The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-07-12
ideas for dM omen

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charitable enterprise, says the woman ?
Home Companion.~ ,
After many schemes had been pfoposea
and rejected ii was finally decided that
4 living game of chess Should pc piaseu'
ana the. three II girls composing the
committee were soeii pluhseu mp -
eager discussion of details
The 11rst thing necessary was 70 securF
a chess board This was cone ~ pu
chasing twenty yards OF plach ~.
and the same quantity of wnite, ueaiins
ii into eighteen inch squares, when we1e
! sewed together, alternating Vhe onu :
into eight strips Of eight blccks eacn, he
\ strips were then sewed together, piaeins
Of course, the black blocks against tiis
white. This. when completed was
stretched tightly over the floor OF the
stage, and the field was ready Tor pastie'
Next came the exciting search lot SITE
Of as nearly as possible the same eng
to do duty as pawns, for young ns'
chiva1rous enough for Knights seaate
enough for bishops. and sufficiently re-
tund to make imposing castles LasS
ana most interesting came the selectloh
" kings and queens to hold dominion
over them. and the chess board was
filed.
Two heralds were next chosen, and
tswo well known chess players OF d1gnl-
aed mien were asked to play the game.
On these two fell. of course the duty OF
planning the campaign and arranging
the details of battle. which were written
out carefully. with each move accurate
" described and given to the heralds TO
con BY the midnight lamp that they
might become perfectly familiar with the
moves and be prepared to direct the con-
hict,
The selection Of wardrobes for the
Kings and queens was comparatively
easy. The ladies looked royal enough in
their full. round skirts. which just es-
capped the floor. straight. close-ftting
waists with Elizabethan rufus, and tight
sleeves with high puffs on the shoulders.
The hair was worn high and powdered
(as was that of all the players) and sur
mounted by a coronet made OF card
board and gold or silver paper, as the
case required: gold being used for all dec
orations for the red pieces and silver for
the white. The insignia of office were
Hight wands used as scepters.
The kings were respondent in knee
trousers and bnckled slippers, with the
long full cloak on which devices cut from
the paper did service for embroidery and
Jewels. Their crowns were of the same
construction as those of their royal part
ners. and the mace carried in the right
hand was made in the same way.
The other costumes were finally select
ed even ia those of the castles. which
were made to represent towers of stone
work.
On the eventful evening the curtain
rose promptly upon the stage converted
into a chess-board; the players seated at
their game at a small table. a little aside.
and the heralds. a blast from whose
trumpets announced the coming Of the
forces.
The orchestra played a march. and
the two columns appeared. entering by
opposite doors. They went through the
evolutions of a march, and found them
SELVES at lis close in proper positions on
athe chess-board. Then followed a pretty
A~tableau-the pawns raised their bows,
With arrows pointed at the opposite col
umns. the kings raised their nlaees, the
-uueens their scepters, while the knights
l0Ok QOeoC6S4ol1 4 At-@
the bishops elevated their croziers.
During this time the privilege of OPEN
ing the games was determined by the
heralds in the usual way. and the battle
began.
The heralds, who seemed to follow the
movements of the two players at the
made tc slow music.
When a piece was taken, the vic
torious queen extended her scepter,
while the unfortunate captive advanced
with rhythmic step to the front of the
stage. then turned and passed behind
the king line to the rear of the stage.
where he took his place in line. advancing
a step when another Joined him, until the
line extended from side TO side.
The game had been so arranged as to
close with a very effective tableau. The
winning reds succeeded in advancing a
pawn to the king line in the enemy's
ranks and having her made a queen.
winch completed the checkmate. The
heralds advanced and placed a crown
upon her head. and the winning herald
announced the victory by a bugle blast,
while his vanuuished comrade knelt be-
fore the new-made queen.
The curtain then went down, and rose
almost instantly. showing the defeated
whites upon their knees. their arms laid
down, while the triumphant reds repeat
ed the opening tableau.
80
Poke bonnets are in style again, the real
old-time ones of half a century ago. In
truth, If you would be the envy of every
other girl in YOU set just coax you
,