The Washington times., 1922-07-25
SHE NJ { 7
SONNY At
CAY HOTEL
Continued from First PageJ

tContlnueu from rlrSt FdBeJ
gree. There is no home life, when a
theatrical company is on the road.
And narrow. poorly lighted. cold and
cherries hotel rooms are sorry
places in which to spend leisure
hours. These girls must have
friends, and how are they to distin.
Kuish between good and bad men?
Getting back to the ball at which
I met Sonny" Whitney.
The affair took place at the fash
tonable Ritz Carlton Hotel III New
York. The Ballet Bleu" will be
remembered as the social event OF
the 1919 season.
Mrs. Vanderbilt had asked me 10
do something original. so l staged
the "Balet Blue" with twelve Of the
prettiest dancing girls | could lind in
New York.
Ny costume that night was aqua
marine blue. On my head was
scarlet red wig, which hung below
my knees. The body piece was blue
sequin, with d long train OF chiffon.
AS danced I carried outstretched a
bowl from which rose blue tlaine
delicately scented with frankincense.
forgot my wearineSS IN the ex-
cttement and thrill OF the moment,
dancing there before some OF the
richest and most notable people in
the world, people wearing Jewels
far beyond ordinary comprehension
and gowns made at trem endous cost
especially for this occasion.
After I had responded 10 the re-
peated encores. ! realized how tired
I really was. I had already worked
at the Ziegfeld roof this same night,
and I was ready now to so home.
Mrs. Vanderbilt had previously
asked ME to join her table for sup
per after my dancing number. and
to dance with her guests.
So worn out wasI though. l had
mother call a taxicab and told her
we would go right home. slipped
out of the backway, so as not to
meet Mrs. Vanderbilt. planning to
telephone her an apology and an
explanation the following day.
Girl Urged Her to Stay.
Mother was in the taxicab, seated
among a pile of hat boxes and cos
tunes. and was just about to get
in when a voice called to me, "Oh.
Evan. wait a minute"
l had noticed a group of young
people all in evening clothes and
dinner gowns standing a few feet
away from the exit when I left the
hotel. but paid no attention to them.
Now q girl came running to me.
It was Betty Brown, one of the Zieg-
field Follies girls whom I had met at
the theater. Betty put her arms
about me coaxjngly and said. "Oh,
Evan, please come on back and dance
with u.s." I refused.
Then she said: There's a young
fellow here who has been trying for
weeks to meet you. He has been
coming to the "F'rolic" every night,
but he says you won't even look at
him. He's just crazy to be intro
duced."
guess every woman has a par
donable curiosity in her makeup.
Surely all of us like admiration. l
wondered who this young man could
be. I asked Betty.
Sonny Whitney" she replied.
And Then.
The name meant nothing to me.
and I was setting myself in the
taxi when Stephen "Laddy" Sanford
came up.
"Oh, Miss Fontaine," he called to
me, Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney
is one Of our party and wants to
meet you"
Still the name meant nothing to
me, nor was l at all anxious to have
him introduced, but "Laddy" has a
persuasive way about him, and the
next thing I knew he was formally
introducing Sonny" Whitney.
In the next article 1 will tell you
exactIy how "SOnny" Whitney ap-
peaIed to me and, too, will tell you
about the bathing party we staged