PARTIES OVERSEAS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23080, 5 January 1937, Page 12

PARTIES OVERSEAS

Luncheon hostesses in London have found a way to ease the strain of lagging conversations (says an exchange). When a worried woman gives a party, she pays someone to attend and lead the guests to excited discussions of this and that. . Whenever the women seem to be petered out on one topic, the vivacious one starts them on something else and keeps them going at full steam ahead. Many a luncheon has been changed from boredom to enjoyment by the strategy of the paid guest, who appears to be just one of those present. She is usually the last to leave, the

hostess not wishing to hand out tht fee in front of the others.

They pay as much as £5 per luncheon for a good conversation pilot. Yet another new social function has been evolved overseas, and as is usual with such innovations, it is the combination of two old favourites.

This time it is the cociuail patty and tht tea dance, and is known as the cocktail dance. -

While- a cocktail "party may be in full swing in one room, a dance is proceeding elsewhere, where the younger people are amusing themselves.

This brings the problem of clothes to the fore once more, and designers are now evolving evening frocks that can be worn in the daytime.