TRAINING FOR SOCIETY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15169, 7 December 1912, Page 2 (Supplement)

TRAINING FOR SOCIETY.

LATEST AMERICAN FAD.

"The Bureau of Social Requirements" is America's latest fad. It is a sort of school for society's novices, and undertakes almost anything and everything calculated to make modern lifo less arduous. New York originated, tho idea, and succeeded so well in filling the long-felt want that not only Washington, but other American cities, followed suit.

The bureau is run by good business women, some of whom have been society hostesses in their time, and know what is wanted by society. They have undertaken to choose, decorate, and furnish houses, run them when finished, or supply housekeepers, secretaries, and servants, permanently or for special occasions. They will anange and conduct balls, weddings, dinners, etc. The bureau is especially designed to meet the needs of newcomers to Washington, who tremble lest they infringe some unwritten law of the country's diplomatic and social capital.

Mrs. Labouisso, formerly of New York, who has-been twice married, is chief directress of tho bureau, and has a staff of qualified assistants, every ono of whom i-. dying to fill all the needs of much har assed hostesses, or tutor those still untried in the social labyrinth. Mrs. Labouiase is confident that tho bureau will be a success and points to some well-known houses "already managed by the bureau." Also," she says, "we arranged tho marriage of Miss Hopkins to Mr. Elliott, the other day. The programme was characterised by many attractive novelties, not the least appreciated of which, I am sure, was serving sandwiches and drinks on the private train which wo engaged to take guests to tho wedding."

The rapprochement between the world of business and society, Mrs. Labouisse insists, is becoming more : marked every season.