South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-09-08

I
Warren. as they approached a we'll
/ known restaurant before which stood
an unusually long line OF taxis.
Looks pretty lively for this time of
afternoon"
oh it's one Of those turkey trot-
ting tea places," exclaimed Helen.
/ There was a long article about them
/ in the paper Sunday"
Want TO go in and see what it's
like?' glancing at his watch. We've
got half an hour
"Oh. yes. dear; I'd love to-
Ii was Saturday afternoon. and she
/ had persuaded Warren to meet her
at one of the big shops &c select some
thing for his mothers birthday. Now
l they were strolling home with an
/ hour to spare before dinner.
AS Warren surrendered his hat and
! stick 10 the check boy at the door,
waiter directed them upstairs. from
where came the lively strains OF an
orchestra. The place was crowded,
and around the door was a group
waiting for tables.
We'll, we'll not do any standing
around at a place like this"
But we're already here. dear. I
should love to see what it's like" for
Helen had caught interesting
/ glimpse Of the bobbing heads of the
dancers through the crowd at the
door.
Just then the music stopped the
dancing ceased. and several couples
I pushed their way out Seeting War
rem turn away a head waiter who
had just come out stopped him with
a sOlicitious:
Table for two. sir? Yes. sir, this
way" and he led them in across the
waxed dancing floor to a table at
| the other side.
"Ch, dear. we are fortunate" MUIR
INJURED Helen; look at all those peo-
| pie waiting yet. / wonder how he
| happened to give us this"
| Thought he'd nab US before we got
/ out. That's the way to do it-show
EN- you're not going 10 wait"
! Helen was looking around with the
! eager interest with which she always
/ drank in every new scene. To shut
/ out the daylight, the curtains were
/ drawn and the place was ablaze with
/ electric lights. The tables had all
/ been pushed against the wall and a
! large floor space i'm the center left for
| dancing. At the far end were the
! colOred musicians.
Pretty hard to size up this crowd"
as Warren lit a cigar. Looks like a
mixture of sports, ribbon counter
! clerks and sightseers. What are you
going to have?" as waiter ap-
preached their table.
"Why, tea, of course answered
Helen.
Then you'll be striking excep-
ton. Everybody else is drinking
booze All right. bring one tea and
! toast and one Scotch highball."
Warren was right. almost every
one was drinking highballs or wine.
| At only two tables did Helen see
any evidence of tea, and the empty
/ giasse showed they had had cock
tails first.
Now the orchestra struck up again
and the next moment the floor was
! filled with dancers. They left their
tables instantly. There was no hes
itancy, no waiting for others. Plain
/ " they had come there to dance. and
the moment the music started most of
the couples were on the floor.
Helen had heard and read of the
turkey trOt the bunny hug and grizzly
bear but she had never seen them.
and now she gazed in almost open
mouthed establishment at the grotes-
que hoping about Of the dancers.
why, it's hideous, There's moth
ing graceful or attractive about it.
oh, do look at that girl with the white
feather Isn't she awful? %
She's not taking any chances on
him getting away from her" grinned
Warren. for the girl was clutching
desperately to her partner as he
bounced about.
The music grew faster and the
dEncing more vigorous The couples
Bumped into each other and against
the chairs. Helen was in terror lest
they fall on the tables or knock over
a tray-carrying waiter
But, dear. they don't seem to be
enjoying it-lOok how strained their
faces are"
Pretty hard work to steer through
that crowd. I'd want shin guards
Look at that man plotting the fat
/ dame He sort Of rolls her around
like a hogshead of molasses. Ought
to use a bale hook on her"
Helen could not get over her amaze
ment at the ugliness of the jerky, hop
ping steps. She had always loved
dancing and was passionately fond
I of Waiting. but this-this was only
a stamping and a wriggling about
without time or rhythm. And the
women in short. tight skirts attempt
ing these freakish steps - did they
know how hidious they looked? 1t
was Is though they had all gone mad
I and were jumping up and down in
a sort of frenzy.
"Well, / should say a Hottentot's
war dance WOULD ne a Ill0g OF grace
and beauty compared to this" COM
mented Warren grimly. Look at
that old girl. Watch her hop up and
down in that one spot. I'd call that
enforced friskness."
The music stopped and again the
dancers made their way back 10 the
tables There was more ordering of
drinks. No one seemed to he eat
ing. but every one was drinking a
great deal.
why don't they put in more ia
bles2' asked Helen. glancing at the
still waiting crowd at the door. IT
don't see how the management can
afford to give all this floor space to
dancing. Think how many more ia
bles they could get in"
Yes, and they'd all be empty.
Think anybOdy's come here in the
afternoon If ii wasn't for the dane
ing? This turkey trotting tea craze
is "A cinch for the restaurants"
An elderly couple. a scholarly look
ing man in q frock coat and a prim