The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-11-25
Nortbern Montana News

good deal OF labor upon the energetic
hostess. First, she rcarranged her
modern drawing room. leaving in II
only the antiques. To these she added
everything of a similar nature that
she could borrow or hire The old
trunks Of store rooms and garrets. too,
were ransacked for the curious old
bric-a-brac and fancy work that seem
to bring one back to the primer OF art
decoration.
: When the arrangement of the draw
ing and dining rooms was disposed OF
to her satisfaction, costumes began to
be considered. Each of the families
attended to this part for themselves.
leaving the result . surprise for the
others. Old family photograph al
buns and daguerreotypes were hunted
up and copied as nearly as possible In
every particular. the hair-dressing In
itself causing great amusement; the
men with the absurd part up the back
OF the head: the women with the
punches OF ringlets on the sides; the
boys with the quaint top-knot curl,
and the banged and f1uffy-headed
maidens of to-day combed down to the
rigidly simple couture of so years ago.
Everyone was kept in a constant state
of merriment when the odd-looking
guests arrived. The children were the
funniest of all, 80 completely have
styles changed them, particularly the
boys. Where costumes like the old
portraits were not to be found for
them. the mothers had fashioned new
copies out of inexpensive materials.
Then the little ones who had long
heard with watering mouths of the de-
licious dishes of grandmother
table," were regaled with an old-time
spread. Anticipated receipt books had
been looked up and forgotten favorstes
brought to the fore again. The meal
was served, too, in the antique style
a literally groaning board. meats, sal
ads, vegetables, sauces, bread-stuns
galore at one and the same time, In
stead of our modern long dinner OF
many courses. Not till dessert was the
table cleared. and then again 1t was
loaded with plum pudding. pumpkin
and mince pies, branded peaches, greaa
loaves of cake, rosy-cheeked apples
nuts and raisins. isn't this lark.
cried one small man with mis- plate ful
of popcorn, mo fruit but apples, and
not a sign of a finger-bowl?
Another feature of this novel enter.
tainment that greatly increased Its In
terest was this: Everyone had peer
requested TO write upon slip OF paper
below the question, What are you mos
thankful for?" an Individual reply
This was done at home. and the papers
left in the basket In the nam as INV
guests arrived. After diner they were
all read anonymously. An amusing
time ensued in which they were all try
| ing to fit the answers to the dineren'
guests. Some. particularly the men O
| the panty, had written facetious LITTLE
| dissertations on their blessings tina
| caused much merriment. One pape'
read: THAT / have no husband" Al
| there was only one spinster present
this had to be attributed to the laugh
| ing, rosy-cheeaked aunty, that was any
| thing but the typical old maid. All tn
| four children of one family were so sur
prised to find that they had eaci
written "For mother" that the.
| confessed their authorships. The OBJ
| ject of this graceful tribute was no
the only one with wet eyes.
This year the same people are to re
peat the antique part Of last years en-
tertainment with this change. They
| children and all. are ITO assume throug
| the whole dinner the character
some one of the more famous Purfa
| men or women. Not only to be Nix
them as far as they can In dress an
| appearance, but also in action, phrase
ology and opinion. That is to say an
| do as nearly as possible what thei
particular model would have done un
| der similar circumstances.