An elaborate upper-class leap year ball was held in Fall River, Massachusetts, on Friday, February 21, 1896, as reported at great length in the Fall River Daily Evening News the following Monday. Fall River is quite close to Providence, Rhode Island, and this ball had a number of similarities to the leap year ball held in Providence four years before, though it does not seem to have featured an enormous cotillion.
On the organizational side, the committee was entirely female, as were the eleven "active and efficient" floor managers. As in Providence, the receiving line consisted entirely of male patrons, each holding "a bunch of beautiful roses" and "a small fan". There was no mention of them curtsying, alas, only smiling.
While not emphasized in the writeup the way it was for the Providence ball, gentlemen other than the patrons had been gifted with flowers as well:
Most of the men had been provided by their escorts with boutonnieres, and many of them carried also bunches of flowers and fans. Corsage boquets [sic] were not infrequent adornments of shirt fronts.
This may have been expensive for some of the ladies:
Every one of them brought at least one man, and one or two brought half a dozen.
There was a very large attendance, and the floor was crowded for all the dancers [sic] except two or three extra dancers [sic] that sent the younger dancing set almost wholly to the galleries, owing to an ignorance of the figures. The hours set for the dance were from 8 to 1 o’clock, and the announcement of these hours meant something. The floor managers were on hand and the patrons in their places before 8 o’clock, and at that hour the ball was opened. Dancing was begun by 8:45 o’clock, and the members were put through with a rush.
Music was supplied by the Elite Orchestra, which apparently played with extra pizzazz that evening:
The musicians had made special preparation for the occasion, and they were rewarded in the satisfaction given. The time was finely marked, and there was a dash and a swing to the music that prevented even the unpracticed dancers from noticing that they were tired till afterward.
The ball program was not printed in list form in the article, but it was described in detail:
Mr. Patrick E. Foley called off for the dances, and in most fatherly way he directed the Tempest, Money musk, a Virginia Reel, three quadrilles, two lanciers, and Portland fancy. There was “only one two-step.” A polka, schottische and three waltzes made up the program.
Apparently young dancers neither knew nor liked quadrilles and contra dances:
When the younger dancers learned that every other number was to be a square dance they sent up another cry of protest, but again the committee knew what it was about. The square dances were enjoyed by the married people and helped to keep away formality. The young dancers enjoyed them too, though they were sadly puzzled by figures that they never even heard named before. The tempest sent all the younger ones off the floor, or left them stranded on it. Money musk was nearly as bad for them. There were plenty who knew these dances to comfortably fill the floor, however. A good number danced no others.
Interestingly, they also seemed scornful of dance cards:
The younger dancers were inclined to smile in a superior manner when they learned that printed programs of dances were to be used, but they confessed their error long before the dance ended.
One wonders what their previous social dancing experience had been.
The article claimed that there were sixteen dances, although the list above includes only fifteen. But in any case,
These were rushed through as rapidly as possible to give time for “extras” if possible. The “extras,” the managers explained, were to be the young people’s dances. The time went almost as fast as the dances, and as several encores were allowed during the second half it was 10 o’clock when the regular program was finished. The managers relented from the strict closing rule so far as to allow one more two-step and one more waltz. Then the musicians were ordered home to remove the possibility of staying any later.
By "young people's dances", I would assume they mean entirely couple dances. The limited allowance for the two-step is interesting, and shows how little accepted it was in some circles early in its period of popularity. Within a decade, most dances other than the two-step and waltz would have fallen away from upper-class programs and those two dances would completely dominate the ballroom.
The ladies of the committee and floor managers took full advantage of their roles:
In almost every particular the ladies gave the men valuable points on the management of a dance...
...They had had four years in which to learn their lesson, and they knew it thoroughly. Then they would not, probably, have another such chance for eight years, and they made the most of it.
Gentlemen's actions were restricted by the ladies in the ways one would expect at a leap year ball, including the common prohibition on walking across the floor unescorted:
Having landed them at the hall, they led their captives around in chains. The captives rather enjoyed this, though some of the experiences that they passed through brought feelings of anguish and disappointment to them...The dancing men had to wait to be asked, and as there was a considerable surplus of men, there were always a considerable number posing as wall flowers...
...The rules were strict, and quite strictly enforced. A man could no more walk across the floor unattended than a lady could at an ordinary dance. When a man forgot and started out alone he was very apt to be called to order by one of the committee.
One hopes that the chains were only metaphorical.
Like the Providence ball, the Fall River ball was catered by Lloyd Tillinghast. Discipline initially failed when supper was served, however:
...the ladies showed how readily they took up men’s ways when they had a chance by rushing for the tables, many of them were in possession of filled plates.
