The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-01-30
FOR TIE VALENTINE PARTY.
Four.Year.Old CheIubs as Ushers at
Valentine RECEPTION.
TAKE SHOTS At A RED HEART.
Guests Names In Puzzle Form Determine
Cotillion Partners--Thc Choice OF
Partners or Valentines the
Feature.


party. II tho compgny IS not 10 be
very large one there Is also time to
design Appropriate cards upon which to
inscribe tho invitation. Heart shaped
foundations with Cupids playing snatches
or familiar love songs--tho music of which
may be written out in a couple OF deco
rativc bars-lovers knots, wedding rings
and. perhaps bells. are all good schemes
for such an occasion. n. however, party
81 thirty or forty Is To be invited, 1t
would be better TO defer tho arduous
task Of decorating cards. and to keep
tacm for the evening when tho great
event occurs.
once the invitations are issued. the
prospective hotscss may devote all her
time TO preparations for the entertain
mont OF the guests. and the more origi-
nal ideas she can gather. and the more
unique. and al tho same time appropriate
each form or amusement may appear,
tho better for her reputation as hostess
one Of the leaders OF the social set In
this city has already planned a cotillion
FOR the celebration OF the day. She has
chosen 10 make cupid the theme Of deco
ration. and around him she will weave
All tho variations of design which her
own and her friends ingenuity can de-
wise When her guests arrive they win
he admitted. as usual, by a colored porter
but or stepping inside they will be greet
ed by Cupid himself. who directs them
with the aid Of an arrow where TO 20 TO
remove their wraps.
cupid. in this case. Is tho hostess
little four-year-old daughter dressed in
flesh colored tights and wings, and with
her cherub face and curly head she
will look the part TO perfection. Any
one VINO is not blessed with such a
daughter can usually borrow one from
friend. Indeed for her chorus of six
Cupds, the clever hostess above men
toned has hired d nalf-dOzen chubby
little fvo-year-olds from the mission
school. These she will clOthe in PINK
tights with a sash running from the
shoulder and tying al the left hip, and
from 10 Will suspend CULVER of arrows.
She will personally train her improvised
Cupids TO sing a striking love song APP
propriate 10 the occasion, at stated inter-
walls during the evening.
Appropriate valentine cOtilliOn favors
are boutonnieres OF flowers whose sig
nincancc Is explained on tiny fold of
paper concealed between the blossoms.
which must not be opened until after
the partner IS chosen and receives the
favor. whereupOn he unfol0s and reads
the words therein inscribed. to his own
satisfaction and perhaps 10 the confusion
OF the fair donor. \ pink carnation Tor
instance means a wOmans love. cases
have been known in which such incidents
as these were fraught with the most fate
1ul consequences. for II the maiden hap
pen to feel any OF the sentiments thus
norally expressed there is danger that
She may Defray The fact when suddenly
confronted with the chance coincidence.
one of the games. which Is somewhat
suggested of the donkey party, is both
amusing and exciting. for the winner not
only receives a prize. but also an as
surance that she will be the first of the
company TO wed. II is played with tiny
bows and arrows which can easily be
made at home. Only two bows are need
ed one for the men, and one for the
women OF the party. If nothing better
can be found of which to make the bows,
pieces of whalebone will serve As many
arrows as there are guests will be need
ed. and they may bee made into attractive
souvenirs with little care in whiting
and decorating them They are incest
when made OF wood with strings OF hearts
zone IN red ink and the initials or full
name Of the guest for whom each is in
tended inscribed with lead pencil If
d.. p4rf.gflt IL
however. it is better to leave them UNI
Tabled. allowing each TO choose an arrow
upon which the name may be written
before using. Each arrow is provided with
pin at the end which sticks to whatever
IL strikes in the shape of a target. The
target In this case Is big red heart
cut from turkey red print and fastened
IN a large sheet that is tackled TO the
wall. In this matrimonial contest the
young women have the first trial. Each
one takes her turn standing at a distance
Of about six feet from the heart, and,
after marking her arrow. aims 1t at
the very center OF the target. After all
have had trial. the punctured heart is
inspected. and the one whose arrow
struck nearest TO the center wins the
prize "a well as the congratulations OF
hcr friends for being the first prospective
DIlhf OF Aif f'iiPAilNs
The men next have an opportunity to
test their craftsmanship in archery and
matters Of the heart. If by any chance
the winner on this side OF the party
should happen 20 be interested in the
prize girl I'm the contest. their friends
will find a great deal Of amusement in
tho circumstance.
The real event. Of the occasion. however,
IS the choice Of partners or valentines
for the evening. This is done by lot. or
perhaps, IL would be more In keeping
with the spirit Of the day 10 say by
fate" In a room adjoining that in which
the refreshments are served there will
sse a. large bowl filled with envelopes
containing valentines for everybody.
There will be pink envelopes for the girls.
and white ones for the men. Inside each
envelope IS a card decorated with cupids
and other lovery-dovery things. and in
scribed with puzzle or conundrum
which. when guessed. stands for the
name Of some member Of the party. Az
ter drawing. everybody begins TO guess.
and each man, upon discovering the fair
one whose name is thus onigmatically
expressed. Invites her 10 take refresh
ments with hun and be his valentine for
tho remainder OF the evening. The en-
veiopes which the young women draw
contain the names OF those upon whom
they are 70 bcstow the first favor IN
the cotilion.
At q similar party given last year
this method OF choosing partners was
found both amusing and satisfactory.
some Of the plays upon the names o
guests were decidedly clever. Miss Wa