The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-09-27
pORCHES ARE POPULAR
Family Life Cen Them More More Each Succeeding Summer
For Small Evening Par ties They Have Come Into


The mating rugs which come for We
randa floors this season are very effective
and also substantial, as the genuine jap
anese and India fibre will hold its color
through any sort Of weather exposure.
Last but not least we must not omit
to mention the Tudor porch screen or mar
row Slated shade, for western exposures
where the afternoon sun is uncomfortable.
These are pulled UP or down like shade
to the desired height and are much more
effective and serviceable than the bamboo
screens in use in past seasons.
It may be that some readers will take
exceptions to the porch furnishings de-
scribed as being expensive luxurtes and
out Of the question for the modest cot
tager who yet wishes to enjoy porch life.
There are all sorts and conditions OF
| men in the world. and one must cater to
| them all. 1t is not absolutely essential to
a summer sitting room, and pretty one
at that, to have imported rugs or fancy
furniture.
The rush bottomed, hickory framed
chairs now made are both cheap, service
able and pretty, especially when treated
with stains. Besides, one often has a
shabby willow or cane rocker which a lit
| tie 15-cent can Of Jap-alac green or red
stain will transform into a porch treas
| ure.
A narrow woven wire spring with Q
mattress covered with striped and flow
cred art ticking, back up against the
! porch wall on a simple frame. makes
ideal porch seat, though there are cane
ones which cost more, If one must buy
spring and mattress. AS for rugs. there
! is nothing better for porch use than
those woven in convenient sizes from
pieces of old carpet which are OF no use
anywhere else. -
Not only for everyday family use has
! the veranda come to its own, but for
social functions Of all sorts it Is greatly
| in a n
houses are capable Of charming scenic
effects for weddings and .luncheons. af-
| ternoon teas, and noon breakfasts are en-
regle on the porch, be 1t in town or coun-
| try. One Of the prettiest porch parties
| possible was given on her large veranda
by woman Of very limited means. She
possessed some good rugs. and these were
arranged on the floor and steps to tho
best advantage.
| All her light chairs were ravished from
the house, and a small settee or two.
| There were small tables scattered about,
with many vases of flowers from her own
garden, and in one corner a great stone
jar filled with yellow Black-eyed Susans.
On a low jardiniere stand, beneath dou-
Bile window opened wide into. the house.
stood great bowl filled with scarlet hon.
eysuckle. from the vines that crept up
one corner of the porch.
4 The ladies came in light, soft hued vel
vet frocks, bare headed. and brought some
light sewing. The hostess young daugh-
ter served frappe and cakes, and through
the aforesaid open window charming
music was waited at intervals. There was
no fuss, no parade, but 1t was a. pretty
and enjoyable entertainment, and cost tho
hostess only the labor Of bringing out
and arranging the rugs, the flowers and
the furnishings.
\ Another woman with bright ideas gave
| an evening porch party, but this couldn't
be done in New Jersey or other MOSQUITO
district.
She arranged rugs and placed seats 50
4 that two faced each other. She hung Chi
nese lanterns from the porch ceiling and
in the arches. Also stood lamps near the
windows inside, and illuminated the house
| SO that the porch was lit up. The porch
was decorated with fancy Japanese fans.
and each guest on arriving was presented
| with fan with a conundrum upon IT,
which must be answered before the fan
| could be used. They were also given cards
| with a dial printed on them. and each man
| there was twelVe-Was expected to in
vite a lady for an hours chat-it was
really ten minutes, and the end announced
| by tap Of bell.
- The partners were changed till tho
| rounds had been made, and here the seats
! facing each other came into play. During
] refreshments some Of the partners" were
| called on to report their conversations.
! The instances cited are only indices Of
| the thousand and one modern Arabian
| Nights entertainments in which the mod
ern porch may be utilized.