The moment of chaos was brief. The floor managers stopped the rush, organized the ladies into a double line, and marched them to and from the refreshment tables:
Then the managers called a halt, and showed the men how such things should be done. Not a single plate was allowed to go out in that informal way. The ladies were directed to form in line, and marched to the tables, and then away with nice lunches for their men. This arrangement was thoroughly appreciated by the men, all of whom had at one time or another struggled at the lunch tables. The managers and ladies generally were loudly applauded as they formed two and two at the head of the hall, after a false start at the foot that was followed by a general rush. The gowns worn were very handsome. There was a great variety of colors, and these blended beautifully as the ladies formed for the march. The plants on the platform made a fine back ground, and the men gave a second round of applause for the attractive sight.
As at the ball in Dundee, there was a smoking room, but the gentlemen had to get permission to go there:
When the men succeeded in escaping to the coat room they were not allowed to smoke there. The committee relented so far, however, as to have a smoking room upstairs opened. The men who reached this were not as happy and comfortable as usual. They had all had more or less dances engaged if only for sitting out, and not one of them was hardened enough to forget.
The smoking men could not escape to smoke without first getting permission and escort out...
The gentlemen obviously had no hope of evading the dancing, but, given the surplus of men, they also got to experience the life of a wallflower:
Men who could dance, and ordinarily would not dance, were made to dance till they were ready to drop. On the other hand men who ordinarily dance a great deal learned how pleasant it was to sit neglected, while other men more fortunate, had partners and danced triumphantly by. These wall flowers were not really much noticed, but they felt as though every body must see them, and some of them looked utterly miserable. If they could have escaped to the galleries it would not have been so bad, but they could not go there unattended, and had to remain where they were.
And the experience of being looked right through by a former partner who does not desire the acquaintance:
Many a man learned how to enjoy having an acquaintance, perhaps rather a good friend, approach and look straight at him without the slightest sign of recognition. If a recognition was unavoidable it came in the shape of a slight and distant bow and just the trace of a smile. When this occurred a man would try to think back and recall having danced with the lady who seemed to have forgotten him.
When the ball started, etiquette seems to have partly flown out the window:
With the passing out of the programs all formality, barring a very correct presentation to the patrons, took flight. The ladies, placed their men carefully and safely in sets and then rushed around to fill their cards.
Gentlemen who showed up late failed to fill their cards for the regular program but at least got to dance the extras:
The men who persuaded their escorts not to bring them around until late, and so had “extras” engaged up to the 20th or so, and very few regular numbers, had the names scattered down the backs of their cards for consolation.
The ladies chose their partners strategically, with a hint of payback for previous slights:
The ladies picked out good dancers usually for the round dances, and remembered the men who always remembered them at other dances for both square and round numbers.
Pity the gentlemen who had failed to remember the ladies at previous events and was left to suffer the embarrassment of a mostly-empty dance card, not for lack of interest on his part, but for lack of interest by the ladies:
Even a man who is satisfied with a few dances, does not enjoy putting up a card with half a dozen names scattered over it, when those names indicate the number of partners who have come voluntarily to dance with him.
But the ladies also displayed some kindness, enabled by the existence of the extra dances:
Still the ladies were generous in their triumph. They gave up every dance and they secured partners for such a generous number of “extras” that there was no possibility of dancing them all.
A full transcription of the entire article follows.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Fall River Daily Evening News (Fall River, Massachusetts), Monday, February 24, 1896, p. 1.
THE LEAP YEAR BALL
————
The Social Success of the Season.
The Leap Year dance at Music Hall, Friday night, was decidedly the social success of the season, and the members of the committee in charge are to be congratulated upon the results of their management.
The party was the jolliest and most enjoyable that Music Hall has held in a long time. The ladies ruled, and they just enjoyed themselves. Every one of the brought at least one man, and one or two brought half a dozen. Having landed them at the hall, they led their captives around in chains. The captives rather enjoyed this, though some of the experiences that they passed through brought feelings of anguish and disappointment to them. The smoking men could not escape to smoke without first getting permission and escort out. The dancing men had to wait to be asked, and as there was a considerable surplus of men, there were always a considerable number posing as wall flowers.
There was a very large attendance, and the floor was crowded for all the dancers [sic] except two or three extra dancers [sic] that sent the younger dancing set almost wholly to the galleries, owing to an ignorance of the figures. The hours set for the dance were from 8 to 1 o’clock, and the announcement of these hours meant something. The floor managers were on hand and the patrons in their places before 8 o’clock, and at that hour the ball was opened. Dancing was begun by 8:45 o’clock, and the members were put through with a rush. In almost every particular the ladies gave the men valuable points on the management of a dance. The younger dancers were inclined to smile in a superior manner when they learned that printed programs of dances were to be used, but they confessed their error long before the dance ended. With the passing out of the programs all formality, barring a very correct presentation to the patrons, took flight. The ladies, placed their men carefully and safely in sets and then rushed around to fill their cards.
They had had four years in which to learn their lesson, and they knew it thoroughly. Then they would not, probably, have another such chance for eight years, and they made the most of it. Men who could dance, and ordinarily would not dance, were made to dance till they were ready to drop. On the other hand men who ordinarily dance a great deal learned how pleasant it was to sit neglected, while other men more fortunate, had partners and danced triumphantly by. These wall flowers were not really much noticed, but they felt as though every body must see them, and some of them looked utterly miserable. If they could have escaped to the galleries it would not have been so bad, but they could not go there unattended, and had to remain where they were.
