Evening star., 1901-09-07
HARVEST HOME FEASTING
SUGGESTIONS FOR A DINNER AND
DANCE.

Written for The Evening Star.
In the race to be first in originating novel
social features the city woman has, as
a rule the best chance to excel. This is
only because her resources are greater.
Now and then the country woman evolves
something that is so opportune and so
brilliant that it is gladly followed by her
city cousins, who have rather deprecated
the social resources of Acadia.
A harvest home dinner Is one Of the
country woman's suggestions, so clever
and so picturesque that it deserves repeti-
ton at the hands of urban hostesses.
The time to give harvest home dinner
is, of course, in golden September, when
the fields are supposed to be bending with
ripened grains and the orchards are heavy
with luscious fruit.
If all the guests will masquerade as har-
vesters-that is, as the accepted harvest
ers of the picture and story book-the har-
vest home dinner will be given plctur-
esque setting The dinner should be fol-
lowed by an old-fashioned party In which
old country dances are enjoyed. If there
is a barn where rustic surroundings can
be simulated, much the better.
A very pretty feature of any entertain
ment of this sort would be Greek dance
given by half a dozen pretty girls in the
garb of the goddess Ceres, who was wor-
SHIPPED as the personification of the har-
vest. Ceres is represented in robes OF
white, with a wreath of corn sheaves upon
her head and a cluster of poppies or
sheaves of corn in one hand, sometimes
with f1ambeau in the other. Any skill
full dancer can teach the figures, which are
nothing more than graceful poses slowly
merged one into the other. In addition to
the terpsichorean feature Of the entertain
ment, choice musical program suitable
for the occasion might be rendered.
Rustic Souvenirs.
The dinner itself should be feast fit for
the gods. The table, a large and substan-
tial one, would look best covered with
cloth of fine linen trimmed with heavy
lace. Underneath the linen a spread of
deep yellow silk or satin, or even sateen,
will lend mellow effect to the decorations
Miniature sheaveS of grain, each contain
ing some pretty souvenir, should stand be-
side the plates and uphold the menu as
signed to each guest If the menus are
hand-painted, a decoration representing
sheaves Of grain, a harvesting scene
pretty harvest maid, the harvest moon,
autumn fruit or some such device VIII be
most appropriate.
In the center of the table handsome
cluster of fruit should be ranged. The con-
traSting colors OF the yellow pears, the
white and purple grapes and the ripe, rosy
red apples are pleasing to the eye. The
border of the table may consist of a mar
row band of autumn foliage the laurel,
the mountain ash or the bay. 4 narrow
garland of this may fall Just below the
edge and, if it is preferred cross. to divide
the table into sections Garlands of noun
tain berries or of autumn leaves arranged
about the room make good impression
upon the eye.
The candles in the center Of the table.
covered with yellow silk shades, are meant
to cast faint, rich light over the scene
when the diners are seated about the feS-
tive board.
Old-Fashfoned Menus.
The dinner should be Of the old-fash-
toned kind. The harvest fish, commonly
known as the butterfish, will make an at
tractive item on the bill Of fare So will
roast harvest goose, which is plain goose,
no more, no less, in spite of it's title. Ices
served in the shapes of sheaves of grain
or fruits are other devices to carry out the
idea of harvest time.
Souvenirs for those invited to the dinner
should consist of tiny Sickles, pltchforks,
spades, scythes, etc. These may be worn
as pins or watch charms. They should be
placed on the table in little boxes, hidden
in the sheaf of grain that holds the menu.
A pretty idea is to allow the guests to
draw cards designating their places at the
table. On each card the name of color
should be written. For instance, the lady
and gentleman who draw cards bearing the
word pink will go into the dining room to-
gether, their places being indicated by the
fact that their menu cards will be tied with
pink bows. Pink, red, pale blue. dark or
navy blue, gray, violet, lnauve, pale green,
myrtle green, orange, white and cerise Will
be enough colors to supply party of
twenty-four persons - twelve ladies and
twelve gentlemen.
For King and Queen.
In one of the sheaves of wheat should be
hidden tiny circlet of ribbon in which
some bits Of ripened grain or some straw
flowers are gracefully knotted. In sheaf
beside gentleman's plate a plated crown
of grain ears should be placed. These two
should be seated side by side and given the
title of king and queen Of the harvest, in
accordance with the old English custom of
the harvesters. On leaving the table these
two should lead the way to the drawing
room and occupy places of honor in the
dances and receive the mimic homage CT
the company.
Old-fashioned country games are played
in the barn in case it is possible to give the
dinner and dance such a touch Of rusticity.
If the dinner is served in the house. neat
walk or a covered passage leading from the
house to the barn will contribute to the
comfort Of the guests in passing to ana fro.
Candy for AbsteInfOus Drunkards.