The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-05-17

served in order. Ices and fruit follow.
Cheese is not in order. A large center
piece of flowers is placed in the middle OF
the table. Champagne, iced. is poured from
the beginning to the end; n old-iashloned
people put sherry and Madeira on in hand
gras with tomato salad is Indispensable.
The use of flowers in America for these
entertainments is simply ~bewilderlng. A
climbing rosa will seem to be going. every
where over an invisible %trellis; delicate
green vines will depend from the chande-
tire tablecloth, or the flowers will be
massed, all of yellow, or of white. or red.
or pink.
The great baskets of chrysanthemums of
white and yellow, the roses, the ~violets, the
carnations, at a breakfast given to the
Count de Paris at Delmonico's on October
20, and at the subsequent dinner given him
by his brother officers of the ariuy of the
Potomac were his royal arms in white
flowers, che ''heur de lis of Joan of Arc on
a blue ground, all of flowers; jacqueminot
| 1oses went up and down the table, with the
/ words: ''Grnnd army of the Potomac" in
white flowers.
The orchid, that most regal and expen-
sive of all flowers, a single specimen often
costing IS, was used by a lady as an iml-
tation fire, the wood, The flames, and all
made of flowers placed in a most artistic
chimneypiece.
Little Leghorn hats filled with them and
hung on the arm with a ribbon are used as
favors in the german, and a basket of or
chids for a Inner costs 800. Indeed, the
cost of the cut flowers used IN New York in
one winter for entertaining is said to be
ST, 600. 600. Orchids nave their advantage
over other flowers--they have Tic scent; and
that in a mixed company and Il hot room Is
an advantage, as some people cannot bear
even the perfume of a rose.
Bags OF plush gaily embroidered, heavily
trimmed with lace, screens, n all sorts OF
little charms for the watch chain, smelling
bottles and bangles, are given in the ger
man. The owl is a favorite emblem. His
power of looking wise and being foolish
tits him for fashionable society. He now
carries the day, having always owned the
night; every kind of ~reticule and chate-
lhlne, embroidered, painted and shaded, is
given, and mhndolins and tambourines are
very favorite favors.
Imitation rackets. battledoor and shuttle
COCK, banJos. fans III every shape and form.
watches Ill bracelets and to hang at the
girdle in crystal, all are utilized.
Amongst the laules who do not wish to
spend 30 much money on favors for the
german and menus for the dinner, it ia a
pretty fashion for them to make these
things themselves.
In a country house it is a good way to get
rid of OF a rainy week to buy the ribbons at
the village shop. paint them with mono
grams and devices, make pretty drawings
and embroider the reticules, and out of
gold paper and tissue paper construct the
grotesque caps and hats and turbans which
come concealed i'll French bonbons.
Make wooden baskets of thin bits of
wood or straw; fill them with wild flowers
and ferns, draw your ol~namentation from
the forest; y large lump of ics with flowers
trained over it is delightfully."- refreshing
~adornnent for a hot ball room. In grand
party decorations, even one given by the
prince OF Wales to the czarlna of Russia,
ten tons of ice we're used az an ornamental
rookery. In smaller rooms the glacier can
be cut out and its base hidden in a tub
lights put behind it and flowers and green
vines draped over it.
The effect Is magical. The flowers are
kept fresh. the white column looks alway.
well, and the GOODNESS it diffuses in de.
licious.
1t might. by way Of contrast to the Darl
continent, be a complimentary decoration
for u snppe to be- given to Mr.. Stanley, IL
ornament the balloon with Arctic bowl.
ders around which should be hung tn,
tropical flowers and vines of Africa.
N. u. W. SHERWOOD,
DOWNRIGHT.