Many a man learned how to enjoy having an acquaintance, perhaps rather a good friend, approach and look straight at him without the slightest sign of recognition. If a recognition was unavoidable it came in the shape of a slight and distant bow and just the trace of a smile. When this occurred a man would try to think back and recall having danced with the lady who seemed to have forgotten him. The ladies picked out good dancers usually for the round dances, and remembered the men who always remembered them at other dances for both square and round numbers. Then they got together and laughed over the good time they were having. Even a man who is satisfied with a few dances, does not enjoy putting up a card with half a dozen names scattered over it, when those names indicate the number of partners who have come voluntarily to dance with him. Still the ladies were generous in their triumph. They gave up every dance and the secured partners for such a generous number of “extras” that there was no possibility of dancing them all.
The rules were strict, and quite strictly enforced. A man could no more walk across the floor unattended than a lady could at an ordinary dance. When a man forgot and started out alone he was very apt to be called to order by one of the committee. When the men succeeded in escaping to the coat room they were not allowed to smoke there. The committee relented so far, however, as to have a smoking room upstairs opened. The men who reached this were not as happy and comfortable as usual. They had all had more or less dances engaged if only for sitting out, and not one of them was hardened enough to forget.
The Elite Orchestra played. The musicians had made special preparation for the occasion, and they were rewarded in the satisfaction given. The time was finely marked, and there was a dash and a swing to the music that prevented even the unpracticed dancers from noticing that they were tired till afterward. When the younger dancers learned that every other number was to be a square dance they sent up another cry of protest, but again the committee knew what it was about. The square dances were enjoyed by the married people and helped to keep away formality. The young dancers enjoyed them too, though they were sadly puzzled by figures that they never even heard named before. The tempest sent all the younger ones off the floor, or left them stranded on it. Money musk was nearly as bad for them. There were plenty who knew these dances to comfortable fill the floor, however. A good number danced no others.
Mr. Patrick E. Foley called off for the dances, and in most fatherly way he directed the Tempest, Money musk, a Virginia Reel, three quadrilles, two lanciers, and Portland fancy. There was “only one two-step.” A polka, schottische and three waltzes made up the program. There were 16 numbers. These were rushed through as rapidly as possible to give time for “extras” if possible. The “extras,” the managers explained, were to be the young people’s dances. The time went almost as fast as the dances, and as several encores were allowed during the second half it was 10 o’clock when the regular program was finished. The managers relented from the strict closing rule so far as to allow one more two-step and one more waltz. Then the musicians were ordered home to remove the possibility of staying any later. The men who persuaded their escorts not to bring them around until late, and so had “extras” engaged up to the 20th or so, and very few regular numbers, had the names scattered down the backs of their cards for consolation.
Tillinghast was caterer. When supper was ready to be served the ladies showed how readily they took up men’s ways when they had a chance by rushing for the tables, many of them were in possession of filled plates. Then the managers called a halt, and showed the men how such things should be done. Not a single plate was allowed to go out in that informal way. The ladies were directed to form in line, and marched to the tables, and then away with nice lunches for their men. This arrangement was thoroughly appreciated by the men, all of whom had at one time or another struggled at the lunch tables. The managers and ladies generally were loudly applauded as they formed two and two at the head of the hall, after a false start at the foot that was followed by a general rush. The gowns worn were very handsome. There was a great variety of colors, and these blended beautifully as the ladies formed for the march. The plants on the platform made a fine back ground, and the men gave a second round of applause for the attractive sight. Small tables, chairs and banquet lamps with screens and plants were scattered about the small hall. Some of the men were posted here, but the majority were placed in the galleries, and their lunches brought to them there.
The patrons were Mr. Simeon B. Chace, Mr. William F. Hooper, Mr. Edward H. B. Brow and Mr. Effingham C. Haight. They received in a corner of the large hall, each smiling hospitably over a bunch of beautiful roses, and holding gracefully a small fan. Most of the men had been provided by their escorts with boutonnieres, and many of them carried also bunches of flowers and fans. Corsage boquets [sic] were not infrequent adornments of shirt fronts.
The members of the committee were: Mrs. Charles A. Bassett, Mrs. William C. Davol, Mrs. William F. Hooper, Mrs. Clark Chase, Mrs. Effingham C. Haight, Mrs. Edward H. B. Brow.
The following ladies were most active and efficient floor managers: Katherine Wheaton Haight, Lottie Robinson Luther, Annie Frances Jennings, Fanny Mabel Wetherell, Harriett Brown Hawes, Garrie[sic] Howard Sherman, Louise Buffum Hawes, Mary Hooper Bassett, Edith Brow, Elizabeth Clark Chase, Mary Whitman Chase.
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