The morning call., 1890-11-11
SWEET CHARITY.
A Society Fete at Irving Hall for
a Worthy Object.
Handsome pecorations-The Booths-Dancing
An Interesting Entertainment The
Weeks Programme.

H6ekS programme.
Last evening a charity fete was inaugu-
rated at Irving Hall for the benefit of three
worthy institutions which are the particular
care of the Episcopal churches in this city.
These are the Old Ladies' Home, on Golden
Gate avenue, near Lott street, Uhe Oldest
church charity in San Franc st. Luke,s
Hospital, on Valencia street. and the MARIA
Kip Orphanage, Oh RincOn Hill The lady
managers of these institutions are the moV-
ing spirits in the fete, and, aided as they
are by many OF the leading society ladies,
the outcome Of their charitable enterprise
is sure to be a successful one.
With the Judgment begotten of experience
the Directors OF the fete decided.upOn dress
ing the hall in such artistic garb tn at 1t
would be an attraction in itself Accord
tpgly Miss Mary Bates was given carte
blanche for the decorating, and how well
she End her assistants acquitted themselves
of their task one must visit the hall to see.
The yerdure Of spring, the russell of autumn,
scraps from the wild woods, the blossoms
from the garden, dainty webs from the
looms ana even gems from the poets we're
levied upon by the decorator to help out her
Quaint conceits which confront the visitor
at every step from vestibule to footllghts.
THE DECORATIONS.
Five handsome booths occupy the space
beneath the gallery on each side OF the hall,
and a sixth is to be found In an adjoining
parlor, all of which came under the hands
Of the lady decorators. On the right of the
entrance, after the visitor has passed
thr ugh an arbor of palms, bamboo and
acacia, the bOnbon booth meets the eye. 1t
is frightened with gilded palms of every
hue, entwined in which is blue silk banner,
displaying the sentiment What we frankly
give forever Is our own" hanging care
Iessly in trent of this, but not so careleSsly
AS to be without effect, Is a Chinese scales OF
heroic proportions. the fiat wicker baskets
of which are loaded down with packages OF
sweetmeatS. The dainty stall Is hung with
draperies of blue tulle, amid which
are suspended pretty paper ornaments and
hand-paInted boxes, IN which the purchases
will he placed. and in large glass show
case that bars the front OF the booth curl
0usly shaped bonboniers are displayed. ex-
Quistely painted by the friends OF the char
itv ana donated by them to the cause. Here
Miss Carrie Gwin holds court, with Miss
Eldridge, Mrs. Woods, Mrs. NJ. L. Linforth,
Mrs. Isaac Trumbo and Mrs. (. I. Anthony,
who are assisted in their pleasant duties by
Miss Maggie Gwin, the Misses VOORHEES,,
Miss Belle Mcpherson, Miss Nellie Ashe,
Miss Newlands, Miss f. Nicholson, Miss
Lissak. Miss Mellus. Miss Scott Miss Gibbs
Miss " hite, Miss Gray, Miss Maynard, Mrs.
William Gwin Jr. and Mrs Foute.
a PRETTY CoNCEIT.
The most unique of all the booths is with
out doubt the adjoining one, In which the
young ladies just mentioned have proprie-
tary interest 1t is the grab-bag, presided
over by Mrs. 7. P. Woodward and Mrs.
Evan j. Coleman. The connection between
the two booths arises from lie fact that the
ladies in both represent the Maria Kip
Orphauage more particularly than the two
other Charities, though the receipts of the
fete 90 into common iund, which VIII be
equitaby divided at the close. The grab
bag tere shown is unlike the traditional
article in That it Goes not consist OF bag at
all, but of a couple of Indian toting baskets
made of cherry bark, tlanked by two huge
wicker baskets, through whose frayed tops
clusters of bullrushes thrust their deep
brown heads. This booth is decorated with
q graceful drapery of red tulle, with the sug-
gestiYe legend in the center, Grabs, 10
centsp'
Between the grabbing" and the stage
the space is occupied by a dolls booth.
