The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1914-05-09
SOCIETY SPENDS
night IN Orient
Reporters Sniff Incense in
Dark at Mrs. Hemmick's
Weird Phantasy.
TAKE PEEP AT DANCING
No One Knew What 1t Was About.
bu. Neishborhood House Gets
All the Money.

There are 30 many ways TO tell ths
story Of Mrs. Christian Hemmick's ORR
entail phantasy, staged In her house al
ICES Rhode Island avenue last night
that. it's probably the best plan to stick
to the program.
The title Of the phantasy. according
to the program. was The Mystery OF
the East" and just below was the par
enthetical statement that an Oriental
fiutist wanders through the harem. play
ing weird melodies" Three scared re-
porters passed 70 the entrance of Mrs.
Hemmick's private theater where the
lights were turned extra. low and the
prsdcminating perfume was incense.
Chants Secrets Of Life.
The curtain parted. disclosing Damon.
the God Of Kistna, chanting the secrets
Of life. II seems that Damon. in real
life: is q young man known as Milton
J. Bryan, but II didn't make much diff
ference for Mr.. Bryan was chatting dol
lars into the Golfers of the Neighborhood
House, the whole affair being staged as
a Eeighborhood House benefit
The scribes clustered together and
asked each other. in whispers, what IL
was all about The program, however.
was garrulous and soon It was discover
ed that Miss Mildred Anderson had SUI
perseded Mr.. Bryan. and was classically
protrayins the part Of the Serpent Of
Jealousy. ..-
Just then, the program said, "the Youth
returns to the fascination Of the rep
tiles but an Orientaliy clad young
woman also returned about the same
time and offered to sell the reporters 10
cent cigarettes at the scandalous price
or or 10 cents each. She said the money
was for charity. so the young men
bought, in a spirit of casting their bread
upon the waters.
Hoped the P..eh Was Loaded.
A young woman they called Miss Neal
next portrayed the incense dance. which
Denis snake-dance charmed. of the
boards. The squeeky native fiddle
sayeeked in a decidedly minor strain.
md. the purple lights and the incense
hypnotized two more senses and one Of
he, reporters said he hoped the punch
vas loaded.
The inevitable cigarette girl came back
bout that time and shed some names
md initials. Size said the other cigar
.tte girls who were selling their wares
Without regard for the high cost Of liy-
az were Miss Ruth Larner. Miss Miriam
aubbard, Miss Frances Carpenter, Miss
drs. John Thompson. p. 81
Attention being called to the stage by
he rather arduous and passionate
iwooing of, the handkerchiefs" by Miss
9orris Drain and Mr.. Louie Thompson,
from the cigarette girls was d.
terted. Pretty soon, though. Mrs. Clara
geiigh, who presides at the .Neighborhood
House, appeared in q lot Of choice chiffon |
Nth Q yamshak-wea asked particularly |
bout that word-drawn up to the level
L her eyes. Mrs. Neigh announced that |
everal of the group dancers had arrived |
q the meantime, and that they were |
liss Lucy Howard. Mrs. r. A. Williams. |
Giss Mercedes Godoy. and Miss Mathilde |
kncizar. ....
some Lechinvar, that Arab
It ~as hard to get away from the
rogram. though, and the next thing I
very one knew. Miss Drain and Miss
esher were portrayinE the Arab and /
e Bsdouin woman. in which. charming Y