Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-01-20
BAT CAUSES UPROAR
BY RUDE BEHAVIOR
AT RUSSIAN FETE
Flying Mammal Draws At
tention of Fashionable
Audience From Remark
able Playing of Miss
Paparol.

One of the largest and most represent
ative audiences ever gathered together
for charitable affair witnessed the Rus
sian fete last night in the Belevue-Strat-
ford ballroom. 1t was an audience in
close harmony with the solemn and inn
pressive tone of the entertainment given.
Just why, during the really remarkable
playing of the young Russian girl, Miss
PapaI ol, on the violin, a diversion in the
form of a frightened, flying, nuttering bat
should have happened into the sacred
precincts will never be divulged; but in it
came. Suddenly, as Miss Paparol was
drawing the last exquisite strains from
her instrument, there appeared on the
ceiling of the room a winged thing which
every one fondly thought was a bird,
Brought back b. the applause, the small
violinist and her professor were about
to give an encore when the digniied au-
dience suddenly burst into a dull roar.
Again remembering its manners, which
seemed badly lacking, self-control was
brought into play and a hush fell over
the assemblage, The strains of the en-
core swept over the listening throng, as
did the bat. The bird flew over the boxes
Philadelphia society forgot its breeding,
and though Miss Paparol played on with
great self-control a strange thing hap
pened. Instead of the magniticently
gOwned and jeweled women, with gem
set combs and various graceful head
dresses, first noticed during the evening,
rows and rows of yelled ladies were to be
seen.
At one moment George Dallas Dixon
rose from his seat and waved his cane
wildly in the air In Mrs. william Ellis
Scull's box were the Russian Ambassador
and his wife. Mrs. Bakhmetief, who was
gowned in gold-shot white satin and wore
tiara of diamonds and topaz, was
Obliged TO hold a program over her head,
and at the back OF the boxes such social
leaders as Mrs. George w. Chllds Drexel,
Mrs. Edward Il. StotesbuTy Mrs. Corne-
lius Stevenson, Mrs. Henry Brinton Coke,
Miss Constance Beale and Mrs. George
Willing Jr,, were 10 be seen dodging and
dueking about, waving scarfs and emit
ting tiny shrieks. In the main part of
the ballroom all seemed TO have taken
the veil" metaphorieally speaking. Beau
tiful Mrs. Forney. wife of Brigadier Gem
sFal Forney, Of this city, erouehed down
upon the floor,
Faster and faster flew the bat louder
and louder grew the shrieks of terror
and laughter and, as II to add TO the
cAilAEAAciAtf AAAE AAAaAtiplAaApI oi the 6H1A-
light undertook to spot the invader,
Finally the small flying mammal lodged
In the ornamentation OF the ceiling and
the audience, with a gentle sigh settled
back TO see 3 beautiful Russian ballet
dance But the bat was not yet satisfied,
and once more defed fate this time
hying lover and lower. AS II seemed he
was about TO light on some ones head.
he SCARED suddenly in the air and out In
the hallway. A gallant youth, Howard
Graham. IN the box with Eckley 3. Coke.
Jr., rose TO the occasion and quickly drew
the curtains, while attendants closed the
door.
The entertainment continued with un-
ruined dignity. though watching eyes
csuld see through the closed doors the
large end Of q broom covered with linen,
ahleh Vas being skilfally manipulated
Ii the corridor. and when the dpoFs
spenea ~ bFeafhs5 sighs of relief sllh
: lhe kna#lease of fhs pazslHe q ms bat