tall brunette girl. with marvellously
puned and Marcelled head. for 4 partner.
and the fun began The first instruction
was in the elements of the waltz, but from
the way the girls took to it it was evident
that most OF them had danced before. The
boys were slower but the girls were char
table and helped them on
At 1870 o'clock the committee IN charge
of refreshments began 10 pull corks. and
soft drinks-nothing but soft drinks al
lowed-fowed freely at i've cents a glass.
There were ginger ale. sarsaparila and
lemon fzZes.
BY next week the place will proba bly, be a
white light dance hall The people in
charge feel that the card which SAYS
dancing tonight" and which is nailed TO
the door, doesn't make the hall sufficiently
conspicuous and it is intended to have
Two large lamps TO mark the door.