Brilliant Evening at the Carlton:
The English: Style: Procession of Beefeaters The annual ball of St. George's Society, held on Monday at the New Carlton Cafe was attended by some 900 guests, the biggest gathering at these immensely popular functions since pre-war years.
Among the guests, who were re-; ceived by the President of the Society, Sir Skinner Turner and Lady Turner were:—Mr. Sidney Barton, cj.c., H. M.: Consul-General; Comm. de' Rossi, Senior Consul, and Mme. de' Rossi, Mr. H. G. Simms, Chairman of the Municipal Council, and Mrs. Simms; Col. Gordon, oM.G., D.s.0., Commandant, S.V.C.; and the Presidents of St. Andrew's, St. Patrick's and St. David's Societies (Messrs. C. J. Scott, R. B. Moorhead, and the Rev. Evan Morgan.)
Decorations were of a simple but none the less striking description. There was less bunting than in former years, but what there was appeared to better advantage. At the entrance to the ballroom on the left of the dais where Sir Skinner Turner and Lady, Turner welcomed each guest, an immense Union Jack hung from the balcony. On emerging into the ball-room the onlooker's attention was immediately drawn to the banner of St. George, flying in an artificial breeze from two hidden electric fans and illuminated by spot lights. St. George's crosses adorned each column supporting the balcony, while the whole colour scheme, apart from the numerous county shields was in the familiar red and white. An effective display of silk in these colours draped the balconies.
Dancing again was restricted to the measures that have been in popular vogue in Shanghai since the introduction of jazz, there being only four waltzes on the programme, One could not fail to notice this year the really English character j of the function. So that there should be the requisite distinction between it and a "cabaret show" or entertainment on the lines of that conducted in the modern palais de danse, the Committee resolved on the daring plan of providing only seating accommodation round the floor. Those wishing to sit out, or to partake of refreshments were provided for on the balcony. The arrangement proved entirely successful, and many were heard to desire that it should be adhered to in future.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.