Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-09-07

wise, and prizes are given to those voted
most proficient in the art Of gossiping.
This form Of entertainment may be made
pretty and picturesque by giving garden
Or out-ofdoor effect to the rooms. Palms,
flowers, hammocks, porch chairs and other
outside accessories scattered about over
green canvas floor covering or imitation
grass rugs lend q pretty lawn party effect.
In case the latter idea is employed the invi-
tations may read. "a Garden Gossip Party.
a more or less startling invitation in the
midst of winter. Summer gowns add to the
rm-weather effect of this sort of enter
tainment
Proposal parties are new and clever when
properly introduced The hostess, when her
guests have arrived informs the men that
they must propose to every girl in the room
within stated period Of time. She also
tells them they must do it in proper STYLE
and take her off to one of the cozy corners
or secluded hooks she has arranged about
the rooms. She then takes her women
guests aside and gives each of them half n
many little red hearts of paper. flannel, silk.
or any convenient ma terial, as there are men
in the party. She also gives each girl an
equal number of tiny white mitteuS.
at the signal of the hostess every man Sc
lects q girl and asks her to marry him. press
ing his suit until he is forced to leave her
by the jingle OF the hostess bell. He then
proposes to another girl and so on unit,
in the party. The girls distribute the hearts
and mttens, a heart for a well-told confess
sion Of love, mitten for the Jess impressive
/. tale
At the end Of the stated hour the mems
collections of hearts and mittens are count
ed and prizes are given taem. The man with
the largest pile OF mittens is conscled with
pair of white wooien mittens.
The men fare best ri proposal party, as
the prizes go to them.
For an afternoon entertainment ''Spin-
sters at Home'i is a good idea Each guest
arrives attired in the garments Of her grand
mother, and with an abundance of hair
hanging about in corkscrew curls or equally
ancient style. She may wear hoops and walk
with the tiny, mincing steps. or she m; Y
have powdered wig. patches and much
hefiowered and beratted gown. In any case,
she must represent the spiuster of whom we
read, and, il she likes, may bring with her
4 parrot or Il cat.
After she has .'put by her bonnet.
Strengthened out her f1ounces, and adjusted
her spectacles, each guest gets ont her
Emitting and oyer it each spinster must
tell how 1t happened that she never mar
ried.
Afternoon tea and prizes for the best ro-
NANCE conclude an entertainment Of this
kinds
Young girls enjoy baby party when
they oil appear&in short frocks, carrying
their dolls, and spend the afternoon talking
over their mudpie days.
II one must adhere strictly to the fixed
rules of etiquette girls mother must an
nounce her engagement, but often pretty
little parties are given by the girls them.
selves to make their approach marriage
known. It is trifle unconventional to an
nounce ones own engagement, and still
more SO TO allow 4 girl friend to do so. How
ever, this Is an unconventional age
An announcement luncheon may be car
4 1ed out.in the following manner: The table
must be dressed in sentimental designs, such
as hearts, Cnpids and bows and arrows, and
as place card little heart-shaped booklet
Is used. When the guests are seated each
opens her tiLy hook. ard the girl holding
page No. l reads the first instalment of a
little love story. This ends abruptly at the
bottom Of tho page and is continued on page
No. 2 held by another girl. The last In
tstalment Is the announcement of the en-
gagement Of the hostess, and may be read
by herself or anyone to whom she desires to
intrust the news.