Omaha daily bee., 1899-03-12
Young woman whose Birthday Fails
on ST. Pntrick's Day shows Her
Regard for the Good
Old Man.

DANES and bellies are only too gladly avail
ing themselves of the brief period Of
freedom from their really arduous duties
which Dame Society, owing to the pressure
brought to bear by King Lent, grudgingly
allows them. The popularity Of open air
exercise and recreation Of every KIND per-
mittei by that most unreliable and unac-
commodating Of beings, the clerk OF the
weather, is fully attested by the number
OF the gay world who participate In all kinds
of sports md excel therein. Their hearts
are full of gratitude for benefits derived
therefrom, to the sad and austere ruler. for
stepping in so OPPORTUNITY and making IL
possible for them to indulge therein by
absolving them from their multitudinous
social duties.
A girl whose birthday falls on March H.,
remembering that it was st. Patrick's day,
determined that the party given in her
honor should also show regard for the good
saint. AS a luncheon had been decided on,
On writing the invitations a postscript was
added, requesting each guest to come pre-
pared to tell an Irish anecdote or story, or
recite a poem about st. Patrick.
When the day and the guests arrived
they gathered around a table profusely
decorated with soft green foliage. A harp,
wound gracefully with smilaX and It's strings
OF tiny white ''immortelles, formed the
center piece, raised on a mound covered
with ferns.
The dishes holding bonbons, small cakes
and sailed almonds were all wreathed with
smilax and delicate ground pine. and the
name cards were painted with and cut in
tho shape Of the hamrock so green.
The bonbons were merely round sticks of
chocolate six inches long, made thicker at
one end by the confectioner at the request
OF the young hostess, In order to resemble
the blackthorn or bog-oak "shillalah, while
tho little cakes were excellent "praties,"
their surface covered with chocolate dust.
and having bits of almonds for eyes.
The oandelabra were trimmed with smi-
lax, and the candle shades made of small
tissue paper Irish flags crimped into shape.
The menu could only be made to conform
to the prevailing character in two or three
dishes. The single entree was a most
savory and highly seasoned Irish stew,
served very hot In little silver saucepans.
At that stage of a luncheon where a vege-
table Is served as n separate course, instead
OF asparagus or celery, a silver salver was
brought in garnished with much parsley.
and heaped high with potatoes in their
Jackets" which appeared to be SO tight
that their white meat was bursting through.
The ice cream took the form OF 1.-The gin
tleman who pays the rint"-a white, we'll
fed, prosperous looking porker, who stood
firmly on his four short legs, and when laid
low by the sacrifcial knife revealed all sorts
OF righteousness in the form OF maroons and
candied fruits.
Stories, anecdotes and Irish wit followed
this feast, and one young woman astonished
tho company by asserting that St. Patrick
was not an Irish, but a Scotch lad, who in
the fifth century was stolen by a wild band
Of Irish pirates and who. when finally re-
stored to his home, could not forget the
heathens of the land of his captivity. and
so returned TO them as a missionary, de-
voting his life to their conversion.
Best and last before goodbyes were said,
q harp was brought in and one of the guests,
taking her seat, sang in a p~laintive voice,
Kathleen Mavourneen.
The fast approaching advent of the pop
ular saint of the Emerald Isle is hailed
with delight by all the gay world, prospect
I've OF nationality, as the appearance on the
Lenten scene of his jocular though visionary
person is always the signal for merry
making and general Publication. The deco
rations proper to his day will be largely
sought after and many fair young bellies and
lovely matrons whose charms are in their
prime VIII adorn themselves with the pretty
shamrock and attire themselves in his own
color, while the sterner sex will possess
themselves of formidable looking shillalahs
and even fasten a leaf OF the shamrock in
their buttonholes and wear ties OF vivid hue
In their eagerness not to be outdone by the
fair sex in the 'wearin' of the green
Those who are fortunate enough to perform
on the saints favorite instrument, the harp,
will be in great request at affairs given in
his honor, and all are busy resurrecting
Kathleen Mavourneen," Come Back to
Erin and other patriotic and melodious
ballads.