The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-02-03
A VALENTINE
COTILLION.

A valentine cotillion sounds like a
good deal Of an undertaking and prob
ably most of the girls who read this
would think That such an entertain
ment could only be given in a spa
cfous ballroom. But you don't need a
ballroom and you don't need diamond
tiaras for favors; all you need is
fairly smooth floor and some simple
favors that can, if need be. be made of
red or pink crepe paper. There is one
thing more you do need-and that is
o man you can pin your faith to as a
leader: even if you were Mrs Van
oerbilt, with a marble palace at your
disposal, you would have to stake your
fame as a cotillion giver on the man
you asked to lead 1t.
But don't let this put a damper on
your valentine cotillion: leaders aren't
really hard to find They don't have
TO be good dancers. They can be as
clumsy as owls if they only know how
to get other people into the swing of
the merrymaking.
Now. with your leader chosen, you
can send your invitations Almost any
number of appropriate invitations can
be chosen. White cards with small red
arrow pierced hearts painted or pasted
in the upper right hand corner are
perhaps in as good taste as any that
you might send.
After the invitations are sent it is
time enough to talk over your plans
with your leader. for two heads are
better than one and 1t is the privilege
always granted the cotillion leader to
choose and suggest the figures in
which he will lead.
The rule of world fai.ious cotillion
leader is a good one to keep in mind.
I'm choosing the figures he says,
never try to invent intricate move
ments. The main idea of q cotiliion
oh he 70 -
dancers rather than to test their agil-
ity and dexterity In working out
figures that they don't quite under
stand. Any figure that sets off the
pretty dresses of the women and
makes the scene more brilliant ought
to be successful"
There are some figures that you
might suggest to your leader:
Blind Cupid-Begin this figure with
two step. When every one is on the
! floor let the leader blow his whistle
as signal for the dancers to join
hands in q circle. At another signal
let the girls step forward, forming
an inner circle facing the men, who
Join hands in an outer circle. Any
wide awake little boy, dressed In white
and with CULVER of arrows swung
over his shoulder. will do for the
Cupid necessary for this figure. Supply
each man with a paper heart. Blind
told Cupid and place him In the space
between the two circles. While the
circle of girls is revolving let the little
hlindfolded Cupid take q red heart
from one of the men and present It to
the first girl he touches, thus choosing
a partner for the owner Of the heart.
These two dancers leave the circle and
begin to two-step outside the ring and
Cupid proceeds to the next man and
| in the same way chooses his partner.
/ This c0ntinuaS until oyarv oY1e fa a ga IN
| two stepping.
! OF course. a cotillion is never COM
/ p1ete without many favors, and these
| favors should all be in keeping with
| the emblems of the saint who gave the
| dav his name. For the girls artificial
roses. tiny china Cupids, little silver
| hearts and small papfer mache heart
| shaped bonbon boxes are appropriate
Wands with hearts attached. heart
shaped key rings and little booklets
of verses might be provided for the
men.