The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-07-05
CONVERSATION PARTIES.
A New Amusement Which Takes
the Form Of an Intellectual Contest.


The tendency for the summer en-
tertainments seems to be toward the
development of a higher cultivation
| of the mind, as is shown by the intro
duction of many forms of amusement
which are really intellectual contests,
and are successful only when the
company is composed of those who
read and think, and appreciate every
opportunity of gaining knowledge.
One of the newest, and really enjoy
able, of these is the progressive con-
yersation party, which can be given
for any number, although twenty or
less is the number most easily man
aged. II you have invited twenty
guests have as many chairs, arranged
in couples, two behind two, in a con-
tinuous line. Connect each by tying
a wide ribbon from one to the other,
having a different color for each pair.
Fasten q blank card to each connect
ing ribbon by tying it on with very
narrow ribbon of the same color.
Prepare, as for progressive euchre, a
tally card for each chair, having at
tached to it q narrow ribbon of cor
responding color. Arrange those on
two plates-one for the ladies, the
other for the gentlemen.
Now decide on a topic of conversa-
ton for each couple, making each
quite foreign to the ones nearest it;
for instance, if your party consist of
twenty, you might use the follow
ing:-Music, modern literature, art,
popular plays, recent political events,
poetry. religious beliefs, summer re-
sorts, electricity, travels.
Now on each card attached to the
chairs write the topic intended for
that place.
When your guests have assembled
let each draw a tally card and take
the seat designated by the color
drawn, the ladies sitting on the left
of the line, the gentlemen on the
right.
The hostess should then tap q bell
as a signal that all are ready, the
topic cards consulted and converse
ton begins. The host and hostess
must act as judges, passing up and
down the line to criticise, each taking
half the line. and must decide who of
each couple converses the better.
Ten minutes may be allowed, and
at the expiration of that time the
bell is rung and conversation ceases.
The victor then receives a gold star
on his or her tally-card, and the AN
quished a silver star. Then all must
change seats, the ladies going one
forward, the gentlemen n back
ward. This may be continued at the
discretion of the hostess till ten
changes have been made. giving each
lady a chance to meet in the contest
--1IA1-o &c 49, c,nv+11r,o, HIhaEnnn
who has the greatest number OF gold
stars is then declared winner OF the
prize.
In writing your notes of invitation
give a list OF the topics to be used.
Your guests will find it the more en-
ioyable to come with memories fresh
ened UP a little, and it will add zest
to the contest. Ladies' Home Jour
nal.
Tipping servants in Olden Times.
When Pope decided that he could
not afford to dine with the Duke of
Montagu because each dinner in
volved a disbursement of five guineas
to the servants of the Montagu house.
the duke sent with his subsequent in
vitation to the poet an order for the
amount in question. Thus the diff
Guilty attending wallis or tips was
overcome in this instance. To avoid
paying them was impossible, and in
deed a writer in the WorId-famous
for it's contributions from Lord
Chestertield-hints that a certain
noble lord, by connivance with his
servants, really compelled his guests
to defray the cost of the entertain
ment afforded them. At length,
however, it was decided to put a
stop to this system of extortion, and
at a meeting of gentlemen in Scot
land in the year 1850 it was resolved
that in visiting one another they
would give no money to servants nor
allow their own domestics to take
any money from their guests. A few
days later, the Honorable Company
of Scots Hunters, at their meeting
held in Edinburgh, came to a similar
determination, although one noble
lord vigorously opposed the PROPOSE
ton, and threatened to knock down
the first servant who refused to ac-
cept a gratuity. The servants them
selves naturally looked upon the
movement with disfavor, and in 1854
certain gentlemen who had resisted
the payment of walls were attacked
in Ranelagh gardens by an angry
mob of footmen,-CbGmbe1'S Jour
nal
How TO Trim q Hat.
For trimming hats the yelve or