Part 15 (2/2)

=County b.a.l.l.s= are princ.i.p.ally composed of a series of large parties brought by different ladies in the neighbourhood where the ball is held; but there are two cla.s.ses of county b.a.l.l.s, b.a.l.l.s which are held in large and populous towns and attended by the princ.i.p.al residents of the towns, with only a small sprinkling of the county aristocracy and county gentry.

There are also Hunt b.a.l.l.s and annual Charity b.a.l.l.s which take place between October and February, and which are an amalgamation of both cla.s.ses of b.a.l.l.s.

The neighbourhood where a ball is held is a sufficient indication as to whether it is likely to be a smart one or not.

As a rule the leading ladies of a county lend their names as patronesses and supporters of a charity ball, although it by no means follows that they will personally attend it; but a long list of influential patronesses materially increases the sale of tickets, which is the result to be achieved.

A large attendance is not the primary object of a county ball, as the sum raised by the sale of tickets is only required to defray the expenses of the ball, although these are sometimes considerable, especially when the decorations are elaborate, and the arrangements on a grand scale, in which case there is not seldom a deficiency rather than a surplus, which deficiency is defrayed by the stewards themselves.

To ensure a good ball considerable unanimity on the part of the county ladies is demanded, and they usually meet and consult together previous to fixing the date of the ball, to take into consideration the fixtures of neighbouring county b.a.l.l.s, and so avoid the possibility of the said b.a.l.l.s clas.h.i.+ng with their own county ball, and also with a view of perhaps attracting the house parties of their more distant neighbours to swell the numbers at their own ball.

House parties invited for a ball vary from ten to twenty-five, as the accommodation of a house admits.

It is not the province of the stewards of a ball to find partners for either ladies or gentlemen, and therefore, if a lady does not form one of a large party, but merely attends a county ball with a relative or friend, and has not a large acquaintance amongst these present, she has very little chance of obtaining partners.

Young ladies do not now return to their chaperons after each dance, or after they have been to the tea-room.

A gentleman should offer his arm to his partner at the conclusion of a dance to conduct her to the tea-room. In round dances, it is customary to take frequent pauses, and not to race round the ball-room until the music ceases.

At country b.a.l.l.s programmes are invariably used; at London b.a.l.l.s they are never used, save at public b.a.l.l.s.

County b.a.l.l.s usually commence between nine and ten o'clock, sometimes a ball is not opened until the most influential of the stewards and their parties have arrived, but oftener than not the two first dances are over before the arrival of the county magnates.

It depends upon the length of the drive at what time people arrive at a ball; as a rule, they do not arrive later than 10.30 p.m.

The usual mode of conveying a house-party to a ball is by private omnibus in addition to carriages and motor-cars; but when these are hired for the occasion the expense should be defrayed by the guests themselves.

It is usual to leave a country ball not later than half-past two; the most fas.h.i.+onable people invariably do so about that hour.

As a matter of course persons attending public b.a.l.l.s take their ball tickets with them.

=When attending a Military Ball=, or a Hunt Ball, it is usually the rule to take the invitation card and hand it to the sergeant or official in attendance.

It is sometimes stated on the invitation card that this is to be done, although it is often taken for granted that persons will do so of their own accord.

At b.a.l.l.s given by private individuals, the invited guests should not bring their invitation cards with them, unless in the case of a _bal masque_, where they are sometimes requested to do so.

In giving a ball three weeks' notice is considered necessary, but with regard to a dance a short ten days' notice would suffice.

=The Invitation Card= is the usual ”at home” card, the word ”Dancing”

being printed in the corner of the card.

The word ”ball” should never be used on an invitation card, however grand the entertainment; and the same form of invitation is employed either in the case of a small dance or of a large ball, though in the event of a small dance only being given, the words ”Small” or ”Early”

should be written or printed on the invitation card.

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