Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-06-29
SCHEME FOR A VERANDA TEA
QUITE THE THING NOW AMID
PICTURESQUE FURNISHINGS.
Suggestions for All Details, Especially
as to Appropriate Refresh
ments and Service.

ana unDeaten pathway.
Mark the veranda tea. A few years ago.
save in the sunny south, where they
born to a heritage of beauty and poetry,
veranda was an unknown piece Of archi-
lecture. To be sure, it figured in novels,
notably those of Augusta Evans, who. be-
ing herself southerner, knew what she
was talking about, which was more than
could be said for her northern readers.
While the high tide Of popularity for novels
Of the 'St. Elmo" school lasted no aspiring
literary light dared to indite romantic
novel without mentioning the veranda once
in so many pages. The veranda was re-
garded as the special mark of literary re-
finement and was always clothed in honey
suckle or clematis. 1t was to the novelist
what my lady's bower had been to the
medieval poet. This bower was the little
hut in which the Anglo-Saxons herded the
women of their household, but the poet did
not know this, and it sounded well. SO what
matter? Even SO with the veranda in the
middle section Of the nineteenth century.
Now every one has a veranda. The
porch, a knobby application of bizarre
woodwork limited to a small section of the
house front. has disappeared, and in its
place has come the capacious. the pictur-
esque veranda, extending about the whole
or large part of the house. Even in the
most remote districts this feature of archi-
lecture, for which the beauty loving south
is responsible, can be identified by the small
est child or the ancient inhabitant, and that
without recourse to the dictionary. The
proudest and the most popular family in
the suburbs or at the summer resort is the
one that has the most charming vel anda.
Outdoor entertainments have come in with
the picturesque furnishing of the annex
For protection from insects the veranda is
frequently covered with wire netting, and
for privacy or to keep out the midday sun
it is hung with bamboo shades These can
be dropped and fastened when the rain
beats in and will effectually protect the
weatherproof furniture.
Even Mt Newport.
Now, Of course, every woman who has
veranda will be interested to know that
the most fashionable form Of summer en-
tertainment Is the veranda tea. At New
port last season the families who live along
Bellevue avenue and other fashionable
thoroughfares could be seen empowered in
their wide verandas entertaining pretty
women dressed in light summer hats and
frocks, much in the fashion Of English
women who attend garden parties. The
garden party has never fourished in this
country. 1t has vogue, perhaps, for a
season in some district where mosquitoes
and gnats are not troublesome and where
the trees are guaranteed not to drop
squirmng caterpillars on the heads or into
the beverages or ices Of the ladies. Besides,
the weather man is an unreliable Individual,
and his firmest assurance that the neighbor-
hood may anticipate nothing but cerulean
skies and balmy breeZes for at least a week
may be sadly belied by the tornado that
springs up as IL from nowhere. A garden
party that opens to the singing of birds
and the smile Of the sun may end to the
accompaniment Of thunder and the cold
steady beat Of the drenchng rain. Then,
too, garden parties are hard on the deli
cate compilations of American women.
English women are Indifferent to tan, but
the American hates to think that above her
fairy-like frOck she displays the face of
broied lobster.
Dress Your Prettiest.
Now, the veranda tea has none Of these
disadvantages. In the shade of that rooted
retreat there is no menace to the COM
plexion, and one may wear her prettiest
white gown or most fascinating organdie
Disturbing insects cannot penetrate behind
without can introduce no disturbing effect
A good supply of potted palms and ferns
Is the only floral decoration needed, and II
the veranda is we'll supplied with home
grown flowers, even these are SuperfiuouS.
Inside the house some amateur musicians
may serve to good effect, provided they
can play with tolerable proficiency on the
guitar, the banjo or the mandolin. There
is something particularly soothing about
the music of stringed instruments which is
SO light and airy that it does not interfere
with the flow Of conversation that should
salute the ears of the successful hostess.
The refreshments may be served in the
house in a room that opens off the veranda,
presumably one reached through long
French windows: If preferred, the viands
may be served from a table located in a
shaded corner Of the veranda.
The tea table should look as pretty as
possible. In the mountains ferns and
mountain laurel may be used to add dis
tinctive touch to the outdoor decorations
If the party Is given at the seaside the
following table arrangement may be OBJ
served: In the center is placed bit of sea
H. hit aln;I
Upon this should be large shell-like vase
Of coalport china filed with delicate pink
flowers OF the orchid type or with lilies of
the valley. At each corner Of the center
piece and at each corner Of the table clus-
tiers Of the flowers loosely knotted with
ribbons or arranged in smaller shells of the
coalport china are laid. The bonbon dishes
should be shaped like shells or boats, and
the sweets given the form Of shells or fish.
Light and Simple.
A veranda tea should. Of course, be very
simple. There Is no need to strive for
effect. The refreshments may be re-
stricted to iced drinks. salads, ices sand
witches. fruit and cakes. Instead Of claret
cup any iced drink or bouillon may be
served.
Here are several recipes which may be
useful to the woman who prepares her own
afternoon tea dainties instead Of ordering
them from the caterer:
sound bananas and mix them to a paste
with some stiff1y whipped cream which has
been sweetened with powdered sugar.
Spread the banana cream on some very
fresh biscuit. and then put two biscuits to-
gether to form sandwich and arrange
them on a fancy paper dolly.
Savory sandwiches may also be made
with little biscuits, using almost any kind
Of delicate sandwich mixture. The follow
Ing, for instance. is particularly suitable:
Pound the yolk of hard-boiled egg with
an ounce Of fresh butter and a tablespoon
full Of the blanched leaves Of some fresh
water cress. Season the mixture with Gel
cry salt and a dust Of curry powder. rub
1t through a sieve and use as directed for
the banana sandwiches. The sandwiches
should not be made until shortly before
they are required or the biscuits will lose
their crispness For change sandwiches
may be made with toast instead Of bread
and butter. The toast should be allowed
to get cold but not to tougher, before
being spread with the mixture.
Nice and Tasty.
Caviars Sandwiches.-Spread the caviare
over half the slices Of bread and butter,
squeeze over it a few drops Of lemon juice