Evening star., 1902-03-15

potatoes ndliemefAlds were green peas.
With this course was served hot bread
rolls tied with green ribbons. Shamrock
tuce, celery and Hard-boiled eggs, while
Hibernfan dressing Showed close kinship
to our better known French dressing.
Blarney cream proved as persuasive and
sake ''The Biarney stone" II was Of
pistache. and was served In dainty little
boxes cut from pasteboard In the shape Of
harps, covere4 With green paper: Black
permint creams) and sweetings Qittle
cakes) comp1eted the luncheon.
Cost and Result of the Experiment.
1t was an almost hilarious party that as
sembled later in the drawing room. Incl
deItally the caraffes upon the table were
two bottles upon which conspicuously dis
played the labels Irish whisky" These
elaborately boughed with green caused many
pointed comments. but the fluid poured by
the waiting Moran was undoubtedly water.
This explanation Is necessary to explain
the unpleasant Interpretation that might
have been given to the merry conduct OF
Mrs Hopes lunchers.
All were so permeated with the Hiber-
nian flavor of the last hour and half that
1t only needed whispered request from
Mrs Hope to cause Mrs. Stone, who was an
admirable musician. to move to the piano
leen Mavourneen," Believe Me. II All
Those Endearing Young Charms" "Rory
OMoore," delighted the hearers and finally
all Joined in singing the well-known and
tuneful melodies. Mrs: Gale had been tai
ented elocutionist before she had fore
sworn the world artistic and married the
principal of the high school. and later had
to devote her talents to soothing the ruf-
fled feelings Of four little Gales Of every
degree of violence. She gladly responded to
Mrs. Hopes query as to whether she would
read aloud a charming little Irish story of
Alice and Edgerton Castles, entitled
"Rosanna," and Merton, family cares. do
mestic troubles were all forgotten, as read
er and hearers lived in the realm Of fiction
for an hour.
Mrs. Hope was a diplomat as we'll as en-
tertainer. AS move was made. amid con-
gratulations, to depart, Mrs. Hope address
ed her guests as in this wise:a .@
''You all seem to have enjoyed my little
experiment, and I want those of you who
would not admit the possibilities Of enter
tanning without large means to carefully
study the figures on my menu card. This Is
the actual cost of my luncheon. 1t came
within five dollars. Those of you who care
to unite In similar pleasantries, do SO. We
can call ourselves the Poverty Lunch Club
and pledge ourselves to limit the cost OF
our entertainment to five dollars. Each
member must give an itemiZed account OF
her expenses and prize will be given foI
! her who gives the best luncheon at the least
cost An assessment of twenty cents a
me mber will be levied for that purpose"
All unanimously Joined the club Mrs.
Stone, erstwhile the most skeptical of them
all, agreed to give the luncheon for April:
Before she left the house all sorts OF
schemes were working out In her clever
brain, in which Easter mementoes. angels,
lilies, rabbits and eggs played prominent
part.
Mrs. Hope was a public benefactor. She
taught her neighbors to know themselves.
their talents, their originality. The Poverty
Luncheon Club became an established or
ganization. and practically revolutionizeo
the home and social life Of Merton.