r large balls they can be secured by arrangement with one of the
stewards, as each Patriarch has so many reserved for him, and the man
invited by one of them can obtain permission and ask for two of his
host's seats. But this is not usual, and is known as a "little trick of
the trade."

To be a successful leader of cotillons it requires the skill and the
tact of a general--I might almost say of a Napoleon Bonaparte. One's
talents should not be altogether in one's heels and one's toes. The
leader must be an excellent dancer and a firm disciplinarian. He must
see that the wall flowers have an occasional turn, and that every one
gets at least one favor. As he has to marshal a large force of people he
is bound to find among them--of course in the orthodox society manner--a
few turbulent spirits, a few who would mutiny, and who must be taught
their places in a conciliatory but positive manner.

The cotillon in New York is generally danced after supper. It lasts
about two hours. At large balls two figures are all that can be danced,
owing to the number of guests. Sometimes it is led by two couples. A
leader frequently dances stag--that is, without a partner. All men
dancing without partners are called stags. These usually have their
place by the door and are given their turn last. The leader must
announce after supper the time for the cotillon to begin. He must see
that the partners are all in their places. The favor table is generally
placed at the end of the room opposite the doors, but this depends on
the shape and the style of the apartment.

Formerly a cotillon leader used a whistle for the different figures;
to-day, however, he simply claps his hands to denote the changes.

It is almost unnecessary here to illustrate the form of the cotillon. It
consists in waltzes and sometimes polkas, danced by eight, ten, or
twelve couples at a time. The couples are seated in chairs around the
room, the men without partners known as the stags being near the door.
The leader begins the first figure, which is usually the simplest one,
by "taking out" or choosing a partner and motioning the first four, six,
or eight couples with places nearest him on one or both sides of the
room to rise. All waltz. After a turn around the room the leader stops
and claps his hands. The partners all separate, and each of them goes
and chooses a new one--the man a new woman, the woman who was his
partner a new man. The figure is then arranged and dance