The San Francisco call., 1897-04-04

TAJIP-To-DATE women combine this
FSEEs season charity with most of their
01 simple little afternoon affairs and
one OF the most popular is the tea-tasting
party, as it is extremely amusing.
The invitation is expressed in odd and
pretty, but very formal sen ntences, pre-
sumably la japanese, and it is written
or engraved on large sheet of Japanese
rice paper over which are scattered indis-
tinct cherry blossoms, chrysanthemums,
tea horses and rickshaws. 1t is deiicateIy
scented, and folded narrow and long,
thread of scarlet silk holding it together.
On ones arrival at the home of her
hostess her eyes will be delighted with
great beds of gorgeous tulips in tiled
boxes, arranged in every available nook.
and where they cannot be placed to ad-
vantage will be pots of white and purple
Towering lilacs. Half dozen or more
tables will he arranged around the room,
on which will be placed truly oriental tea
equIpages, but more gorgeous than all
the flowers and more lovely to gaze upon
will be the hostess and the pretty maidens
who will assist her, all being arrayed in
the richest and most beautiful of bro
caded costumes, such as Japanese ladies
OF noble birth don on great occasions in
the Flowery Kingdom.
The girls preside over the tables and
each is provided with tiny pad, pencil
and purse, and after you have had O. cup
of tea you pay 10 cents for it and on the
pad you register your guess as to what tea
you have been drinking, and to the guest
who guesses most correctly is given some
charming priZe-a queer bit of embroid-
cry, an exquisite piece of china or q rare
specimen OF ivory richly carved. OF
course, a tour of all the tables must be
made, but L almost forgot 10 tell you that
before even entering the tearoom, or
rooms, you must drop at least 81 into the
almsbox at the door, for all the money
collected goes to aid some worthy charity.
OF course, the hostess and her assistants
have their hair and eyebrows made as
Oriental in appearance as possible, and
many an English butler has been seen re-
Gently in the full regalia of a japanese
head servant, and the orchestra must be
from Japan. These functions are in great
vogue In New York, as are also perfume
parties.
These however, are given in the even
ing and fancy dress is de rigueur. The
idea of the perfume party is TO burn or
otherwise liberate various fragrant ex-
tracts. the prize being awarded to the
fortunate possessor of the most delicate
sense OF smell.
This idea is OF Eastern origin, as in that
part of the world the test OF a refined nose
is the ability with which it can distinguish
between dozens of different spices, pas
tiles, syrups and delicate powders slowly
burned in copper brazier or swung aloft
in jeweled and fretted temple censer.
Ont in Japan, China and India only the
strictly native perfumes are used, but the
clever American hostess goes step fur
ther. She first sends out her invitations
on delicately scented paper and when a
perfume party is given all other odorous
substances save that to be exposed in the
braZier are expelled from her drawing
room. This means no flowers are used,
and every one is expected to come without
so much as drop of cologne on the
handkerchief. In the center of the draw
ing-room's parquette floor a luxurious
divan is placed or a number of silk pill
lows heaped. Before the pillows sits q
Benares brass perfume-burnec, and every
guest, when ready to try their luck at
identifying sweet odors, first propitiates
tall ivory goddess on lovely teakwood
shrine in one corner OF the room by drop
ping piece OF silver into platter at Ler
feet.
In reality the goddess is only quaint
sham, for her devotees' offerings go to
swell the funds of babies hospital.
But no matter, that is part of the fun,
so after piously offering to the ivory
lady on the lotus flower, the guest has
square of soft red Oriental silk tied
about his or her eyes, and is then led to
the cushions. Here it is the proper
thing to sit Turk fashion, while from
mysterious little boxes onto live Goals
In the brazier few pellets are dropped.
As wreath of delicate blue smoke arises
great shifting epsues, and the blind
folded person suggests a name for the
rich aromatic or evanescent aroma that
ills the air. Besides The Eastern essences
spices are subjected to the heat, a bit of
cambric moistened in cologne or purely