Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-12-24
CHARITY BALL
OF % YEARS AGO
WAS DIFFERENT
HOrSe-DraLUR Vehicles Brought
ReUeierS to Doors of
TOmIinsOn Hall.

Can you remember when the height Of
social elegance was to escort your sweet
heart to Il dance in Il closed carriage
drawn by prancing steeds and chauf-
fured by liverled c0achman, who looked
as III he were almost bursting out OF his
regalia? In those days, the racy Romeo
with outfit fairly screaming with silver
mounted harness, satiny steeds and silk
hated driver. looked with amused eyes
on his unfortunate brother who drove to
the ballroom door in a public can driven
with only one horse attached and a
rather nondescript- appearing driver Can
you imagine an array of such vehicles
parked around the courthouse yard, the
Circle or the Claypool Hotel nowadays
Fancy the smart, young buds Of this
season, in their abbreviated frocks and
bobbed hair stepping from such an
equipage.
This year, on the evening Of Jan. 2,
miladi will step from her suitor's steam
heated. velour upholstered, twelve cyl
inder Limousine, at Mr. Claypoofs up-to-
date hotel and win fox-trot through the
evening on the skiddy tile floor Of the
Riley room, to the rather discoEdant,
although decidedly foot-tickling music Of
the signing saxophones, banjos and
other instruments that go to make up the
dance orchestras of today. The modern
jazz, modified no doubt to suit the elite
taste of the conservative members OF
the Indianapolis Free kindergarten and
Children's Aid Society board, who will
once more entertain with the usual brill
liant charity ball that concludes the local
holiday gaities, with gorgeous flourish.
Well, It was In those horsey days of
twenty-five years ago, when the motor
car was very much In embryo, that the
first charity ball was given by this
SELF same association. On the evening Of
Jan. 1, 1900, in Tomlinson Hall, the
very thickest Of the cream of Indian
apolis society, in coach and tours were
thickly lined around the market place,
for such an innovation must needs be
supported by the real blue bloods of
the city.
Perhaps the most unique feature of
the affair was that during the day of the
''soiree," moving vans were unloading
at the hall, for the boxes were sold to
various folk who furnished them with
all the comforts of a drawing room,
parlor lamps, oriental rugs, velvet cush-
ions, upholstered chairs n everything.
The hail. so they say, bore the aspect
of multi-roomed mansion perhaps one
might say III looked ike an apartment
building made up of one-room fats /;
and the families, old and young, watched
the dancers.
And, 1t Is said, the dancing was of a
different variety from that of today. The
two-step was In its heyday of popularity
and the dreamy old-time waltz was the
delight of the romantic young SWANS.
What a sensation the shimmy of today
would have created at that conservative
function.
Mrs. John Holiday was one Of the ac-
tive workers In that day with the So
ciety. Today she is still on the board
and this years event gives promise of
excelling all others In brilliancy. The
board of trustees includes Mrs. Louis j.
Baker Mrs. Henry W. Bennett, Mrs. Il.
Nj. Campbell, Mrs. d. l.. Chambers Mrs.
w. w. Critchlow, Mrs. Samuel Fl. Fletch-
er, Miss Alice Finch, Mrs. Fred Hoke,
Mrs. John H. Holiday, Mrs. Albert q.
Metzger, Mrs. Herman Munk, Mrs. S. d.
Miller, Mrs. A. +. Potts, Mrs. David Ross,
Mrs, G. A. Schnull, Mrs. Alexander P.
Spruance, Mrs. James II. Taylor, Mrs.
Clemens Vonnegut. Mrs. Evans Woollen,
Mrs, w. N. Wishard and Mrs. e. d.
Wales.
Mrs. Metzger is in charge Of reserva-
tons