“BURS” IN AMERICA.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 November 1930, Page 6 (Supplement)

“BURS” IN AMERICA.

(By

Elisabeth Kyle.)

The American debutante, or ‘‘bud/’ is one of the most finished products of civilisation. She ifJ probably far less crude than the young girls of most other countries, because she has always been accustomed to travel, and has -most likely spent the last year or two in acquiring a final polish at some European finishing school. Florence, by the way, seems to he outbidding Paris in popularity as a ceptre fop imbibing art and culture. Some of the most charnring “’buds” of recppt years have been sent there, instead of to Paris. The “bud” who is about to *be launched into society chooses her smartest, most becoming afternoon toilette, and, by four o'clock on the day of the reception, is ready to stand with her mother to receive the guests. Usually they stand under a floivpred capppy, but sometimes beside the grapd piano, which is heaped with floral tributes. a small orchestra i? paying ii l the hall. The guests’ cars begin to arrive, and each driver is given a numbered ticket by the imposing negro who stands at the gate. These cards are taken by another servant as the guests -enter, American hostesses insisting upon this formality, because it not only prevents gatecrashing, but alpO allows thpm to draw up correct lists of “those present” for the papers. The guests are ushered upstairs 'tp remove their wraps, and to inspect the girl’s presents, which are usually laid out in her own beautifully decorated room. Then they descend, file past fo shake hands with the hostess and her daughter, and finally drift towards the bopffet where a marvellous collection of sandwiches and ice-cream puddings testifies to the extreme importance of the food question I in American entertaining. Afterwards the guests, who mostly ■ consist of middle-aged friends of the girl’s parents, begin to dwindle away. There is a respite for the hOU|Se-pifrty just time for a change of frocks and a hasty meal. Then copies the dance for her own particular “set,” apd yet another “bud” is launched into the social world.