Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-04-09

Coach George Van Nliet Puts Vol
unteerS Through Stiff Prac-
ticc in Cold Rain.
CLUB HAS JOLLY DANsANT
Social Feature Hugely Enjoyed by
Members and Friends on Friday
Night AT Richmond Hotci-Scason
Officially Under Way.

bundled UP in sweaters, members Of
worked out Oh the James River in
spite Of the cold weather. Coach George
Van Nlet aid not have fun crew
We're put through stiff practice.
which was thoroughly enjoyed. not
withstandinS conditions.
The club has now formally opened
for the season The opening event
was Of ~ social nature. being an en-
joyahlc danSaut at the Richmond Hotel
on Friday night.
clash tile cynhals, join in the tes-
tive mirth. The events that night will
go down In the annals OF the Nir
Ginia Roat Club as the most mcmora-
BILE since the organization started back
In the seventies. And the dansant Will
long he remembered. Due to the UNI
firing persevering work of Captain
Robert +. Forest. the affair WAS Il
huge success, for il was like this
mates: the club staggering under tho
burden of many new financial mat
tors: new equipment. new land FOR the
clubhouse. ct al: was in Il dclimna how
TO raise that necessary cash to cover
these expenses. without interfering
with the tidy surplus now invested
So the 'thcs dansant' was hit upon
rs the most likely solution To tho
problem. where everyone could have
most enjoyable evening and the club
profit accordingly
Al O'Clock Manager sam Atkiu-
son OF the hotel had. his army OF
walters all lined up To take care of the
crowd as they came. Did they come?
Foolish question number stccn million
and one. You het they came Young
and old, handsome and not SO hand
some. tall and short, thin and fat
Everybody who has ever been anybody
at the Virginia Ro.t Club for the last
forty years were there with bells on
Aud the girls. Never. never was such
q spectacle OF lovcliness and beauty
seen on the Richmond ballroom. At
II o'clock favors were distributed
paper hats of every conceivable shape
size and hue, confetti strea,ucrS Of
brightly -colorcd ribbon jim cracks
aud what not, twas. indeed ludicrous
Ia sc" how aptly the various hats
fitted the men who wore them. Shake
spearc has said what's In Il name" We
revise ii and say what's In II hat"Wcll.
listen. how does the proposition Of
seeing George Eecrs in a tall red
"dnnce' cap appeal Ia YOU? Imagine
now George fat and fifty. ana five feet
In u hat three feet tall. lauGha bic.
isn't H. And Cy montgomery in "A
jockey cap. just rs il he was hang ing
astridc the neck OF some Derby win
ncr. Eoh Forrest sporting Il three cor
nercd hat. bearing the deadly SKULL
and cross bones, ana Jim Watson. face
wreathcd in smiles wore Il chauffeurs
hcadccar.
To enrmcratc the other oddities and
festivities OF the evening would he too
much. Needless 10 say. the l15 mem
bcrS Of the club were there in n body
together with their friends. and not
one has been heard To say that lie did
not have "one party"
Coach George Van Nliet will doubtless
wac rcproachful finger at his sturdy
men as every rover Of the season was
noted on the floor. and training rules
were sma shed. Yet the men are i'm
such prime condition that II shouldn't
be noticed. Anyhow. Van will probublv
make them sweat To CITY Point or
points beyond. to make up for il II is
even darkly limited that he will make
Mason and Hart. two crstwhiic Vernon
Castles. take the double TO Ncwport
News for punishment for not climbing
into tho hay before midnight.
In spite OF the cold. raw weather OF
yesterday afternoon, quite number
OF men were down the clubhouse fairly
horsinS for a row. All swcatcrcd and
1.-the rctrucio Plunlscti. Lacy and that
gang were wics Ing around the
grounds with all the pep in the world
until they were sent downstream FOR
a soodly row. Tho row"rs are ras,
CONTINUED on Second pavc)