THE PERFECT HOST

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20851, 18 April 1931, Page 6 (Supplement)

THE PERFECT HOST

WHEN THINGS ARE FLAGGING.

I had always heard that Charlie Chaplin was a good host, but how good I never realised till I saw him operating at his £SOOO party at tho Carlton Hotel, remarks a writer in an overseas journal. Ho started by taking tho floor for the first tango with a partner from Mrs. Cunningham Reid's table, and as no ono else got up they wero left to do an exhibition danco.

Charlie dances tho tango well, and evidently likes it, for .there wero many tangos in tho programme, and ho danced them all.

After his opening danco ho went round to tho tables, and broke up tho separate parties, infusing dull groups with one or two gay people, and vice versa. When he found things wero flagging about 2 a.m. ho told tho band to play a lively Paul Jones, which put new life into the party. In the Paul Jones it is catch-as-catcb-can for partners. Lady Oxford was dancing with a tall youth from tho films, and Winston Churchill found himself partnered by a very small girl. Lady Astor got Charlie himself twico, and seemed proud of her luck.

Whan Charlie came to make his speech it was interesting to find that he had a wonderful voice; it would be ideal for talkies, because, though clear and reson ant, it betrays no accent of any kind. The most striking gown at the party was very tightly fitting, of bright emerald green in the style of the eighties, with threo little frills" round tho bottom of the skirt.

Lady Astor had a green band round her hair, and Lady Oxford wore green earrings, necklace and bracelets. Lady Colefax had jade beads mixed with her pearls. In fact, there was so much green about, that it was quite a relief to see Lady Cholmondeley in .a bright red frock, with black shoes and red buckles.