St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-12-28

cunning little spider in one corner On
the inside sheet was printed the follow
ing:
"Will you walk into my parlor?"
SAID the spider to the fly.
TITS the prettiest little parlor
That ever you did spy
You a1e cordially invited to attend
Thursday Evening, MRS: J. VAN zANDr's,
Dec. 20. 397 Lexington Av.
Having passed successfully through
the mysteries of angling, sOap-bubble
and bean-bag parties, l concluded had
confidence enough TO enter the contest
of the latest fad of society people.
On arriving at the house found sew
eral ladies in the drawing room. all
talking about the entertainment for the
evening and all as deeply mystifed as
myself. On finding my hostess. how
ever. said:
pray, explain what this affair is,
which you have soingeniously invented
for my amusement. What is cObWeb
party?"
She laughed merrily and answered:
ut isn't my invention by any means,
and it is game which is becoming eX-
ceedingly popular, although it is better
known in the East probably, than it is
here. That is where | PLAYED it first"
She then explained that after the
nun Der of guests was decided on, the
same number of strings were
Selected and Tied
to the chandelier of the front parlor.
Each string had been then carried
through the house and wound around
different articles Of furniture until it
terminated in prize at the end.
tOh. lf,S lots Of finn - che oriod eco
just come into the parlor. and get your
string assigned to you right away"
jolly group were already gathered
around the magical spot where thirty
pink, provoking looking strings were
tied In big loop on to the immense
chandelier in the center of the drawing
room.
Carefully and slowly Mr.. Van Zandt
united these stl Gamers and handed an
end to each guest in turn as he called
their names.
At given signal we all started-at
least, we made brave attempt to do so,
but no one can adequately describe the
ludlcrouS picture we presented, as we
stood first gazing helplessly at the tiny
strings in our hands and then at each
other. Pretty girls Uttered and laughed,
while big men asked in dozen man
ners:
(which way shall we begin?"
A few courageous ones once finally
made dash for the door, through which
their pendant led and the fun began.
or course we were to wind up our
Irvine into ball while we walked. and
as my course at firstlay straight through
The Back Parlor
into the library beyond. had no diff
Guilty whatever in doing this.
| had hardly begun to congratulate
myself, however, on the easy task before
me when my course was suddenly
checked by finding my string carefully
wound about fifteen times around
brass coal scuttle on the hearth.
made myself quite comfortable on a
big bears rug ard proceeded to unwind,
while dapper-looking young fellow
was employed in doing the same thing
with sofa leg near by.
l was then led over several chairs and
tables in the hall, and, after doing a
sprint out on the side porch, where |
found the Irvine much mixed up in
scroll railing at one end. l got back into
the house again. and was carried up
stairs to one of the rooms above.
What muddlei Dignified spinsters
on their hands and knees beside bureaus
and beds; pretty girls and gallanJyoung
swells. endeavoring to help each other,
find their strings around the lounge.
and bald-headed old men vainly en-
deavOring to eXtricate themselves from
mantelpiece full of bIic-a-brac With
out breaking anything they come In
contact with.
Thankful for escaping from this
crowd. with only small stand to con-
tend against. followed
Fat, GOod-Natured
young broker into the sitting room,
where we were both destined to fight
out our battles on an innocent-looking
cabinet.
Most polite he was in trying to render
me all the help he could, but the more
string he untwined for me the deeper I
became implicated. until thoroughly
eXasperated l finally cried:
''Please let me string alone and will
find it myself"
At this we both laughed heartily and
sat down on neighDOring chair while
he mopped his red face.
Travelled very much?" asked quite
soberly.
depends upon what you call much"
he answered. ''I've been down in the
dining room five times, out on the porch
twice, in every bed room in the house,
iHCiuuliS IblOC 0ilpo W buG RdET6G ana
six to the back parlor."
l gasped and leaned back in my chair.
well, haven't been quite so far" |
said: "but Pm going to take rest, and
watch the others awhile"
Just at that moment heared smoth-
cred shrek coming from the further
end of the room.
"Oh, Jack, how you frightened me!
Do let me co." exclaimed a laughing
voice, as a charming. girlish figure
emerged from behind a large japanese
| screen. and her fance made a dash in
| the other direction, coming in contact
| as he did so with my fat broker. who
| dropped his ball of Irvine with NUT
tered curse as he grabbed his foot and
rubbed his pet corn.
"Ha! ha! hap cried the charming
girl at this episode. "Oh, 1 never had
so much fun in my life," as she threw
herself, string and all, on the sofa.
"Just look at my hair. am literally
torn in pieces"
"But the best joke of all is Mr.. Un-
derwood and Miss Marcher. They
haven't spoken for year, you know,
and their strings have run in the same
places all the evening. There they
come now Oh oh % as tall dipnified