The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-11-03
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..sss How Society People :,
=. Observe Halloween. :,
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a REAL old fashioned Halloween
~ celebration offers infinite prospect
OF amusement To the pleasure
surfeited fashionable woman who Is
always in quest OF the novel. Hal
loween celebrations for some years
have been INDUCED In only by those
who know nothing OF the super refine'
ments OF the rich. Now the opposite Is
true. That pant OF the great world
which lives happily and dies simply is
dropping the Halloween party. This -
because the middle classes are too
much interested in the marvellous his
tory OF the times and educated TO the
point where superstition is scoffed at
The leisure class. however. has tired or
most of its conventional recreations
and is glad 10 recognize anything that
will afford a few hours relief from
ennui.
AS a consequence wealthy folk who
have handsome country places go out OF
town for the last week in October. and
most Of them then entertain large h puSe
purtfrs.- iTe guests on The night or All
Saints are treated TO a real old fash
ioned Halloween dance. The men are
invited for a weeks shooting and the
women are asked. as usual, to enter
tain the men. Halloween I'm the coun-
try admits of the perpetration OF many
pranks that would be impossible in the
city.
Families who do not own country
places an yet wish 10 show that they
are fashionably up TO date sometimes
spend the week at some rural hotel
Sometimes a number OF friends organ
iZe a party TO go out of town TO some
picturesque country inn for the holiday.
Arrangements are made with mine
host" for whatever Halloween extras"
are desired-the use of the parlors or
some large vacant room for aSdance
and the serving Of plenty of nuts, taffy
and other Halloween condiments.
A most charming way OF observing
this day, dear 10 the hearts of all senti-
mental men and maidens, was that of
a hostess who remains out of town
every year until the 1st of November
at her home on the Hudson river. She
invited about 20 of the younger people
of her acquaintance 10 stay with her
for three days. the guests arriving the
day before Halloween and leaving the
day after. A colonial dance. was to be
given, and the n'Sn and women were
all notified of this. so that they might
come provided with old fashioned
clothes and masks. for they We're all 10
be incognito until the clock struck l..
There WAS great hunting out or old
time satins and brocades on the part
of the fortunate ones invited. and there
was much trying on of patches Of court
plaster and generous applications Of
powder TO Disgusting wigs. In advance
il was voted Immensely jolly and jolly
il certainly proved to be.
After dinner, on the evening OF the
dance. all retired To array themselves
| i'm their finery. Then there were such
| a lodging and peeping and maneuver-
| ing TO get out OF the different rooms
when no one was about that identities
| might not be guessed
A professional palmist from the city
| was hired by the hostess for the even
| ing 10 tell fortunes, and, as she sat
| ensconced in state i'm an armchair in
| the hall where every one might hear
| her prophecies, there was a good deal
| of fun over her various conjectures.
For the evening the house was light
| ed with myriads of small wax tapers,
| and the effect was charming. old
fashioned figures were danced and age