Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1891-12-04

HINTS FOR THE HOSTESS.
Something Entertaining and Novel in til
Way of a Phantom Party.

Something Entertaining and Novel in the
Way of a 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 a 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. All it calls for
is a 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 the
hostess receives her guests. No words
are exchanged She makesuthem well
come by gesticulation, and motions
them to their respective toilet-rooms,
whence they soon emerge donned in a
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
a 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 if 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 fluency 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 a 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 a com
mon starting point but each leads &c
an entirely different quarter. They are
fastened along their course by means Of
small pins. Each string must be of q
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 a prize is awarded to the one
first finding his mission. A BOBBY prizt
may also be given. Twenty yards will
be found quite long enough for eacf
string. A convenient mode of measur
ing, to obtain fairly equal lengths, is tC
give certain number Of wraps around I
board of foot or so in width. 1t mus
be admitted that it is quite an under
taking to perfect all arrangements con
nected with a web of fate" but tn,
pleasurable result will amply repay tbs
hostess for her labor. OF course this il
all done "a la pantomime," not wore
70 be vtte-ed,-Chicago Herald