Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1912-04-16
SOCIETY WAS
GIVEN A Big
SURPRISE
BY These RECKLESS DANCERS
Even Hardened Ones Turned
Eyes Away

far enough, is the way Washington is
talking, while recovering gradual.
from the shock If the turkey trot
and the bunny hug" as danced at the
fashionable ball given by Mrs. Roberi
W. Paterson in honor of her daughter.
Countess Joseph Gizyski.
The turkey trot" has been danced
in the capitals exclusive circles before
but never with the same reckless alb
andon with which, according to the
inside accounts" the gay dancers
glided over the polished floors at Mrs.
Patersons ball. Mrs. Patterson feels
much embarrassed over the affair The
dancers were turkey trotting" and
bunny hugging" across the floor be-
fore she was aware of what they were
about
1t IS said that without warning Mrs
Nicholas Longworth, who was Miss
Alice Roosevelt, with Mr.. George
Townsend, glided over the floor in the
turkey trot." Mrs. Longworth is a
graceful dancer and it is said that she
went through the motions of the "tur
key trot" in a manner that would won
applause in any dance hall"
Then the Bunny Hug"
Then Mrs. Riano wife of the Span
ish Minister, not to be outdone, glided
out in the bunny hug" Her partner
could not be learned, but exclusive So
3iety stood aghast as the two couples
rollicked around the ballroom and
went through the evolutions of the
dance, and it is said one of the ladie.
vas smoking a cigarette.
Those who encouraged and partici-
dated in the tabooed dance at Mrs
Patterson's are said to belong to the
Capital Playhouse set" This set Of
ray young society people have a ball
DOM and theatre in N street opposite
he British Embassy There they have
held dances and have given vaudeville
entertainments until some of the staid
social leaders have lifted their voices
in protest.
The turkey trot' and the BUNNY
hug" which were given at Mrs PAT
terson's without her permission, was a
sample of the frolics in which this
Playhouse set" INDUCES.
Playhouse Sets DOingS.
1t is said that at one of the recen4
vaudeville entertainments given by the
Playhouse set" the dancer left thu
stage, swept down in the audience
fancing around among the spectators
as they sat around in groups and
stopped here and there and kissed a
nan or so. Last year the set was
accustomed to have the Marine Band
furnish music for their entertainments
| ut when the turkey trot" and the
bunny hrP" camn along tho Marine
Band couldn't make the music fast
enough, and "ragtime musician" was
imported from New York He was
unable to make it fast enough for
| them. The turkey trot" was intro
luced into Washington society by tn,
'layhouse set
Danced Mt White House.
1t was recalled today that tive
3auples had thoughtlessly danced the
turkey trot" at the White House re
ception to the members of Congress.
and there were disappearing glance.
At the time. but the White House af
| fair was mild in comparison to tn
maner in which the younger society
OF went through the evolutions of the
tabboed dance at Mrs. Patterson's.
1T wasn't graceful at all, my dear
and rather bold, don't you know?" wa
he comment of a staid old patron whC
ED up her hands in horror at the te!
ischorean novelty.
Wives of grave diplomats turne'
heir heads the other way. Dignifed
natrons who have been a part Of
Washington's society for years glanc-
| ID distractedly over raised fans, but
IN and on danced the turkey trotters"
md the bunny huggers," apparently
oblivious to everything except the en-
trancing music and the eXhilratinp
effect not found in the dances that
grandmother used to danct.
Some Who Saw the Dance.
Among those at Mrs. Patterson's
ball were;
Baroness Hengelmuller, wife of the
Austrian Ambassador; Mrs. James
bryce, wife of the British Ambassa-
Tor: Countess Won Bernstoriff. wife of
he German Ambassador; Warehouses
Cusani, wife of the Italian Ambassa-,
Tor, and Nine. Bahmeteff, wife of the
new Russian Ambassador, as we'll as a
number of well-known Washington
women.