Evening star., 1960-12-26
The
Rambler
-. Muy Have Been
Ruined by Society
BY GEORGE KENNEDY

80 ~ IVY 4AAS
Rambler is glad that he is so
old that he doesn't have to
stay up all night every night
this week.
Two books at the bottom of
his Christmas stocking start
ed him thinking back on his
party-going days.
They were: "Who Killed
Society,"" by Cleveland Amory
and ''Perle" by Perle Mesta.
The latter was a self-in-
scribed gift from the author,
which was a surprise. Even
though he didn't know she
cared. Perhaps she is trying
to butter-up all the Kennedys
to make up for her political
error in switchin' to Nixon.
Mr.. Amory levels his ac-
cuSing finger right at Mrs.
Mesta as one of the perpe-
traitors of Societycide.
That's a little unfair.
Those Of the older genera
tion will remember that So
ciety never did recover from
World War !, the intrusion of
the dinner jacket into the
company of ladies (instead Of
white tie and tails), the in
creased cost Of servants and
the passing Of the big houses.
Between wars Lucius Beebe
popularized the term "Cafe
Society" Now Mr.. Amory, a
keen social historian, is call
ing our attention to the fact
that we are in q period of
publicity society"
Oldsters are inclined to
agree that the best old days
were those of the Taft ad-
ministration when the par
ties were held in the big
house. The writer doesn't
know, he was in short pants.
And he doesn't want to imply
that he had a social career.
That was nipped in the bud.
Back in 1918, in a Great Lakes
city, a family friend who was
a social arbiter had him ap-
pointed as one OF the young
gentlemen governors" of the
Junior Charity Ball. His name
appeared in a list on the soci-
ETY. page. Did that 20 to his
head!
Vice President Nixon's tear
jerker about the days when
his family was, so poor that
they could not afford to buy
him a pony is nothing COM
pared to what followed. The |
boy governors father was
well able to afford the pur-
chase Of a "tux."
But Father had an idea
that 1t would be a violation of
common sense to spend $50
to purchase a suit for a grow
ing boy that would be prob
ably worn only once was mira
dig. A great deal Of pressure
was put on Father by the boy
governors" mother and his
aunts, but he was adamant.
The boy didn't go to the
party.
He thinks that parties were
the most fun right after
World War I, during the early
1920s.
True, Society had Just died,
but none but the oldsters
mourned 1t. The new dances
had taken over and the stag
line had replaced the pro-
gram. The times were pros
porous. There were plenty Of
parties. Young men with din
ner jackets were in demand,
If not for dinner, then for
dancing after. If someone for
got to ask us, we were un-
ashamed about getting a mu-
tual friend to get us a bid.
The girls back from East
ern boarding schools and COL
leges were pretty even though
they did affect. the flapper
slouch. Skirts were short.
even evening dresses, and so
was the hair. All the girls
were bobbed. Prohibition had
gone into effect. The result
was that the guests spiked the
punch until it was potent.
Drinking the sweet, strong
stuff was likely to cause tenn
porary illness.
The hostess would be scan
dalized and the party would
be the talk Of the town. The
popular girls had a wonder
full time. They would be cut
In on again and again and
again after undertaking two
or three steps, and they |
loved 1t.
But the girls who did not |