The courier., 1902-08-16

While parties have been few and far
between this summer ladies have not
been entirely negiectful Of social
duties. for more formal calls have been
made than during any previous sum-
mer for years. Ladies have taken ad-
vantage of the cool afternoons to pay
their delinquent party calls. first calls.
and any other visiting obligations
which were troubling their consciences.
and many will consequently begin the
autumn society season with clean WIS.,
iting lists.
The following story illustrates the
difficulty Of choosing wedding presents
and the interest attached to them by
the bride and her family:
He was making a call on the BRIDE
elect. and the family were discussing
wedding presents.
"It Is the most extraordinary thing
how people, when in doubt about
small gift. invariably select spoons.
remarked her mother. May has
received the greatest number! do
think. considering how many pretty
little things there are, that something
more original might have been selected
than sets of fancy spoons. which, OF
course, are perfectly useless Just
then the bell rang. Another present.
Polly" exclaimed her little sister, rush
ing to the window In a great state OF
excitement 81 see Us delivery wag-
on" Her surmise proved correct, and
second later the footman entered the
room with a large cardboard box.
THANK heaven." mentally calculated
the visitor. THAT great thing cannot
be the confounded spoons bought this
morning, I will go there at once ana
countermand the order"
why, Mr.. Smith," exclaimed the
PROSPECTIVE bride. who in opening the
box had found the card. This Is from
you. How perfectly lovely OF. you 10
have thought of me, 1 am so anxious
TO see what IL is! Mamma, only think.
this ia a present from Mr.. Smith. What
a coincidence that it should have come
while he is here, and how nice that l
can have the opportunity Of thanking
him in person!
DO let us see what IL Is, Molly! said
her mother. II am quite curious to see
what Won have chosen" continued the
latter. with a gracious smile to the un-
comfortable donor, and she walked over
to inspect the pretty case which her
daughter had divested Of its tissue paper
wrappings. why. II Is perfectly love-
,y set of spoons."- exclaimed the good
woman. rising to the situation with
true feminine courage. Now, Mary,
this is what 1 call the right kind OF
spoons. These will be just what you
will need for your lawn parties and
iuncheons Don't you remember. when
we had that out of door tea last month.
how I NEEDED q set Of berry spoons for
the strawberries? Next time can bor-
row yours Her tactful volubility
covered her daughters embarrassment.
and Mr.. Smith felt comforted. although
only half convinced.
With the renewed interest In house
hold economies, a renaissance Of the
apron is prophesied by the Woman's
Home Companion. According to this
authority It IL forty years since inter-
est in the apron begun to wane. and
the old expression. "tied to his mothers
apron strings is now almost obso-
lete, and tied to his nurses apron
strings or to those of the housemaid,
would have been more appropriate. as
of late years the apron has become a
badge Of servitude. But now. when
the preparation of a dinner under the
name Of a cooking demonstration" is