SUBSCRIPTION DANCES
=Subscription= dances are now an established fact, but whether they will
ever really become a rival to the dance proper remains to be seen; yet
as they supply a want felt, and are recognised by society, the
arrangements necessary for carrying them out should be duly noted.
During the winter months they are a feature in certain sets:
Subscription dances, private Subscription dances and public Subscription
dances, the latter got up for charitable purposes.
The moderate expenses incurred by giving private Subscription dances
commend them to many, and there are other reasons to account for their
popularity. They are without pretension to being considered smart or
exclusive, and are essentially small and early dances. Fashionable
ball-goers are not expected to attend them. They commence at 9 o'clock
and terminate at 12, light refreshments in lieu of supper are provided,
as at an afternoon "at home." (See p. 153.) A piano band is considered
sufficient for the purpose, and floral decorations are scarcely ever
attempted. The invitations are issued on "at home" cards, with the words
"Subscription Dance" printed in one corner.
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=Subscription dances= are sometimes invitation dances and sometimes not.
Tickets for these dances are charged for singly or by the series as the
case may be. A certain number of ladies form a committee and agree to
give a certain number of dances, and the expenses are either borne by
the ladies themselves or covered by the sale of the tickets. If
invitation dances, a certain number of invitations are allotted to each
lady. When otherwise, the ladies dispose of the tickets among their
friends. These dances are usually held in a mansion hired for the
purpose, and there are several available in different parts of the West
End, where spacious rooms can be hired on very moderate terms; in some
instances a piano, seats, and other accessories are also included.
* * * * *
=Public Subscription= dances are held in public rooms or Town Halls, and
vouchers are given by ladies on the committee previous to tickets being
granted.
The same etiquette holds good at Subscription dances as at other public
dances. The early hour at which these dances take place recommends them
to some and altogether renders them impossible to others, notably to
those who dine late, and who are not inclined to dance at nine o'clock
or even at ten o'clock, and who rather resent the frugal style of
refreshments offered, and consider that a champagne supper is an
indispensable adjunct to a dance.
It should be remembered that Subscription dances were first originated
for the amusement of very young people, and it was never expected that
they would compete with the fashionable small dances of the day; their
popularity was a surprise, and if ball-goers are disposed to hold them
in contempt there are others less fashionable and less wealthy who find
them very much to their taste.
The great difficulty, however, that ladies have to contend with is the
fact that very few men can be induced to attend them, and that those who
do accept invitations or purchase tickets are very young men, who have
their way to make in the world, and are as yet on the lower rungs of
the ladder, and as young ladies are very much in the majority at these
Subscription dances, to dance with partners younger than themselves is
an almost inevitable result for those who are no longer in their teens.