The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-08-10
HOUSETOP PARTIES.


City Summer Months.
Many q coy little tea party il enjoyed
during the warm weather on the housetopss
says the New York Sun. Each one seerhs
to think he 10 the only one ''left in town"
that does such thing, so he does not tell
his neighbors Of the possibilities for enjoy
ment there are ON roof, but invites somo
we'll worn congenial friend to sup with him
in his new summer tea room, and enjoys
his friends surprise az much az he does his
appreciation Of the place and the idea. The
friend likes it so much he tells the idea to
somebody else, and somebody else tries it.
10 each one keeps the secret" going, and
the result is that more families than one
take tea on the housetops.
One family on Nineteenth street seem to
manage everything with ease and without
much inconvenience or trouble, and seem
to get deal OF comfort out OF the expert
ment. A little soap and water and few
rugs or pieces Of Spanish mating make the
roof habitable under foot. A tent 10
fastened down in one corner in which to
stow away the goods and chattles for the;
night, or to enable the one 60 inclined to-
read or write by lamplight. The children
: II adds q charm to the place. A screen
.ioteots the mistress of the household -
she brews her tea on an alcohol stove
What with cold chicken or meats, q salad.
fruit, hot buiscuits, q glass Of wine or ing
Of ale, ices, and sweets, 9 jolly little super
trouble to the maid and mis-
pleasure TO all. One serene host loung-
ing at ease in sedan chair and smoking q
pipe Of comfort, says to his mate, who rests
in her willow rocker at his side, If people
IL, hrvss tn he for nh
is not q bad place to live in during the sum-
mer." And he laughs when he reads the
western correspondents description OF New
York during the warm weather.
New York in summer Is no better than
a simmerinR caldron of ugliness. The pave
ment beneath you is scorchinR; the sky
above you 10 brazen. Everywhere horrible
smells rise on the motionless air. #
THAT fellow never had tea on New
York housetop." Here are NO smells, no
heat or gas, no festive flies, and it beats the
front stoop by a great deal as place TO
breathe cool night air."
A young lady became imbued with tho
idea OF having costume tea party on tho
roof. Costume dinner parties are the rage,
and without much trouble she planned and
tence was made Of rope and Stats around
the housetop. Plants were brought mp,
campstools and rugs. A Japanese lantern
was hung in the tent and one on tall palm
tree. which was brought up for the puI-
pose. Che called it Babylonian ten. be-
much fuss or fustian," as she remarked.
The dress Of the Babylonians is Imam
tunic reaching to the feet, and above IL
is another tunio made of wool, desideo
Thieh 1.-THE. they have "a. a short Ms! white
was adopted as far as practicable, and all
the guests wore the jaunty turbsns, which
were picturesque to the last degree. Every
BabylOnian carried walking stick carved
ct the top in the form of an apple. q roee.
lily or an eagle. The hostess. not being
able TO procure original Babylonian Walk
carved Japanese sticks. Tablets IN imita-
ton Of the ones used by the Babylonians
for recording all sorts Of commercial and
pecuniary transactions were used for auto
graph souvenirs. There 10 an original
tablet in the private collection Of Nsw
York lady. The tablets vary in aize from
one square inch to twelve.
The !ow-sized table was decorated With
hower-ike ices. Orange ice was served in
oranges from which the pulp had bean care
fully removed. Lemon and strawberry ices
were served in the form of tulips, and n
different ishades of ice cream aud water
ices. The outer layer was pista6he cream
of the familiar green tint; next to it was q
layer Of water ice which softly blended into
the delicate pink standings of strawberry
Ice. The watermelon seeds were cunningly
This exceedingly clever imitation, az it was
placed on the table cut in halves, looked
like real watermelon fresh from the gar
den.. Mandolins. banjos and guitars made
music IN the air, accompanying the voiees
Or singers. New Workers are not the only
large ono was given in New Haven week
Dr. go ago.