The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-11-02
NOVEMBER HARVEST DANCES.

Country Clubs Have Popularized
Harvest Dances - November Is
Good Time to Throw Aside For-
maiity.
| With the crisp, fresh air of autumn
| Hhere comes a note of jollity. Those
| that through the heated summer time
have given themselves up to charms
of langour and inactive pastimes, then
feel the tingling desire to dance in
earnest to make merry with all their
might. And to such no invitation APP
peals as more thoroughly welcome than
| that which bids them to the harvest
| dance. Even fashionable folks, tired
| of formality, unbend enough to make
merry like the traditional Corydon and
Phyllis when November comes. Indeed
it was at the country clubs OF such
places as Lenox and Tuxedo that the
idea of the harvest dance first orig
mated and these functions are In fair
| way to become annual at all similar
: clubs throughout the country.
About successful harvest dance
there should be nothing commonplace.
1t comes as an excuse dor originality,
| fun and surprises. From Dame Ma
tare the inspiration should be taken.
To one of the most elaborate of such
| dances that the country viii know this
| season, the invitations were sent out
about week in advance. They were
| written dainty on three-corner sheets
of sky-blue paper and then attached to
the top of small but perfectly formed
| ears of corn. Needless to say, they
were not entrusted to the postman who,
IL resentful, might well have lightened
his load at some corner grocery, but
| were sent by messenger.
Later amusing stories were told of
faithful maids who declared their la
dies would thank nobody for pulling
their bells to hand in an ear of corn,
and that they could buy their own veg
etables. Some were barely saved from
being toppled into the scalding pot.
Not until the morning of the dance
should the ball room be decorated.
Usually committee of young girls and
men, advised by a matron of expert
ence, take charge of this part OF the
affair the keynotes that principally
are struck being the products Of the
fields and the harvest. In one corner
of the room a stack of corn stalks serve
Well for a screen before some cosy
nook; in another, hay rakes arranged,
teeth up, to hold the grains and long,
/ plume-tipped grasses are found to be
equally effective. Golden-rodg and
purple asters; sumacs of rich and Bill
liant coloring; wayside weeds that
have turned to golden; bursted this
ties and milkweed pods, await only
hands to gather them. Colored leaves
suspended here, a hornets nest hang
ing there, and the scent of wild grape
vine help to carry out the idea.
Much light is necessary to bring out
in, relief these products of Mother
Earth, especially the greens lurking
In the background; but the light OF the
! occasion should apparently come from
many lusty pumpkins carved to repre-
sent faces and holding lighted candles.
Their hearty faces should be allowed
to shine brightly.
| When there is a pause in the dane
ing, and refreshments are served, it is
not ice cream and lemonade that the
| harvest dance honors, but an old-fash-
Toned collation. of beautiful and appro-
pirate dishes Is set In full sight on a
long table. From one end great
boiled ham, Respondent In paper frilIs,
Is carved, while what probably was
once lordly turkey dignifies the other
| Oysters wrapped around in bits OF ba-
con and quantity called pigs In blank
! cts" appear among the first courses
| Safely 1t may be wagered that when
| they are opened they will be found to
harbor small roasted birds. Indeed,
! this is the time to look out for sur
prises. Baked apples and individual
| pumpkin pies may be expected still
later, while boiled eggs from the be-
| ginning are seen on the table. AS is
| true Of the potatoes, however, they
! probably are deceivers and will open,
but to reveal some delicious trife in
the way of dessert.
And what is the drink that accom-.
panies this old-time meal? Not cham-
payne, surely, nor yet lemonade. Beer
would be an affront. 1t is good sweet
cider, which makes white froth about
the barrels bung. In quantities, too,