This is made striking by q combination of
pink tuile, bamboo foliage and an odd ar
rangement of rattan, which forms in rings
overhead. Dolls of every description peep
out from the multitude of folds Ii the airy
draper S, aud rattan and bamboo are COW
eIed with little Japs and Chinese, who
have converted them for the noDce into
climbiug-pOles and swings. The table Is pro-
e vided with everything in the doll line from
the Niger baby to the aristocratic bride,
and Is the center OF attraction 1or ali the
little people present at the fair. Its deStneS
are guided by Mrs. Sabin and Mrs. Ash
burn, who are assisted by the Misses May
and Josie EichbaUm, Miss Lottle Waite.
Miss Isabel Williams, Miss Dora krauss
and Miss Boyd.
FLoRA's TEMPLE.
Across the hall is the lemonade booth,
with Its suggestive trimming of citrus fruit
..f7I fnli- 4 wild nj a
bou.hS, loaded down with golden fruit,
decorates the entire front, while the in
terror decorations are of orange yellow.
The capaciOus punch bowl which holds the
refreshing beverage IS set on table curl
ously onamented with Chinese mating
and Oriental hierog lyphics, and on the wall
behind, handsomely illuminated upon a
piece of rice mating is the poetic sentl-
mPnt: ''One sip Of this VIII bathe the
drooping spirits in delight beyond the bliss
OF dreams" This is III charge of Mrs.
Wheeler Martin, who during the lnteTms-
siOus IN the dance is assisted by a bevy Of
young society ladies.
The adjoining booth, which is devoted to
Flora, is the pride of the fete a sugges-
ton of the forest is given to it by two
shiYered trees at either side, whose moss
covered limbs reach up to the balcony and
are there blended in with the shading tlnts
of the broad paim-leaves, the hanging
baskets of creeping plants and tasteful
beneath Is banked with the choicest flowers,
he'd in odd receptacles curiously contrived
by the decorator out of moSS-covered bark.
The seasOnable chrysanthemum predoml-
rates among the blossoms, and is also to be
admired in the hanging-baskets which orna-
ment the interior.
Mrs. Bissell has charge of this booth and
is ably assisted by corps of young ladies,
among whom are: Miss Otis, Miss Dutton,
Miss Kittle Miss TheTese Bssell, Miss Nc
Mill Rarhar Misc nv ard Misc
Sanderson, Miss Marguerite Wallace. Miss
Jessie Bowie, Miss Conroy, the Misses Refs.
Mrs. Sawyer, Mrs. Brooks, Mrs. J. Sanders
Reed and Mrs. William II. Davis.
Over the entrance, as one passes to the
ice-cream tables, striking silk banner OF
buttercup yellow catches the eye with the
apt sentiment, g In faith and hope the world
viii disagree, but all mankind's concern is
charity"
THE WEEKS BILL OF FARE.
The refreshment-room itself was orna-
mented i'll harvest tints. in eontradistinction
TO the springtide colOrs Of the floral booth.
IN all corners of the room were pretty group
ings of dried grasses and pampas plumes, In
addition to which were two banners bear
ing the following inscriptions:
The harvest work is gathered, protected from the
cline;
The leaves are scared and withered. that late shone
in their prime.
The second banner, which bore reference
to the long stretched out fall season we are
now enjoying. bore the following words:
Autumn comes slowly along the way
Touching with gold each lear and spray.
Innumerable tete-a-tete tables were pro-
vded here for the visitors, and with their
dainty service and choice floral decorations
made a very pretty showing. Mrs. Sanchez
has charge of this department and is assisted
by Mrs. Allen. Mrs. Dodge. Mrs. Van Wyck
and Mrs. Morrison.
The attendance during the evening was
not all that ccnld have been wished for, but
still it was fairly large assemblage and an
eminently charitable one, as all the booths
were literally patronized. At o'clock the
comedy Of the Distrik Skule'' was enacted
upon the stage and with such success that it
is promised again for Friday night.
After the entertainment the floor was cleared
and the remainder of the evening was given
upto dancing, promenade and charity.
This evening the attraction will be an old
fashioned haIlad cnncert followed by q