Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-01-28
Picked Up Here and There.

the amateur theatricals, with people
of society on the stage, which were
given at Mrs
Amateur Theatricals Hermann Del.
+L~ rh;. richs', have al
most had the ef-
feet in these few days Of revolution
says New York correspondent in the
Chicago Tribune.
People of fashion had arrived at the
state OF mind where an innovation in
entertainment was heralded with joy
They were SO tired OF costume enter.
tainments that they refused to climb
into their costumes. They struck that
item of several years standing from
their expense accounts Of $1,000 an
nually for at least two costumes.
They say that some people, includins
Mr.. and Mrs. Vincent Aston, went early
in the season to q costume party only ia
find about two-thirds Of the guests In
fancy array. The others had on theil
simple little evening dresses at about
$1,000 apiece. Mr.. and Mrs. Astor felt
uncomfortable in the array Of another
age and conspicuous. On their way
home they talked at length about whai
an outrage 1t was to expect them to
Just little while ago they we're In.
yited to another costume affair. Thew
talked the invitation at length. whethe,
to go in costume or not. At the last
moment. such was their unpleasant
memory Of their last experience. they
decided not to go at all.
This Is but one of the death notice,
OF the fancy costume ball. You can see
for yourself how direly society was
in need Of an innovation, when aIons
came the party Of Mrs. Oelrichs.
III
A clever and satiric eastern woman
has recently brought out clever little
book OF Lessons for
Hint to the the Debutante." which
n..u... is her way Of calling
DeDntante- the attention Of the
young folk to certain lapses that are
noted everywhere they congregate.
OF course it's a skit, but it may dc
some good, for hostesses have been
heard to complain often this winter
says the Chicago Herald. and rather
bitterly Of the careless. sometimes
b Isaun ma manner .sa in which they are
young men, but also by the young
women, and not all debutantes, either
In this little book Of which I'm
speaking the tips to youth are given
IN lessons. In lesson the subject il
the place il Mrs. AS drawing room
Action, none as yet" The attention
Of the debutante is called to the fact
that the invitation is for s o'clock
ply with this request" said the book
IF you do you'll find Mrs. A. still dress
ing and you might hear Mr.. AS re-
marks upon the guests and the world
in general because he Is tired and his
neck is too large for his collar.
Sneak up to the drawing room. where
you will probably find several Of your
friends. They are doubtless discussing
the movies. Go slowly to the mirror
over again. rub your cheeks Having
done this. you may sigh deeply, sit
down on the lounge and talk until $3.50
The conversation generally at this
point hinges upon whether he or she
was asked to this or that, and, if not,
why not?
"In time---all being agreed, you de-
scend and form in line and march out
boldly to meet the worst
You meet her at the drawing room
door. You have met her before. but
she does not remember faces. There
Is a servant in livery to announce
names; he munbles your confidentially
to Mrs. A., who smiles brightly and
puts out her em-bedecked hand.
Previous to the dinne-sou never let
your hostess know whether or not
you'll be there. She usually has to
phone to find out. and then gets the
response from you that you'll try to
be-, meaning. of course, that II no more
attractive Invitation comes your way
that you'll go. And then afterward
you mustn't under any circumstances
do anything to let your hostess know
that you have had good time or that
you are pleased that she invited you
TO her party. Jamais! Nobody does
that anywhere. It's quite hopelessly
old-fashioned."
And SO on.