Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-08-15
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climbed, so much the better; but as
general thing a little ladder is re-
ouired. and up the ladder the guests go
to entertain and be entertained.
The tree-top tea, as it is carried out
in Buffalo, where it began, commences
in the middle of the day. The cards OF
invitation read:
Come to my tree-top tea. Bring
your work and come to stay all after
noon.
"P. s.-First cup pourned at 2
o'clock"
When the bewildered guest arrives
she finds the hostess seated on the lit
tie platform in Inc tree, while an as
sistant does the honors Of greeting at
the foot of the ladder With the aid OF
the helper the guest is guided up the
steps to the platform, where she is
received" She can take her choice
of seats. and either snuggle in friend
" bough or sit upon the platform IN
state in a company chair
The menu at tree-top tea given at
Newport in a beautiful grove was most
elaborate. Yet it embraced nothing
that could not be taken from the gar
den. There was a salad of tomatoes,
cucumbers and lettuce. There was cold
fried chicken and green peas, and then
came fruit and ounce tea iced.
But the tree-top picnic is useful for
more things than summer picnic. Il
is a strange yet true fact that women
spending the summer away suffer from
lack of fresh air. Having no outdoor
porch, or none that has any privacy at
tached to it, they remain in stuffy lit
tie rooms and enjoy the summer
through little windows. At several of
the summer spots the guests have
erected little platforms in the trees to
have private piazzas of their own. The
tree does not object, and the landlord
is only too delighted to add to the
comfort Of his guests so easily.
The finest tree-top parlor the writer
has ever seen was built in an old-fash-
Toned apple orchard that ran down TO
the Hudson River. The trees were old
and gnarly and offered every chance
for coy hooks, and in the middle Of
the orchard there was built a tree
top playhouse that was so fascinating
that no one could resist its invitation
to stop and rest awhile.
This tree had long, straight trunk
with one low limb, over which the
boughs above spread their thickest
shade. 1t was this limb that was Sc
lected for the parlor floor Of the tree
parlor
Upon the limb narrow boards were
nailed, until they formed platform as
smooth as a parlor floor The ends
were rounded and the whole was light
~ stained to give a finished look.
Now, leading up from the ground to
the platform, there was a flight of
stairs built and on each side was a
hand-rail made Of small, smooth limbs
of trees.
This railing extended around the
platform inclosing it and making it
safe. Boughs were crossed and inter
crossed and made as ornamental as
possible.
Below the tree parlor were placed
rustic chairs, and those who preferred
to sit below did so, but for the most
part the little perch was well filled with
summer maidens.
1t is very romantic to give musicales
out under the trees. And both oper-
attic and popular song selections sound
very beautiful with the soloist perched
in the tree and the accompanies down
below.
AS the leaves begin to turn the par
lor in the tree-top will be deprived Of
its covering rs So ihjs, b4Si t9rTrke hex
toipj' plcnIcs While the leaves are waving
their lafy shelter overhead