New-York tribune., 1896-11-21
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THE HUSKING BEE.
TUE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF NEW-ENG-
LAND WOMEN RENINES OLD
CUSTOMS.
,.cv-o LANTERNS. WIL,~o' TiiE~wIsPs MILK
.-o.o,s AND PUMPKINS WERE GREAT
FEATURES IN THIS 0I.D-TiME

AND IT MIkiNS Ntfr 'tNr-NA
FEATURES IN THIS OLD TIME
QUALIFICATION.
Tho National Society Of New England women
I'D of their lineage, seek every year To revive
10 old custom dear to the hearts OF ih"ir nom
- ancestors. and this season they initiated 'h-
or,husking" by hol ling huSKng bee at Inc
,,.,aorf last evening. which was UNIQUE ana sue
W., i, ovarv feature or course. it requires
~ - imagination transform the superb appoint
&c ~ the new ballroom in the famous hostlery
old.fashioned country barn. where these
- wore wont TO be held. But ii had been ac-
ao,,lished. and the great room was respienden'
l., ,be elories OF autumn leaves. sheaVes oi so'ue"
a,, coyT1stalks with ears or ripened corn,
,obes and arches OF leaves, with their signs OF
.,a.r summer and the rich bushes OF radiant au-
~, blending together in splendid syinphon! o'
~ 1ack-o'-lan,erns and will-o'-the-wisps twin
,,s and cleaned and pumpkins and milking stools
~s D. 1, ,lace Of chairs Enormous piles OF corn
Aoo,ed upon the floor. ready 10 be husked.
"a odcheekcd apples galore awaited their roast
49,, Tho Young ladies' were simply gowned as
,,rv maids and the old-fashioned New-EnGlahd
,,re, was in evidence along with short
,s,ed Gowns big aprons and denure looks Inc
" ,a, were dressed as country swans: after
80 durng the husking mugs OF sweet clder re-
s-..,ad the ,oilers Mrs. William Gerry Slade
nv. 1,,eodore F. Seward and Mrs. Judson. found
..os,dsn, and vice-presdent Of the society re-
w. .,.e, ,har guests in husking-bee costumes made
,,oh &c nossihle after the fashion worn on sucn
|as,,ve occasions when the century was young
~ xawEnsland farmer was always thrifty. and
- .o-rb,ned business with pleasure by giving
dance and supper 20 all his neighpors hi'ef thes
had husked his harvested grain
w. harm was lighted by lanterns. and the cattle
=, suher side of the great barn floor looked out
frou, their stalls under huge haymows Win car"
cor,emplation of the weird scene OF rustic swans
and country lassies laughing, flirting and singing
se they stripped the outer covering OF the goiueh
corn. 49,,
The imitation was good. and reflects great creoi'
An the managers The decorations were necessari-
:. ,os,-,c,ed hi, from the centre Of the balcony
r,s susnended the handsome banner OF the So
c,s,v draped on each side with American nags
while below 1t hung an immense bunch oi oo'" "'"
with red white and blue ribbons; . -. o,ra
The corn was piled in great neap IN 'he ne b,st
of the ROOM and the lane through "ncn ,de az rsre
ers walked was realistic In enect lis sluss 49, ~
formed Of cornstalks and luscious pumpkins gave
golden CLEANS here and there. -u ,o ard Tho
,,o,be, of Mrs Slade the founder OF the society,
wss the hostess of the occasion. and received the
o's,s huskess nerolded with loud blasts Of horns
Mrs Hardy. Aunt Prudente AnsnS; A,;o~ "" hu, ne
J.! a,eS ,u, ~ the hour did not prevent her dill,
cent fingers from active knitting on hc' ''u anu
sr Ssrgher Cynthia Allen .Mrs pye, assisted ri tied
t. rsivinr and passed the cider and apples 20 IN.
busy husksrs fey ted nSrreS EAR men ana while
MANY bushing dsmsels ND thcr iares rieba 10 he en-
lion that the ruiz. OF the old cus,In cud ,ba, they
forcea the were - oid-ldSi''"'" '
sc,ually kissed their own wlVes wlVe;.a q, nsa, mint
GOWNS kcrchefs and large sp-ons ana NE nro
@ ,,,mners and overalls or linen busters 10 ~
,.cf heir Sunday bes, clothes whicH ,aln,ed al,d rhs
homespun lusre in the dancT, n wo,en cnars ;hat
se,s covered win corn-lusk mats ana )o''i'S ''-
supreme ~, ,,.,.,,ui.z in quaint costumes.
~. am M. - ,he occasion by thelr inioT'nd. h
SIGMA appeals TO visiting friends 20 "e'p
Akers now vo.ye so p sing sons, some s ron
s,s W,s paul Sally der :rred ou, nnanH, 90, sna
ssnted 10 sing "Grandrloio RS Ad.H 49, n insDily she
:sn sing It, ,a6 and c5minE inT n'ssTl ThTo ne
'espohiSo RIl oscar Duryea) displayed ms SIX sk
In icrpsichorean art by dahr,'R sag fame Ber ia
x.!i,, u,o spe@ ks pieces 80 we'll 10 "'N "
saved 70 reclte Two TnanksgVinsS' wheel
iv n;.ased her country hearers. ,.,s,n. su-nrises
"a cbc had asked James u. FlZseTia. tor " ~ On
bary;one who had sung IN opera ga So well that all
ier'ain t,l .onned work and listened to NE % song
NV Pretty Jane" just then MISS a e;ndog IN via a
IN mhn ma, -, Ser arm and she and MI fIiZseia''
in a bswitchng mannei r+hIals I.,. NaiI," Miss
Where Are You G,ingr MY p,,rTpnkn rpnk Pc so well
@ Maroon nm21vbodv wished they had piece ana 10
ella Treadwell (M.ss Nieounp IN ,T me hmskers
voice sang Sor,ss Win prophetic earnestness
''r..s eoor was then cleared and swept am .Tho IT.
Annie l. White namea aI TO- axe partners for a
iu5n"s dnfs pave in costume seated on oa''e''
played a. me !Ig buffet supper Of six courses wa
sorysd The tabS- were decorated win The
numnkns filled with nuts. raisns an1 ~ np US ven;
dancing to the md S tb " closed one Of the most novel
apd p ',a nn;o~ahie entertainments OF the seaso"'