Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-25
tatious, but always Astounding in cordial

hood functions held on the lawns or in the
houses, with refreshments no more elab-
crate than fresh gingerbread and tea, hot
or iced. sandwiches and coffee, ice cream
and cake or fruit and cakes. If tea was
served on the lawn, light tables would be
brought out. and while the hostess or a
friend would pour the tea, the men would
pass the cups and plates. Often there were
not even napkins to add to the laundress
work. One instance in particular l recall
The hostess was much OF an invalid, forced
to spend the greater part Of each day In
her hammock, swung under a widespread
ing live oak. On the morning of the day in
question the children carried notes of in
vitation to some twenty-five of the near
neighbors.
Come and take a cup of tea with me this
afternoon, from to 6. under the tree"
Extra chairs and rugs were brought out :;
thin slices of bread spread and covered with
damp napkin to keep moist; some saltines
were grated with powdered cheese, and ev-
erything was ready excepting the tea. Some
of the new magazines lay on one of the
little tables, and on another a number Of
photographs of travel Just brought back
by one of the family. These to serve as
conversational pegs should there be a
dearth of topics, which there never was.
One of the neighbors poured the tea. The
cook. in fresh white apfon, brought out the
supplies from the house, and the men
passed the simple refreshments. No one
was tired, no one overworked. The cook
could go on with her regular dinrfer work
as usual. and every one seemed to have a
good time
Even at Roosevelt's recent reception to
his friends and neighbors at Oyster Bay
the same simplicity prevailed. Cakes and
lemonade-and ginger cakes at that-were
the quite sufficient refreshments provided
OF course, there are occasions when every
hostess likes to spread herself" and for
these special functions there is ever de-
mand for something new.
few years ago color teas luncheons and
breakfasts were all the fad, but the pres
ent fancy is for feteS and banquets copied
In service. decorations and viands from the
various nations. Such a one was given
lately by a Stanford graduate, who had
made a special study of Japanese customs
ana mas written a book on Japan. Sixteen
guests were invited to a siXteen-courSe jap
anese dinner. The room was decorated with
rows of red Japanese lanterns, a large bas-
ket of roses and ferns hanging from the
center all the ladies wore kimonis. and
their hair was arranged with fans while
Japanese silken Jackets We're provided for
the men.
The costumes, dishes and menu were all
brought from San Francisco for the occa-
Sion and there was different china for each
course. Many of the courses were served
with chop sticks Two cushions were placed
on the floor for each guest, and a long, low
banquet table was arranged from boards.
This was thickly strewn with rose leaves
artistcally arranged and shaded in colors.
Rose leaves were sprinkled over everything
anu SCI Ntu even III the TEA L he ITSC course
was preparation of seaweed. Another
course was salmon sandwiches. and a third
of grated cheese sandwiches. For the sand
Wiches the bread was cut extremely thin,
put between damp napkins to mosten, then
cut out with oval cutter and rolled like
chrysanthemum petals. All of the sand
witches were arranged like chrysanthemums
on individual blue saucers. Tea was served
In individual teapOts and waters passed
with 1t. One course was of delicious pre-
served ginger. and this was followed by
preserved rhubarb. The last course was
confectionery. served on blue saucers and
also sprinkled with rose leaves. One thing
was always served at a time, IL accordance
with the Japanese method, after which ev-
erything was removed, even to the napkins
Ihat Is, each person used sixteen napkins,
after which they were carefully folded
Among the festivities planned in many
homes for this week are Halloween parties
Fortunately for the boys and girls the row
STEERING, rollicking festival, relic of old pa
gan days. comes this year on Friday night,
SO that If they are up later than usual It
won't interfere with their next days school
work. Fine dressing for Halloween would
be a work of supererogation, as the time
honored games-duCking for apples crack
ing nuts and pulling candy, with all the
various tricks entailing visits to the Gel
lar or the well and garden, are of the siren
uous order. Put on the childrens plain
clothes and let them have a good time with
out worrying for fear of what mother'u
say" If they spill water on themselves get
more or less stuck up with candy. or
burst open seams jumping for apples going
down cellar backward, or struggling with
cabbage stumps.
1t goes without saying that the most ap-
propriate place to hold the party is the
kitchen. dining room or barn. Decorations
suited to the occasion are jackie Lanterns,
with bats cats, owls and witches cut out OF
black cambria, and fastened up in all avail
able places
tricks that make lots of fun for the young
players are these:
The Three Saucers-Take three saucers.
Fill one with clear water, one with inky
water and leave one empty. Blindfold the
young man, lead him to the dishes and tell
him to dip his hand in the first saucer he
comes to. If this is.the clear water he Will
marry maid; II the inty, widow-but II
the empty one he is doomed to live and die
a bachelor.
The Salt Test-Let a party of girls fill
their mouths with water and their right
hands with salt. Then at given signal all
start to run around the block. The first
name each girl hears will be that of her
future husband If she giggles snd the
water flies out of her mouth, or unclasps
her hand and loses the salt, the charm is
broken.
The Cellar Trick-Just at midnight, take
a match in one hand. a hand mirror in the
other, and, walking backward, descend the
cellar stairs. Go into the most remote cor
the mirror to see the face of the future hts
band. This is the more easily accomplished
If there be a tact agreement that some
cavalier shall be in waiting for the inquir-
ing maid.
With ashes-Take handful of fine ashes.
Blow your breath hard into It. If it flies
back over your face, the future husband
will be tyrant. If 1t does not, happiness
Is assured.
Nuts and apples are the proper refresh
ments for Halloween. If you wish to serve
sandwiches made from these two staples,
grind the nuts fine, English walnuts or but
ternuts. or use the regular peanut butter
in combination with the thinnest possible
slices Of mellow apple, for a filling.
If nut candy Is on the program for Hal
loween try this nut fudge:
Boil together for 10 minutes three cupfu,s
graduated sugar, one cupful rich milk
cream and one tablespoonful of butter. Re-
move from the fire, add one cupful Of chop
ped nuts and stir rapidly for few mo-
ments. Pour into buttered pans and mark
In squares.
A custom that prevails in Scotland and
Ireland is sometimes followed in this coun-
try by families anxious TO keep up tradi-
ton. A dish largely made up of mashed