The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-03-13
Society Furnishes
Its Own Amusement


itai s. is turning this winter to
amusing itself instead of hiring high
priced singers dancers and other pro-
fessional performers to lead its gam
bols.
Perhaps IL was the uncertain past
and more Cor less) uncertain manners
and morals of professional dancers
who were received into the bosom OF
society year or two ago which IN
duced the change. There has been a
revulsion of feeling, and society again
has the bars up against such unde-
sirables,
One interesting feature of the
change Is he remarkable talent
shown by persons who are members
Of smart society when they set out
TO dance. act or 10 a monologue.
This winter has seen a string of
original society entertainments. First
there was the strike ball. given to
well-known debutante and having for
a setting a Bohemian restaurant that
was hired for the affair.
The invitations were sent out in
the most approved anarchistical man
ner. The guests entered into the
spirit by accepting these invitations
ty black hands ami fake bombs with
fuses attached, ami many OF the most
drastic threats AMI promises were
contained in the invitations and also
left at the door of the hostess.
The costumes were those of factory
workers. car drivers and many other
kinds of industrial workers who have
persistently gone ON strike in this
country. The restaurant was ar
ranged with fake wall inside the
ballroom, with windows inserted, and,
at a given momen;. brickbats--soft
ones, be 1t said-were hurled through
the windows. the guests were scat
tered and riot and confusion reigned.
AS the supper was about to be
served the walters went on strike
and the guests we're compelled to
serve themselves There was an os-
tentatious call for the police. and
twelve finest limitations OF the finest
charged the place and arrested the
walters ana the worst of the rioters.
The band also went on strike, and vol
unteer musicians from the guests took
their places and the music proceeded.
Brickbats. bombs Internal machines
Of all kinds, packages of fake dyna
mite and red flaga were the favors.
and with these implements OF warfare
the guests created a clamor of con-
fusion.
Then there was the automat ball.
where were gathered half the we'll
known celebrities in art. literature
and the stage.
The entire second floor of the new
Automat building In New York was
taken for the evening. The men wore
white walters coats with black trous-
ers, and the women came in exagger-
ated costumes of Mattresses. There
were no decorations of importance
Tho f9y f1S
OF nickel, which were placed on all
he tables and which the guests used
to provide their own supper. Con-
trary to the. tradition or automat
places there was every kind OF Amer
can drink to be had,
This was followed by the neutrality
lall. in which all :he men and good
many of the women came as Platts-
burg rockies. Preparedness, militar-
ISM. compulsory service and training
of young boys were political features
Of the hour, which were carried out
by banners. favors and notices,
In the presence cf the neutrals, the
allies danced. All of the people who
took part were men and women of SO
oial distinction. bu. they wore gor-
geous costumes and acted and did
every part as well as the best pro-
fessionals could possibly have done.
The Monte Carlo ball was given in
a ballroom set with gaming tables
and professionals who knew well the
ways Of that most famous casino in
the world. that has the maritime Alps
behind it and the blue Mediterranean
/ before 1t, took the part OF croupiers
There we're hundreds OF dollars OF
fake money, and the sonorous call Of
Rien ne va plus swung itself into
the ballroom in manner that made
he CANISTER homesick
The entire ballroom was turned into
q roulette wheel by floor decorations
The guests had trained themselves
into doing a roulette dance which had
all the features OF the swing OF the
wheel and the call OF the Croupiers
They wore costumes in the roulette
Colors.
AT the height or the excitement
there were flashed up al the end of
the ballroom moving pictures which
showed station house, the gathering
of the police and the patrol leaving
the station, and at this moment a
squad OF policemen Jumped through
the thin paper and arrested the guests
for gambling against the laws
"A Javanese puppet play is another
lew scheme by which society intends
TO entertain itself during Lent