“Many Comical Costumes at Hard Times Dance”
Unique in every respect and
altogether one of the most enjoyable social functions of many weeks was the Hard
Times party which took place at the Topanga Tavern Saturday evening. Fifty
guests from the beach and the canyons enjoyed the affair, the entire
informality of which was its chief charm. Three times during the day the
automobile stage, the large and comfortable conveyance, which makes the twelve
mile trip one of unusual pleasure, was filled to its capacity with guests.
Perhaps the most fortunate of the three groups was the last, which left the
beach at 7:30 and arrived at the Tavern an hour and a half later after a
marvelous ride in the moonlight. Everyone knows how beautiful the ride along
the beach is by moonlight, but few realize how wonderful the mountains are in
the magic glamor of the “Night Sun.” Fascinating shadows were spread over the
mountain sides by the white rays and the shady nooks were turned into fairy
glens but most glorious of all was the superb view attained from the top of the
grade when miles of hills and valley yielded up their hidden beauties to the
enraptured travelers.
At the Tavern gayety reigned
supreme until a late hour. The guests had all entered into the spirit of the
occasion, coming in the most ridiculous of costumes. Mrs. W. H. Lynch, the
gracious hostess, received her guest in a silken gown, which revealed the glory
of the past in its threadbare fineness. With it was worn a gorgeous motor
bonnet. Mrs. Jack Woods, whose costume took the first prize, wore a wonderfully
fashioned creation of red and white, with a crownless straw hat, loaded with
faded flowers and feathers. The second prize was awarded to Mrs. E. J. Vawter,
Sr., of Ocean Park. In an old fashioned school girl’s dress of gorgeously
colored calico, she demurely posed as the belle of the ball. It is certain that
many of manly knees were bent before that towering headgear. Upon a basis of
green straw, a marvelous arrangement of queer little feathers and flowerets
were built. Mr. Lynch wore a rough and ready mountain rig, the poverty of which
could not be disguised, and both of the gentlemen winning prizes were ridiculously
attired. Duane Wagar was in a wonderful make up, even his expression carrying
out the woebegone brilliance of his tattered finery. Mr. W. S. Ferguson also of
Ocean Park, cavorted about beneath a huge sun bonnet in a comical get up and
there were numerous other appropriate costumes worn.
During the evening refreshments
were served and the general idea of tackiness was carried out in the
decorations and all appointments. The dining room, in which the dance took
place, is light and cool and so open that it is practically the same as dancing
out of doors.
Among those who enjoyed the
hospitality of the occasion were Mrs. T. H. James, Miss Grace James, Mr. and
Mrs. Frank Townsend, Miss Martha Relyea, Miss Gamar, Mr. and Mrs. H. F.
Goehring and family, Mrs. E. J. Vawter, Sr., Misses Charlotte and Ida Belle
Vawter, Mrs. A. F. Webster, Miss Hazel Webster, Miss Nina Deeg, Mrs. M. E.
Crawford, Miss Elizabeth Crawford, Mrs. T. M. Meldrum, Miss Mearl Hemingway, W.
S. Ferguson, W. T. Gage, H. W. Taft, Ira Wheeler, Duane Wagar, from the beach,
Miss Mabel Herman and Miss Helen High of Pasadena, Miss Felita Smith of Fresno,
Louis Bard of New York City, Mr. and Mrs. Lynch and from the canyon, J. L.
Wood, Madge Wood, H. N. Waller and wife, Dorothy and Jean Reynolds, T. W.
Reynolds, L. C. Reynolds, George Cheney, Mr. M. Trujio, D. S. Trujio, and
Aurelia Mendibles.
