Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-02
AN ENGAGEMENT PARTY.


was a summer party, but the idea is SO move
and attractive that MANY Of you will seizt
upon and adjust it to town limitations. We
were in a dear little cottage within the
grounds of summer hotel in the mountains
just near enough to the main house to come
under the surveillance of all the windows
and Just far enough to make a complete div
ing suit necessary for walking to dinner on
rainy days. The lake flowing peacefully by
our side was scarcely wetter than those sum-
mer showers.
A euchre party? A dough-nut party?
An afternoon tea? These suggestions were
all coldlv received, for every one in the
woods was satiated with these things and
If an entertainment failed to entertainment
bono? Some one said, "Salmagundi partyi'
But, alackl while we discussed the ingre-
dients of this salutary composition, George
Joined our group with his hands full of
those little birch-bark missives which an
nounced another fate, and this time salma-
gundi.
Then it was that with fierce energy we
invoked the genie called Originality, and as
Madeleine was one of his favored suppliants
she evolved what she called an Engagement
Party. Invitations were issued to about a
hundred people for 4 o'clock P. NJ. They
all came, some eagerly, some alphabetically,
but ali curious to know what was to be done
with the tiny book and pencil which was
given to each guest on entering.
We made the books ourselves, of white
paper with birch bark covers, fastened to-
gether with knot of narrow ribbon, and on
to each was tied tiny lead pencil, while in
side the lines were numbered up to 20, as
though for dancing. There were Is books
of each color, which divided the company up
into groups, with sort of leader, who was
distinguished by a knot of ribbon of the
same color as that held by the book owners,
and to her they were to report their sue
cesses. There were thus formed six groups
of 10 with their captains
Madeleine rang bell for order, not that
she disliked the human noise in the con-
crete, but her one voice was unable to drown
ali the others, and there were explanations
to be made. At the next sound of the bell,
she said, all the men were to be given ten
minutes in which to make as many engage
ments as possible with the ladies, and enter
the same in their books. The engagements
were for dancing, games, promenading or
conversation, and from three to five minutes
was allowed for each-not less than three
not more than five. AT the expiration of
the ten minutes the bell was again rung,
this time for all to report to the leaders the
number of appointments made; and shortly
after, it again sounded to start the men on
the fulfllment of their engagements
Each was obliged to look frequently at
the face of the clock, as well as at the face
of his partner, else leeting time slipped him
past his limit, and the next number on his
card went empty, for only one hour was al
lowed for the entire list. Prizes were offered
to the men who registered the greatest num-
Der of engagements, and to those fulfilling
the most; also to the ladies complying with
those conditions; and set of prizes belonged
to each group, but two were not to be given
TO one individual.
When the first bell rang, and men began
to use their pencils as abSorbedly AS re-
porters, the ladies looked modestly eager, as
though hoping not to be crowded out by
acknowledged favorites; bellies counted no
more than wallhowers in numbers, so each
and every one was secured as a future part
ner, and manY quiet girl who was ordi-
narily overlooked found herselfin an ecstacv
of delight over her fast-flling book. Time
was too valuable to be spent in hunting up
special clioues, so material at hand was
taken up, and the result was general ANAL
gamation and homogeneity.
When the bell rang for cessation, each
bookholder reported TO the leader wearing
his or her color the number of engagements,
Then the bell rang again for work to be-
giE, and IN a moment the crowd was divided
into merry couples entertaining themselves
with an energy usually seen only in host
esses. From one partner to another few the
men, and as the hour went on their part
ners forgot in their eagerness to be retiring.
and boldly went about hunting the tarrying
mate for the next engagement. The music
was in the cottage for the dancers, the
piazzas were pleasant for walking, and |
chairs everywhere were arranged a deux. |
As for the games, there were euchre tables. |
'fascinator" and pitchette, with another di- |
version at once novel and amusing-catch- |
ing fish. The tiny wharf ran out into the |
lake few feet from the house, and on it |
stood the pretty fishers with their partners |
batting hooks.
Madeleine and her aids had little to do |
but look on and enjoy what is a novel scene |
at large entertainment, all hands enjoy |
ing themselves, and no one left out. Bobby |
Thorn, the incorrigible, sat hobnobbing |
and Mr.. West walked with dainty Ada |
Paine, thinking that, after all, he could for |
give his son for falling in love with her; |
while in a corner sat two dear friends ex- |
planning away that little misunderstanding |
which had separated them of late. A mad |
wild whirl it all was tor a while, when |
above the laughter sounded the bell again /
the hour up so soon!
The little books were all handed in to the |
leaders, with the owners name on each, and |
q check opposite each engagement kept |
Then the always welcome supper was
served, and after that the prizes, without |
which as a reward modern society refuses to |
be amused.-Harper'S Bdzdr.