Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-02-12
A VALENTINE PARTY.
IDEAS FOR AN ENTERTAIN
MENT OF THIS KIND.
Red Rose observation-disclosures
Lovers Knots i'm Icc-Crcam
and FavOrs Of Hearts.

The following seasonaoie anu susBo'-
tive article from the New York Recorder
will he read with interest by the ladies'
of Richmond. especially those who con-
template either giving or attending SUCH
An entertainment as is referred to
The 18th of February is not very lar
awav Do YOU want an idea for Nalen-
tine party? An entertainment OF this
nature should recognize the sentiment
of the OCCASION, and he heart-to-heart
party. as it were. In preparing the
| house arrange your rooms 80 there Will
be plenty of hooks and corners where
rose-shaded lights will cast q glamour
over the occupants. Red roses, loves
own blossoms, should fill every jar
and vase. and here and there judi
cious use OF the fine crepe paper
that comes for decorative purposes
will be effective, rs well as IN.
extensive. Get it In all shades OF
red from the deepest crimson, but sop
this side of pink; no haIf-warrned TINT
must be offered on the shrine OF the
patron saint of true love. Drape Your
mantel with the crinkly stuff, Shading
mo with the darkest red at the bottom
catch il ND with true-loyers knots OF
smIlax. or pin it here and there Win
pilded pasteboard arrow. suspend
wax Cupid with drawn bow from the
chandelier. and bandsge the rogue eyes
in keeping with the old saying that love
is blind.
HEART-sHAPED TABLES.
Order heart-shaped tables from your
caterer. and instruct him to freeze your
ices IN lovers knots, and bake your
cakes in heart shaped tins and decorate
them accordingly. For the amusement
it will afford, include the old-fashloned
candy. kisses and candy hearts IN your
CONNECTIONS the verses are very dpF0p0S
at times
PAR off YOUR guests for the evening
NV a valentine. and as novel way ms
anv 10 do il would be to take as many
blank visiting cards as you will have
guests: outline on each one two hearts
| Joined by an arrow, and If you can
think of enough appropriate coupIe;s,
write a line at each end OF the card.
| Tint the hearts and the arrows 80 the
greatest number of combinations can be
Pqd-for instance. two red hearts may
have a gold arrow; the next two red
| ones a silver arrow or gold and silver
heart may be Joined by "A red arrow,
etc. Then cut each card in two pieces,
being careful to put one piece In the
pile for gentlemen and the other in that
to be given to the ladies. These pieces
should be inclosed in little envelopes,
and the plates containing them offered
t. each arriving guest. 1t may take the
gentleman some time to find his match,
his better half, " 80 to speak, but when
he does find her she is his for the eve
ming II you are intimately acquainted
with YOUR guests some very pat lines
NAV be made to rhyme IN tho matching
Of the cards.
WITH CUPID's BOWS.
When partners are found game OF
progressive hearts can be played with
Cuplds bows, strung IN different colors
70 indicate the tables where each ono
shall begin. diamond engagement-
rings for the ladies and gilt hearts as
watch.charms for the men would be ap-
propriate favors.
II YOU are tired of cards make it a
labyrinth party, with the cut cards at
the last end OF the ribbons. The mar
rowest baby rlbbon is best for this pur-
pose. and let it be understood that the
mems color is red and the ladies' true
blue. Tie them at "A common starting
place, but take each one separately, wind
it upstairs and down, IN aud ont
wherever YOU are willing your guests shall
A h., .a,t nAl
the surprise at the end Of the rainbow
unwinds his ribbon, 1t will lend him
lively chase. When he finds the card
his search begins again, and IN the
amusement created by the crossing and
recrossing of lines and the endeayor to
find the missing piece OF his heart the
evening will be anything but formal
ono. 1t may happen that bits OF card
will seemingly join when the lines writ
ten on them make a ridiculous comblna-
ton, aud this will add to the merriment.
ARHYMING PARTY.
A rhyming valentine party would be
a success if there were not always one or
two prosaic individuals IN agony over
their compositions. For instance, each
one writes a line on paper cut for the
purpose and puts it IN a basket first
writing the name at tho top and
| folding 1t over 50 1t won't be
seen. The ladies draw from the mems
| basket and rice UCFSu, and 1t be-
ing point Of honor not to turn back
the paper and read the name, finish the
couplet, sign the second line, and de-
post in a general basket. Then one
man reads the illusions and the names
| of the authors, and the man or woman
thinking he or she recognizes certain
writing and rhymed accordingly, will
often be overwhelmingly surprised at
the result OF the doggerel.
GRoTEsQUE ARRANGEMENT.
An extremely funny way of choosing
partners for the evening Is for the ladies
TO stand back Of a white muslin curtain
which must screen them entirely, with
the exception Of the apertures cut for the
| eyes. Around these "eyes should be
| drawn face in charcoal, and the more
grotesdue the outlines the harder it will
| be for the gentlemen to guess the owner
of the eyes, and, of course, no guess, no
partner. II he thinks he is perfectly ac-
duainted with the pair of eyes he has only
| TO whisper her name to the lady, and If
he is right she will disappear from the
ranks If not, she may be permitted to
wink tauntingly at HIM and keep her
place. Even if she drops out, her dis
appearance will not assist the remaining
guessers, because they have not heard
her name and have no means OF Judging
who are still to be had for the guessing.
Underneath each flee" should be an
inscription Of some kind.
II you love me think Of me.
I'm looking at you, love,
With eyes that are true, love.
Say the right word and III be- thine