Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1883-02-23
ted. This, however, lsyet to be de-
Martha Washington Tea Party.

eleCteu. 1nlS, however, Is YET 10 De 0e.
termlned
Martha Washington Tea Party.
One of the pleasantest and most enjoy
able entertainments ever given in this city
took place at Klaus hall last night, under
the auspices of the ladies of the Presby-
terian church. II was called Martha
Washington tea party, but combined with
this o genuine old fashioned New England
supper. The persons who took a leading
part in the conduct Of the affair were
dressed in the styles of one hundred years
ago-or, perhaps it would be more correct
to say, in the styles supposed by the actors
to be those of that ancient date.
On entering the hall our reporter was
met by several young ladies whose faces
were exceedingly attractive, sut whose
antique habiliments and ielky courtseys
were anything but becoming, according
to the Alert's refined ideas. The reporter
presumed it was all right, however, as the
people of the far-off days Of old had not
quarter of the nineteenth century. The
spacious hall was filed with guests who
were engaged in animated and cheerful
conversation. Tables we're set ell over
the room at frequent intervals, which
were loaded with the bounties such as
cur forefathers are supposed to have
feasted on in rich abundance. There
were thirteen tables, one to represent
each of the original states of the Union.
Over each table hung banner contain
ing the name of the state it represented.
The tables were each presided over by .
lady personating character of the old
days; thus
The Georgia table was presided over by
Mrs. johnson Nlckeus, representing Mrs.
George Walton.
Delaware-Mrs. VIM. NJ. Lloyd, Jr.-
Mrs. Joshua Clayton.
Virginia-Mrs. DR.. Drake-Mrs. Thos.
Jefferson.
New Hampshire-Mlss Nina kinney
Mrs. Josiah Bartlett.
L o. IEs
Ben Franklin.
Connectlcut-Mrs Harris-Lady Fem
wick.
Massachusetts-Mrs w. w. Bill-Nrs.
Aglbail Adams.
Rhode IsIand-Mrs. VIM. c. White
Mrs. VIM. Green.
New York--Mrs Herman Gieseler--
Mrs. Alex Hamilton.
North Carollna--Mrs. Bush-Mrs. Ben.
Williams.
South Carolina-Mrs II. B. Chess
Mrs. Chas. Pinckney.
Maryland-Mrs. Dr. Cloes-Mrs. VIM.
Smallwood.
New Jersey-Mrs. sanford--Mrs. D.
Livingstone.
The tables were waited on by young
ladies dressed in quaint old style, whose
duty it was, in addition to ministering to
the demands of the appetite, to keep the
candles which lighted the table snuffed.
At table at the head of the hall sat Q
very handsome and venerable couple per-
sonlfylng George and Martha Washing
ton. Both characters were taken with
great dignity, and it is doubtful If tho
originals could have filled the expectations
of the guests with more satisfaction had
they been present in person instead of by
The Rev. n. D. Tanning
played the part of the immortal George,
and so completely filed was he with the
thoughts and feelings Of other days that
it was said by those present that he did
not once descend to the spirit of the
present by word or act during the whole
evening. The hostess of the occasion,
Mrs. Martha Washington, was repre-
sented by Miss Lizzie Wells, who made
perhaps the most perfect impersonation of
that noble lady that could have been Sc
cured. The two played their parts so
we'll together that 1t may truthfully be
said the honors were e-equal.
The Alert has not the space at its dis
posal to describe all the characters repre-
sented, nor to tell of the good things with
which the tables were loaded. These
may be more easily imagined than told in
a few words.
The stage was fitted up into kind Of
where there were exhibited
greater variety of curlosities of an ancient
description than were supposed to exist
in all Dakota. To enumerate these would
be impossible in small space. There
was one of the epaulets worn by George
Washington, and which had since been
the property of Charles Sumner, now
owned by G. H. Manley of this city; an
ivory fan very elaborately carved, worn
by Lady Elgin during Lord Elgin's adj
IN America, said 10 he 100
years old, owned by Mrs. DR.. Thorold; .
variety of antique crockery; a quantity of
of sllverware very ancient, among which
were some spoons $50 years old; books
printed IN the early days of the typo
graphic art; music books 12O years old;
a Masonic apron that has been in the
Nichols family for four generations; and
divers other curiositles which we cannot
stop to enumerate.
There was New England kitchen OF
one hundred years ago presided over BY
Mrs. S. K McGinnls, who wore au an
cient garb and acted well the part of an
old housewife of the period There were
also many other thing which it would be
interesting to mention, but We must for
bear.