The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-09-30
HEMMING APRONS. Maz
The Latest Fashionab BILE Amusement-Not
for Women but for Men.

In addition to the quotation" party,
which may take the place of. progress
siye euchre this winter to a large ex-
tent, there is another novelty which
bids fair to be popular. 1t is styled the
s.rainbow" party and takes its name
from the bright hues of the ribbons
which play an important part. 1t will
undoubtedly be popular with the ladies.
as it gives them an excellent opportuni-
ty to air their superior knowledge and
skill before the lords of creation and to
laugh heartily at the awkwardness
which they are sure to exhibit to an
amusing extent. The first stage Is the
passing of bows of ribbon to the men,
who fasten them to their buttonholes
and proceed to find the young woman
whose color matches. This will be
found in the strings OF pretty and
coquettish apron, and the strings them
selves are tied about trim waist. The
men having thus been provided with
partners are further provided with need
les, thread, and thimble, which they
are obliged to select from heap on the
table It is then explained to the men
that they are expected to hem the bot
tom of the apron and that prizes will be
the reward of good work. The young
woman is to keep on her apron and
give no assistance whatever, either by
advice or by lending a helping hand.
Notwithstanding the restrictions the
young woman usually cannot resist help
ing her partner, especially if she hap
pens to be the least bit interested in
him; but if she gets caught at it by the
Judges she forfeits her apron. The
temptation, however, is very strong,
for he is obliged to sit reasonably close,
since the apron occupies the position for
| which it was intended, and it comes
very natural for skillful white hands to
touch awkward brown hands when
there is such good excuse; and here it
may be remarked that some of the
knowing men, after being once aided in
this manner, are inexcusably stupid and
make the same mistake over and over
again.
! Even when the tyros are doing their
best there is room for vast amount of
amusement Nearly every man in the
room is as awkward in his general atti-
tude as can be easily imagined. and
most of them look as though life and
death depended upon their efforts. Here
is chap in high collar; he can bare
ly see over it when his head is erect, and
his efforts to focus his eyes on his work
without cutting his throat are decidedly
funny. Next to him sits a man who
has been trying for ten minutes to thread
his needle, and. Judging by the way he
goes at it, the merriment of the COM
pany will be prolonged for some time.
| On the other side of the room is left
handed man who is making heroic at
tempts to make progress. and working
backward as we'll us left-handed, to the
Infinite amusement of every girl within
seeing distance. The degrees and vari
cites of awkwardness are limited only
by the number of sewers. Probably ou
of the whole number there will be moi
more than one or two who go at the
work with anything like method or skill
, and even their efforts are so nearly on
par with the little girl taking her first
lesson that the exhibition is usually
more amusing than the out-and-ou
awkwardness of the others. When al
are done the aprons are handed to th'
Judges for inspection, and after theil
decision the prizes are awarded. Match
safes, scarfpins, etc, are the proper
thing for the first and second prizes
while the BOBBY prize is usually treat
ise on embroidery or something equally
interesting to the masculine mind. A
souvenirs of the occasion the ladies keel
their aprons and the gentlemen thei
; thimbles. - ChicGg0 Tribune.