WILD SOCIETY PARTY

Hokitika Guardian, 27 August 1929, Page 8

WILD SOCIETY PARTY

COMMOTION IN WEST END. How a certain section of society amuses itself was shown in the usually secluded quiet of Rutland Gate. London, on July 10. Miss Rosemary Sanders,' daughter of the Hon Air Sandars, had issued invitations to some 200 guests to tak part in a “babies’ dance.” The in vitation ran:—“Dancing in the .nursery from 10 o’clock till bedtime. Shy and backward children are invited t' bring th.eir nannies. A pram par] will be provided within two minutes' walk of the nursery. Please brinj your own comforters. Bottles will 'br provided.”

Other residents of Rutland Gate looked out an an amazing scene. The gardens had been taken over by Mjs: Sandars, and were lighted by hundreds of fairy lamps. A rocking liorsi had been provided for the amusement of the guests. There were all kinds of nursery games, and two b'isinettes occupied prominent positions. Outside Miss Sandal's’ house was' a pram park under an awning ‘>nd those who arrived in or with their prams were able to leave them there. Two embarrassed men-sorvan D stood at the entrance to receive babies’ bonnets and comforters Which some of the guests decided to discard. Three other- adjoining houses had also been taken for the /party.

The guests began to arrive shortly before 10 o’clock, watched by a large crowd of curious people, some of whom did not view the gathering very sympathetically.

SCREAMING AND CRYING. Aren and women of all ages were dressed as babies. Some wore long clothes and sucked comforters. Others were dressed as two-year-olds, or as slightly older children. Afost of them carried toys—dolls, elephants, Teddy bears, rattles and games with which to amuse themselves. ATen dressed as “nannies” took charge of some of the young women, lifting them out of the cars and carrying them into the house. Nearly all the guests arrived acting like babies, screaming, crying, whining, sounding their rattles and throwing things from their cars to the ground.

When three donkeys arrived, three young men dressed up as babies came out of the house and tried to ride the animals into the house. The first man succeeded in getting his donkey up the stens, but was then thrown into the hall. The rider of the second donkey had better luck; the third got no further than the steps. Finally, after being paraded in the hall, the donkeys were taken through the crowd into the garden to provide rides for the guests. Alisa Sandars had provided nursery chairs, feeding bottles, toys and rattles in the house for the guests. In another room was a round pond where the guests sailed their boats and /played on the sand with bucket and' spades. There was also a roomful of trains and toys, which kept the boy babies hapny for hours.. One man who arrived at the party some time after it had begun was so scantily clad as a baby that he made a leap from h'is ear and dashed into the house before he could he ■ seen by many of the crowd.

HOUSEHOLDERS’ PROTEST. 1 Shortly after 11 o’clpok the guests left the house for the gardens, and began their games, which included climbing a ladder, sliding down a plank, jumping through hoops, running races on scooters and a donkey marathon. This led Air George Gollin, a resident of Rutland Gate, to leave his house, where his wife is lying-ill, and to make a strong protest against ’what he described as cruelty to the donkeys. He told the guests in the gardens, that he felt bound to protest against men weighing 15 stone riding donkeys. He added that unless this stopped, he, as a member of the gardens committee, would have the grounds instantly closed. '

His remarks were received with laughter and jeers by some of guests; but eventually a few of the more sober-minded gave Air Gollin an assurance that the donkeys should not be ill-treated. Air Gollin told a representative of the “Daily Chronicle” that the garden committee had given permission for the grounds to be used on the understanding that tho donkeys were used only for parade purposes. “I had no idea,” lie said, “that the donkeys were to be used, in this fashion. Moreover, these beautiful grounds, which have recently been re-bedded, have been trampled all over by the guests to-night. I feel that some very strong protest ought to be made.”