The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1891-11-13
HINTS FOR THE HOSTESS.
Something Entertaining and Novel In th,
Way of Phantom Party.

Something Entertaining and Novel In the
Way of . Phantom Party.
The successful hostess has in readi-
mess a mental programme for the en-
tertainment of her guests. That is,
she will have the evenings amusement
planned before the arrival of her COM
pany. If it be german" or card"
party no planning of the nature will be
necessary. But there are many who
approve neither of dancing nor of cards
and when pastimes of this character
are not to be something else must be
provided
One who frequently entertains is ever
eager for something new and original
A phantom party may be old, but
renovate it with ''web of fate" and it
is both original and unique. A detailed
description of the phantom costume
would be superfuous- AL it calls for
is large sheet, pillow-case and mask.
By arranging the pillow-case over the
face the mask may be dispensed with
for the sake of comfort
Costumed in this spectral drapery ths
hostess receives her guests No words
are exchanged She makessthem well
come by gesticulation, and motions
them to their respective toilet-rooms,
whence they soon emerge donned in .
similar attire.
Upon being ushered into the parlor or
reception room, each phantom is given
the end of string, which as he winds,
it leads him to his fate, unraveling to
him his mission in life. This '.fate" is
mystic roll of paper on which is writ
ten his destiny. or the mission he. is to
fulfil The amusement of this feature
is greatly heightened IL the hostess be
familiar with the various hobbies" of
her guests. She is thus enabled, with
the aid of an accomplice, to give to each
guest the string which will reveal to
him his own especial fad. These
'.fates" or missions" should be written
in highly humorous style. This will
prove vast field for ingenuity. Should
the pen of the hostess lack in fiuency In
this respect she may have recourse to
quotations with almost equal effect.
The productions of Pope and Shake
speare are most prolific in lines of this
nature.
The strings all differ in color and
should start from web of all the
strings, suspended beneath the folding
door or from some other conspicuous
point Each string takes varied and
roundabout course, over pictures, book
cases and doors. down the wall and
along the floor. through numerous
rooms, up and down the stairs, through
the windows, out under the trees in the
garden. etc. The strings have q COM
mon starting point but each leads to
an entirely different quarter. They are
fastened along their course by means Of
small pins. Each string must be of .
decided and different color, that it may
easily be traced in its windings- Wrap
ping Irvine, which comes in such beau
tiful shades. is preferable for the pur-
pose. The strings must all be of equal
length, as prize is awarded to the one
first finding his mission. A BOBBY prize
may also be given. Twenty yards win
be found quite long enough for each
string. A convenient mode of measur-
ing, to obtain fairly equal lengths, is to
give a certain number Of wraps arounda
board of loot or so in width. 1t must
be admitted that it is quite an under
taking to perfect all arrangements con-
nected with web Of fate" but the
pleasurable result viii amply repay the
hostess for her labor. OF course this is
all done "a la pantomime," not word,
to be uttered-Chicago Herald.