The Progress., 1894-03-03
Five O'Clock Tea.

Busy Bee" with her customary
good taste ha, suggested the Five
o'clock Tea as pleasant Lenten diver.
sion, and we heartily commend her idea,
The social spirit now stagnant in
Shreveport could not be more DELIGHT
fully revived than in the Five O'Clock
Tea. The entertainment is informal,
inexpensive and attractive--it brings
agreeable people together in good feel
lowShip. and promotes the tone of in
tellectual enjoyment that should domi-
nate society in its best development.
The Five O'Clock Tea would speedily
correct the Impression that the elab1r.
ate society affair, with rich gowns,
costly souvenirs. and lavish eXDeudi-
ture upon menu and flowers. is the one
and only mode of entertaining. It is
Dre-eminently this ostentatiOus dis
play that kills the social spirit in a
community where many charming peo-
PIE have not the means to compete in
the accepted methods of lavish hospi-
tality. No, We will recall the word
disqualification in these glittering and
artificial functions We find superb
bundance of style. but little of the
whOle-souled, spontaneous good will that
is synonymous with the Southern con-
ception of hospitality.
Mrs. CoOlcaSh gives a reception or
tea-engraYed cards, exquisite decora-
tions, a sumptuous repast-the trail of
the great American dollar is over it all.
The papers laul the beautiful affair
and it was beautitui-but it has com
pleteiy demoralizad dear little Mrs.
Thingum BOB owhO also has an enter
taiument in view, but tearfully decides
that she must either relegate it to the
limbo of unattainable things, or resort
to an eXtravagant expenditure, that
she can i'll afford, to keep pace with
Mrs. Coolcash's display.
This is wrong-this is the evil that
renders the social spirit quiescent ex-
cept in few fashionable affairs in the
height of the season, when it should be,
pleasantly active the whole year ro@nd.
With the expense of entertaining mar
rOwed down. the number of entertain
ers would grow-and an equable and
delightful sociability would be the re-
suit. We should cater more to the
mind and less to the stomach of society.
intellectual enjoyment should replace
the crush of gorgeous gowns and the
huge feed.
4 woman of marked culture and
esprit in New Orleans, has made fine
art OF informal. intellectual entertain
ing-and' the high phase of social life
that She leads is closely akin to the
edifying character OF thu salon
This charming and sensible woman
receives her friends on certain even
ings during the season-pretty 9 rLs
pour chocolate or tea-there are light
sandwiches and delicate waters served
bowls OF gay flowers adorn her room
and the obest, brightest and most
influential people of New Orleans
thrOng the apartments, to enjoy the
very desirable social atmosphere, to
hear sweet music aud brilliant elocu-
ton that are essentially part OF this
pleasurable and cultured entertain
j ing.
Shreveport needs the happy, inform
al gathering it needs the social lead
ership of our married wonderland in
the attractive Five O'Clock Tea +, SITS a
golden opportunity to quicken the lag
ging social spirit
"a fig for your bill of fare-show me
your bill of company" We're words
wisely said words that bear strong
social significance. With the bill of
good company, a generous supply OF tea
and dainty crackers, the gracious host
ess has It in her power to do some eX-
eeedingly clever and popular entertain
ing. TO tit Cowpers inspiration to our
purpose.
while the bubbling aud loud Kissing