The Washington times., 1912-02-25
Dinner Dance, However,
Has Caused Much
Discussion.

Washington's chief topic of conversa-
tlon for the week has been the dinner
dance given last Sunday night by Alfred
c. Horstmann, secretary of the German
embassy. at his bachelor quarters in N
street. Sunday entertaining has been
growing in popularity in the National
Capital for years, but the more con-
servative element still frowns at dane
ing on the Sabbath. LunChcons, teas
dinners, and musicalcs are quite per-
missible In the best circles, but accord
ing to the conservatives, dancing is
carrying It a little bit too far.
Though distinct innovation for
Washington, Mr.. Horstmann was but
following an cld-established European
custom. Some of his guests were asked
for a delightful dinner early in the
evening, and later others came in for
the dancing. Several other dinner
parties preceded the event, the hosts
afterward escorting their guests to the
dance
Mr. ,Horstmann Is one of the leading
bachelor diplomats, socially speaking,
In Washington. He was the first man
TO master the turkey trot," and is now
considered an expert. His partner is
usually Miss Dorothy Williams, daugh-
IL. 81.
u. S. A., a younger sister of the fas-
cinating Mrs. Joe Letter. herself an
equally proficient dancep
Hop At Fort Myer
First Dance Since Lent.
Last nights informal hop at Fort
Myer, that popular Virginia post, Just
outside of the Capital, was the first
dancing event since Ash Wednesday,
Lent is not always strictly observed
in the National Capital these days, but
Ash Wednesday was very generally so.
Society spent the morning in divine
worship at the churches throughout the
fashionable northwest section, and the
afternoon and evening attending up
lifting lectures at the Playhouse with
few informal dinner parties in be-
tween times.
Monday and Tuesday, however, were
regular carntvals of gayety. The last
FORMAL hop of the season at Fort Myer;
dance Mr.. and Mrs. A. P. Crenshaw
gave at the New Willard for their
debutante daughter, Elizabeth; the
dance given at Boundary Castle By
former Senator and Mrs. ]. B. Hender-
son, for the members Of the Congress
Sional Club, and the costume ball at
the Playhouse which wound up the
season for the dancing class, were some
Monday.
At the Playhouse the guests came in
their costumes prepared for the Pierrot
and Pierette ball arranged by the Sec
retary of the Navy and Mrs. Meyer
for that evening, but postponed by
them until April S, because of the ILL
ness of their son, George Won l.. Meyer,
Jr.
New Dancing Steps
Are Much In Evidence.
Mr.. and Mrs. Preston Gibson, the
former the president of the dancing
class. and Viscount and Viscountess de
Sibour received the guests who came
at $3.50 o'clock. Dancing continued un-
TIL l O'Clock when the masks were re-
moved and supper was served. James
Byrnes, the famous ''ragtime" pianist
of New York, furnished the music,
moving the piano out into the middle
of the floor for the evening, the dan
GERS circling about him.
The entire category of new steps. the
n5Irf turkey trOt.r "Gr5zy bi;S bear" chiGken
which, have always been popular at
the Playhouse, were much in evidence.
Practically every young man and
woman in the dancing class has learn
ed these new dances, and they have
added unusual zest and interest to all
dancing parties throughout the winter.
Tuesday the chief function of the
at the White House, bringing to a bril-
liant close the official season Of 19l1-l2
Military and naval circles 1000 strong
attended, and though some few from
diplomatic and official circles were ask
ed to meet the gallant officers of the
United States service, the predominance
of American gold braid and epaulets
was easily apparent.
Lieut.. Harry Gantz
In Attractive Uniform.
One young officer who attracted con-
siderable attention was Lieut.. Harry
Gantz, of the Philippine Constabulary,
and the only officer OF that branch of
the army now in Washington. For
service in the tropical climate of the
Philippines the wardrobe of the Of
ficers of the constabularly includes a
full dress uniform Of white duck, but
in this Lieutenant Gantz hardly dared