The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1892-08-26
Social Life at "MapleWOod
Farm"


nestles like silvery lake among the NILS
of our Green Mountain state. It's diver
sified tract of field, forest and stream and
comprises about $50 acres. The present
owner is Eugene Ransom Darling, Esq, a
descendant of the Dsrlings who cleared the
forests here, way b lck in the small years
of 1900. Mr.. Darling is a graduate OF Dart
mouth College with the degree of A. NJ,
and practices law in New York City under
the title l.. l.. b.
Several years ago the idea was conceived
of opening the gates of Vermont and let
ting New Workers in Many hands sue
ceeded in establishing "Maplewood Farm"
and ingratiating it in the hearts Of the two
dozen people from Gotham who have been
summering here this second season. Dolce
far 1liellte seems the ruling feature here
and, verify, one thinks he has reached the
slt1rl11llLl1l bO4lLnl.
To get away from the round of pleasure
the ladies got their heads together and there
came forth gigantic project, viz, a Milli-
merry Party. Eight untrimmed straw ben
nets of ''all sorts and conditions" of shapes
were struggled into the Farm" and, after
giving the gentlemen cOlored bows of rib
The latter handed her partner parcel con-
tanning straw bonnet, several pieces of
ribbon, a feather or two, and a spray of
blossoms. With this the future ''Worths''
went to work in way that showed there
was will. The ladies laughed themselves
almost to tears at the struggles of the gen,
tlemen to make lends" meet. After a half
hour or so the work was done and the
Judges, Mrs. Darling and Spencer, had
their hands full in passing upon the
merits p of the bonnets adorned. Mr.
Leo Kessler of New York City received the
"bOOby' prize by acclamation The best
work was more difficult to decide, and it
narrowed itself down to the handiwork of
Eugene r. Darling, Herman c. BOehme of
New York and Mr.. Theodore Sargent of
Corinth. The ladies, finally, in the fullness
of their judgment, passed the first prize to
the latter gentleman, giving Mr.. Eugene r.
Darling honorable mention"
The gentlemen, feeling keenly how the
ladies had served them, put their heads to-
gether and evolved mighty scheme. The
ladies were to 1C1ite poetry, and on certain
assigned subjects Pieces of birch bark,
similarly cut, were placed in two piles The
gentlemen's slip simply contained some tic-
titiouS or historical masculine name, as
Jack, AubOnio, Faust, OthellO, etc. The
ladies' slip contained the other name of
the couplet, and two objects decided upon
by the committee, which object and name
must appear in rhyme in the poem. We
find among these names, Jill, Portia Mar
guerite, DeSdemona, etc.
The ladies went to work with a ven
geance, and those desiring assistance, re-
ceived it from their pro tenn poetical con-
sorts. After laboring Intellectually and in
diligently for an hour, the lyrics and eplcs
were handed over for judgment as to their
metrical and other eXcellencies. Eugene
r. Darling and Herman c. Boehme can
vassed as carefully as Board of Inspect
Ors in district where an election is close. |
The method OF treating the subject, the
metre, the punctuation and the faultlesS
vernaculaf were points that led to the fol-
lowing award.
The poems of Miss Anna Bell and Miss |
Sadie G. Spencer both of the city of New
York, were equal in merit and they drew
for two prizes equal in value. The latter
lady received a "King's Daughter" ring,
and the former a cut glass bottle of per
fumery.
Miss B. May Lockhart, Brooklyn bru-
nette, drew the second prize, a cup and
saucer. Miss Minerva Henry, a little |
young lady of ten summers wrestled with |
the woes of Desdemona and Othello, and
received the third award birch bark nap
kin ring.
Mrs Keller, of New York, never wrote
poetry, did not know how to write poetry,
but made an effort and captured the 'booby"
prize.
Altogether one of the pleasantest even
ings was thus passed at "Maplewood Farm,
and we do not see why "Poetry Parties"
should not become popular.
Perhaps the actual productions may prove
interesting to the reoders of the OPINION.
Poetcal illusions 'bOrn to blush unseen,"
were rendered by Mrs. Henry, Tillie Blum,
and Eta Keller, all of New York.
MARGUERITE, FAUST, FULL Moon, BABBLNG BROOK.
One evening by the babbling brook,
Her way Faust's handmade slowly took
And rs she srolled meath golden moon,
She heard the brooklets merry tune.
Then, suddenly behind her came
happy youth well known to fame
Crept he W th stealthy steps and slow,
And whispered to her soft and low
"Oh, thou sweet one, most loved and dear,
Start not, It's |, SO do not fear;
I've cherished long thy face so fair,
Thine eyes so blue, thy golden hair,
Be mine, or surely will die"
The maid replied with tear and sigh
MAY We b. joined in Loves own tie"
Sadie c. Spencer