Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1874-01-03
KETTLEDRUMS.-

Kettledrum is the name given to an
informal afternoon tea-party, style OF
entertainment which is becoming ex-
Eremely popular. 1t is 30 called. OF
course. because the music of steadily
beaten drum accompanies the singing OF
tea-kettle, hung in an open Fireplace.
These drums may be of any size, but
are usually not larger than those used in
military bands and theatre orchestras.-
The beating is never performed by a
servant but always by visitor. Its ad-
vantage for Disgusting animated and
emotional conversation among the other
guests is obvious.
The number of persons present at. a
kettledrum varies greatly. Invitations
are verbal always, it being considered
bad ton to use engraved cards or notes of
any sort.
Tea is the only beverage served. Four
kinds of tea are thought sufficient; (;
souchong, hyson, pekoe and bohea. 1t
is served in Dresden cups of very large
size with fiaring rims, from which it Is
impossible to drink without risk of spill
ing, and as spoons are tabo0ed in the
best society, straw tubes are used i'm
stead.
The straw (of wheat) is said to impart
peculiarly fine flavor to the tea, espe-
cially pekoe and bohea. In the case of
hyson the difference is hardly percepti-
BILE.
AS servants are never admitted to
"kettledrums," not even to announce
names, the tea is usually made by the
lady of the household and handed by
her lady guests to the gentlemen pres
ent. Never does the reverse take place.
This affords an opportunity otherwise
unattainable for ladies without impro-
priety to indicate their preference of
partners in this half hours society. The
gentleman can, under no circumstances
refuse to accept the tea; but If address,
ing the lady who brings his cup, he adds
'ssugar. please'' it is held to indicate his
reciprocal preference for her sweet soci-
ETY., and a tete tete at once takes place,
which is often followed by the hapDiest
consequences. The couple are never in
terrupted and the gentle but steady beat
ing of the drum hides the subdued tones
of their voices and renders them maud
lille by the rest of the guests who enjoy
a similar privacy and protection, OF
course, it sometimes happens that a lady
is not asked for "sugar" by any gentle
man with whom she cares to pass the
time. Her only resource is then to with
draw quietly and visit another house
where another kettledrum is in progress
and where she may enjoy happier fate.
In like manner a gentleman may sit
hoping for tea which never arrives. A
few moments will make this clear. His
duty is then to take the seat of the guest
at the drum, who may himself be the
desire OF some fair lady. This seat at
the drum he surrenders in his turn to
the next unfortunate, In which case il
is good manners for him to withdraw
Dr. t1,sc sxx1< l.
her Jack if Jack will have Gill, and
there are no muffs and no wall-fowers
such as make disagreeable SO many o.
the more pretentious entertainments Of
| our best society.
If there are but three reasons which
take men into society in New York
| ''either to find wife, or to look aftel
ones wife, or to look after somebody
else's wife''-it may be seen how supe
rior is the kettledrum to dinners, balls
| or even theatre parties for either pur
pose.
If, on the other hand, there are bu
| two reasons which take women into so
ciety-s'to marry somebody or to wisl
they hadn't''-the superiority of tn
keLtledrum over every other social in
stitution is manifest both for the mos
pitiless and most piteous sex.
"KETTLEDRUM''-A TEA PARTY, Con
| vERsAZIONE.-Kettle are compare
lively new entertainments here; are En-
| giish in character, being in reality tel
| parties with music. They are Afternoon
or evening entertainments or reception
| for discussing the fashionable topics O
the day. Cards are issued with "Kettie
| drum in the corner, either for one day o
several days during the month. These en-
| tertainments promise to be eXceedingl
| fashionable this season. The word is de
rived from tinsbale, drinking cup used b
| the ancients. and which also means a ket
| tledrum. These cups, as used OF old
| were oftentimes Of silver or gold.-Gin
| brede's "CIard Eti1uette."