Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-26
A P|NG-P0NG PARTY
Just the Thing for a Porch
Gathering.
A MATCHMAKING MA
GETTING THE YOUNG FOLKS
NICELY TOGETHER.
Simple Refreshments, Fresh Air, Cozy
Corners and Cool, Soft
Drinks.
A MATCHMAKING MA

MRS. Littleton De Blank sat upon her
summer piazza surrounded by her six I'M
beauteous daughters, and her heart was
heavy within her breast. Out on the golf
links might be seen the forms of other dam
sells of the summer colony. each intent upon
her puts and drives There also gam
boiled a number of the eligible young men of
the neighborhood. The rumble of billiard
balls and musical ''ping-pong, ping
pong" from the windows of the country
club told where the others were gathered.
Mrs. Littleton De Blanks daughters
played golf badly, and they realized it;
therefore at an early stage of experiment.
ing they left the field to girls whose faces
did not freckle and whose noses incarna-
dined not under the ardent glare of the
king of day" Mrs. De Blank was not
averSe to this sacrifice, for she noticed that
the golf links were not promoters of en-
gagements.
Billiards always had absorbed some lords
of creation who did not golf, but it was
not until ping-pong came in that the De
Blank piazza was utterly deserted There
had always been the smart young clergy
man to dance attendance upon Angelica,
the eldest daughter; dignified young college
professors to hover about Araminta. the
second Miss De Blank; mirthless iconoclasts
to pay homage to the views of Janette,
who went in for advanced socialism; and
verses for the train of Rosalie, the fourth
daughter, who produced weird, chromatic
efectS with water colors and had some
skill in the use of the rhyming dictionary.
The other girls who were sixteen and
eighteen years of age, were not yet official
ly out.
Now, the smart young clergymen, the col
lege professors, the socialists, the poets and
painters were victims of the ping-pong
craze They played from early dawn until
the wee sma hours, and, save for the
few unprogressive spirits who had not yet
got beyond golf, the non-sportswomen of
the summer town seldom saw
Few of the ladies cared to indulge in
summer ping-pong. Played indoors a few
rounds left them both exhausted and dis
heveled.
A Fine strategist.
Mrs. De Blank is Napoleon in social
strategy; a woman with a limited income
and six spinster daughters who are neither
beautiful nor brilliant needs to be. There
fore, after chatting under few days of mas
culine neglect, she evolved her great idea.
"Hldegarde," said she to her youngest
and favorite daughter, II have decided to
turn the southeastern end of our veranda
into ping-pong parlor. There seems to be
an absolute mania for the game, and there
Is no reason why the young people should
not enjoy it wholesomely and together. The
young men now seclude themselves at the
clubhouse, where L have doubt there is
more or less betting and drinking. l spoke
only yesterday about the change in the ap-
pearance of the Rev. Athanasius Psalter,
such an excellent young man formerly"
"Pshaw!' -Hildegarde replied ''Athana-
sius is all right. He is merely getting the
ping-pong face"
perhaps so, my dear; he really does
look harassed."
mo wonder; they say that young theo-
logical student who is the guest of the
Maecenas-Browns, and a cOntroversalist at
hot &c ~
pong championship. Athanasius is progress
sive, but he can't stand that" her daughter
explained feelingly.
My dear! Controversalists? There is no
such denomination
well, twas something like that" Hide
garde answered airily. AT any rate he
| isn't high church, and 50, Of course, Atha-
nasius can't feel that he Is on the same
social plane"
MY dear, you are much too irreverent
Mr.. Psalter would be much shocked to hear
you speak So.
ooh, well. what is your plan, mamma.
dear?' Hiidegarde FASTENED to inquire.
A Chastened Game.
Gas I said 1 shall fit up the end of the
| veranda for ping-pong court and give a
series of weekly parties. Under the chas-
tened influences of home the games will be
| robbed of its excuses. Some tables will be
| left there permanently, and if any of our
will be glad to extend to them our modest
hospitality" Mrs De Blank concluded
For week the southeast corner of the
De Blank veranda was curtained with can
vas. In that time a Transformation took
place in its appearance.
A cork carpet was neatly tackled over the
polished floor. Mrs. De Blank reasoned
that this would prevent accidents. Behind
the wire netting bamboo shades We're hung
These would keep out the sunlight and in
sure privacy.
Three new ping-pong tables were neatly
folded in one corner. These Mrs De Blank
thought would accommodate as many play
ers as the porch would comfortably receive
and while one set of players rested another
could take their places. The number of
guests was to be limited to twenty-four.
thus the hostess hoped to keep every one
occupied. The veranda was hung with Ian
anese lanterns and pennants on which the
skfllful fingers of the artistic Resale had
appliqued white rackets, each one with a
ball rampant.
Easy chairs and settees were ranged along
the wall for the accommodation of the
lookers-on. Palms in handsome jardinicres
together with bowls of flowers, were care
fully grouped about to afford convenient
corners for between game f1irtations
The Lemonade Bowl.
On a table just inside the hall door a howl
Of cool lemonade was located Served in
dainty sherbet cups, with bit of ice and
firm red raspberry or two in addition to a
slice of fresh-cHt lemon, the beverage was
one which could not fail to appeal both TO
eye and to the palate of the tired and over
heated ping-pDngers.
Prizes were prepared for the champion
players One Of these was marker
mounted in burnt leather another a hand
some ping-pohg racket and a dozen balls.
Souvenirs We're provided for each guest.
These consisted Of ping-pong boxes filled
with candy. The refreshments were served
o.. THE DANGERS