Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1895-07-08
Summer Diversions.

ished to the effect that summer among
the fashionable folk is season purely
of recreation of the lightest sort. "And
yet" complained one rich, well-placed
woman, setting out for her Newport cot
tage, zone has to work as hard to find
amusement in summer as in winter;
harder, indeed, for at the seaside resorts
men are as scarce as pearls on the shore,
and we must plan diversions under Sc
we're mental effort" So those women
count themselves as very lucky who turn
their faces countryward with comfort
ing little list of entertainments jotted
down for reference on specially tedious
afternoons, when no loneliness of nature
can interest minds wearied with the sim
ply good things of life.
At Newport, where nearly all smart
summer fads first come to light, the
very most refreshing idea of the hour
is the homemade fair. 1t is held by
somebody who has house provided with
wide balconies, and is purely a morning
function. TO it every woman who enters
through the neighborhood is obliged to
contribute something home and self
made, all in the space of a week. This
last provision successfully bars out the
vast quantities of embroidery with which
the booths would otherwise be flooded;
and contributors to the fair are request
ed to enter the lists purely for the sake
of competition. There are prizes offered
for the best cooked dishes, for preserves
and pickles, for the best starched and
futed muslin cap, the most neatly
hemmed housemaid's apron, the latest
pair Of pullets, the biggest bouquet gath
cred from single garden, and SO on.
almost ad infnitum. through the list
of domestic achievements possible to a
woman.
Where the fair is held the balconies
are decorated with bunting, and on long
tables the exhibits. all ticketed, are set
forth. Then there are committees ap-
pointed to test and examine every class
of work. award blue and red ribbons,
and then announce the prizes, which are
kept secret till the last moment. Thel
result is something astonishingly lively
in the way of an entertainment, for
men are appointed on the committees,
sharp and amusing. IT'S interesting, as
well, to see how we'll and how i'll these
women Of fashion turn their idle white
hands to all sorts of pretty hOmely arts,
and how keen they are to excel one an
other.
When the frowns and laughter over
the inspection and priZe-aWarding is
over, one of the committeeman blows a
coach horn and announces a series of
special domestic contests: stocking darn
ing, ironing table napkins and ruff1ed
pillow-shams, beating eggs to a froth,
and washing four panes of glass, are
usual tests put to the volunteers, who,
supplied with the proper paraphernalia,
try to see which can do the best work
in the shortest space of time. At the
end all the exhibits are usually sold off
to the invited guests; the moneytis given
to some worthy charity. and a pretty
dance in the drawing room winds up the
mornings entertainment. - Society
FadS" in Demorests Magazine.
The Picnic Hamper.
1t is not always essential to the success
of a picnic to be Percy Noakes and "a
devilish good fellow" as every one will
realize who has read ''The Steam Elk
cursion," SO inimitably described by
Dickens.
But it is essential that whoever goes
on picnic should possess the power to
find sermons in stones, books in the
running brooks and good in everything"
know how to dress, know where to go
and above all, to know what to carry to
eat.
A very great variety of food should
be avoided, also soft buildings and
creamy mixtures of any sort, which per-
sistently leak out" Plain, substantial
food, simple and well-cooked, should ever
be chosen, with few sweet and simple
dainties to top off with. This can be
divided up among the party by the one
who is most executive, with the ladies
to furnish the substantials and the
gentlemen the beverages.
Paraffine paper is indispensable in
wrapping up the viands, which are much
more wisely carried in boxes than bas-
kets, as the former can be thrown away
and the fewer the burdens of the home
coming the better. A rubber coat or
macintosh is also a necessity, for no
matter how warm the day, there is risk
in sitting out in the woods on the bare
ground. This can be easily managed in
shawl strap. It is best not to carry
tablecloth, but if something is pre-
ferred to spread upon the ground strip
of enameled cloth is the most satisfactory
thing, and whatever is spilled upon it
can be easily cleaned off. Japanese nap
kins take the place of linen, and wooden
plates, which can be thrown away, are
most desirable, like those which the
bakers use for pies.
There are several important items
which must not be forgotten, and among
them are a handtowel and soap, a hair
comb, handmirror, thread, needle and
thimble, a corkscrew and can opener,
and now for the bill of fare.
To begin with the substantials, a cold
roast, boiled tongue, deviled eggs, cucum-
Der sandwiches, and oyster bay aspara-
gus, are simple and tasty. The roast
may be sliced off before going, and care
fully wrapped up, but the tongue, should
be carried whole and cut up when re-
quired, or it is apt to become dry. The
eggs are easily prepared, being hard
boiled, cut lengthwise, the yolks taken
out, mixed in bowl, with pepper, salt
and mustard. and few drops of Wor-
cestershire and put back again in the
whites. The sandwiches should not be
made until eaten The bread cut thin
and buttered at home. and. carefully
wrapped up, will keep moist, but if the
cucumbers are put in it will become sod
den. Upon arriving at the station or
landing, very possibly piece of ice can
be procured, which can be carried in a
borrowed pail to the camping spot. The
cucumbers should be put on it, and, by the
time they are required, will be cold and
crisp. They should be sliced, laid be,
tween the bread, sprinkled with salt and
pepper, which has been previously mixed
in a small box.
The canned asparagus, when opened;
should have the liquor all poured off, and
a French dressing, which has been
brought already mixed in bottle, poured
over the asparagus in the can. For the
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