The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-08-20
TIE New
Fashionable
Gduetu
~ARDEN parties have hitherto

l AF1OEN parties nave nltnerto
never been popular in America in
~ spite Of their success in England.
but the present season sees them
launched as fashionable form of en-
tertainment. People who have hand
some lawns and gardens. of course.
now and then have been in the habit OF
lending them to charitable societies for
day. and lawn party for the benefit
fof some pet philanthropy has been
given, but, as a social diversion pure
and simple, even at those places where
the fashionable most do congregate. the
lawn party has never hourished.
Newport prides itself on being very
English. Its social leaders are nearly
all directly or indirectly connected with
members of English high society and
those who are not are striving to be,
so 1t is no wonder that Newport is get
ting to be more English than John
Bull himself. Musicales and dinner
dances were Viewpoints accepted spe-
cies OF entertainment up to date, varied
by an occasional luncheon or mild tea.
But those who have been much abroad
are beginning to be impressed with the
popularity Of the lawn party. It al
ways takes time for an idea to .pene-
trate the aristocratic Uranium, and now
with the opening Of the Newport sea-
son there comes promise of lawn parties
galore. 81
Mrs. Potter Palmer has. set the ball
rolling, because Mrs. Potter Palmer is
a clever woman, which the average So
cial leader is not. When Mrs. Palmer
was abroad, she kept her eyes and ears
open, and she was struck with the
popularity Of the garden party over
there. Mrs. Palmer, as the aunt of
General Grants beautiful granddaugh-
ter, the prospective relative of a Rus
sian prince, and the entertainer of Bel
gtan royalty, is in a position to make
her preferences social law. Newport's
social leaders haye all been seeing more
or less of high society abroad, thanks
to titled relatives and friends, and they
know that Mrs. Potter Palmer is right,
therefore do not hesitate to follow her
example.
English people are fond of outdoors
Some Of their most delightful social
life centers about the races at Ascot,
the annual regattas at Henley and
Cowes. when yachts and Households are
crowded with fashionable people. With |
der that the charming idea of the |
houseboat has never fiourished on this |
side of the ocean except in Canada |
where thousands of Americans go every |
and where some spend the |
time idling in their households about |
the st. Lawrence or the Thousand Is |
lands.
A garden party may extend from
afternoon into evening. or it may be en-
Lirely an evening affair, in which case |
he lawn and strawberries are lighted by |
Japanese lanterns cleverly put about |
he place. The lights should look like
10 many great colored will-o' -the-wisps
n glowworns. and as they will scarce
y ever sufficiently illuminate the
grounds the use Of large lamps, such
rs are used in theaters to throw the
lights upon the center of the stage, are
usually added. The light is cast on
he jewellers through red and green and
blue glasses. and weird and pretty eff
ects are always subjects for comment
A garden which is plentifully supplied
With rose bowers and arbors, secluded
corners, in which those who have a L
'enchant for flirting may retire, always
ooks pretty and is popular. Very
Iften the arbors. when covered with
are frightened by real or
rtificial roses. ATTACHED in such a way
IS to make it appear that the flowers
we're parts of the vines.
Sometimes in one of these little ar
'ors, open on all sides. a small band
( musicians is stationed. A pretty idea
5 to have a pretty girl in Tyrolean or
ther peasant costume seated inside the
rbor singing the songs of the country
he represents and accompanied by a
musician who plays on some stringed
Instrument peculiar to their nationality.
| quartet of mandolins, banjos or gui- {
ars make n good feature. If the party ]
xtends into the evening. the quartet s
an play serenades in the evening. If s
ne musicians can be induced to array
themselves in some quaint costume. S
ypsy for instance, their effectiveness l
increased.
Another clever idea for a garden c
arty is fancy dancing. A group of S