The Republican journal., 1913-06-26
Social Functions in the
Bahamas.
A Garden Party and a Reception at Govern
ment House.

To THE EDITOR OF The JOURNAL. Re-
Numbering your many kind invitations
to write The Journal letter from the
Bahamas it occurred to me that some
thing showing the social life in this Eng
fish capital city might be of interest.
Aside from the usual gayeties at the
Hotel Colonial during the winter spec
ial impetus was given to the social func-
tions in the colony by the departure of
the retiring governor and family, Lord
and Lady Gray Wilson, and the arrival
and installation of the new. His Excel
lency and Mrs. Hadden-Smith.
Naturally the most important functions
circled about the three great English
holidays which came in during the past
two weeks, viz: the Queens birthday,
Empire day and on the 3rd of June the
celebration of the Kings birthday.
The top of the social climb in the
colony is Government House and unless
one is in a English community, and IA
miliar with their ideas and customs, they
Sdll NV UNNECESSARILY lHC aetChNiOh &
and Importance attached, to having ones
position there secure and your name on
it's list.
1t influences every social aspect and
has whole lot to do in deciding many
important political and official affairs,
and it is a thing to be attained only by
long and careful effort and management.
Invitations were out a week previous
ly to attend a garden party to he held in
the grounds at Government House on
the Queens birthday so, as usual, for
the week the city was in dutter of an
ticipation.
For days decorators were busily orna-
menting the extensive verandas, with
all kinds of potted palms and Towering
bush. Cocoanut and scrub palmetto
branches were used to cover pillars.
jalousies and ceiling, color being given
by draped English flags in profusion.
About the park small tables were scat
tered in sheltered places for the newt
able tea and cakes. Canopies were erect
ed sheltering the band and various re-
freshment tables. The park is extern
1 sive, and being filled, as it is, with every
imaginable growth of tropical tree,
bush and vine, many of which were
loaded with the most brilliantly colored
/ flowers, one can easily imagine the beau
titul prospect.
People began flocking in at five clock,
and they should have gone directly from
the carriage entrance into the grounds,
where His EXceliency and Mrs. Hadden-
Smith, attended by an aid de camp in
uniform, would have received. Then
tennis court, golf, and the grouping and
chatting about the tea and retreshment
tables
An English garden party is certainly
a most attractive affair, sno l never tire
OF listening to their soft accent and
beautifully modulated voices, and motto
ing their assurance and polished manner.
All this is as it was intended, but as it
had rained tropical downpour all day
the affair was changed into an afternoon
reception, and from the drawing room
we went through into the ball room.
where colored servants, in the house
livery, We're serving tea and other re-
freshments. AS the band was stationed
within hearing, an hour was spent in
dancing
OF the many ceremonies held during
this season the one when interested me
most was a levee held by the governor
for men, at noon, on the Kings birthday.
1t was supposed to be a democratic
affair, as cards were not sent out, but
the published announcement said: ''All
civilians, to be received, must be in full
dress. Think of it, at noon! This in
cluded top hats, gloves and stick-all so
dear to the Englishman's heart. "Off-
cials to appear in the uniform of their
service" This command included the
church. Under these conditions you may
be sure the affair was far removed from
informality.
AS we drove in we found the place
packed with automobiles and carriages.
The military band in uniform was play
ing outside. All approaches to the
grounds We're lined and guarded by
squads of constabulary, all in brilliant
scarlet uniforms, with brass ornament
ed white helmets.
At the head of the broad stone steps
leading up to the house entrance we
were met by an orderly and requested
to register in the visitors book; then our
hat and stick being duly cared for we
were taken in hand by perfectly i'm
mense colored person, attired in most
gorgeous scarlet livery, who condescend-
ed to accept our cards, and then in great
form marched us down the hall to the
drawingroom entrance, where he squared
about and shouted our names in voice
so loud that l am sure he could have
been heard in any part of the city and
left no one in ignorance as to who was
entering the presence.
The governor, in magnificent uni
form his breast ahlaze with decorations