The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-14
A Uniaue Affair.

.It would seem now and then as IL So
ciety devices in delightful entertainment
were about exhausted" remarked a little
lady lust home from a summer up north,
but we were invited to a rarely charming
garden party while away. 1t was called
"A lantern party and was given by lady
who owns a summer cottage set far back
from a country rOad-almost in the deep
woods. The cards of invitation were deco
rated with her own delicate drawings and
water color sketches of Chinese lanterns
and antique lanterns. and the guests were
expected to carry lanterns with them; 1t
was quietly noised around that a prize
would be given to the bearer of the most
unique or artistic lantern.
.'As you can imagine, there was much
energetic scurrying about in the small town
to find something pretty in lanterns. Rich
ard drove several miles out into the coun-
try to borrow quaint old tin lantern he
had seen at a farmhouse; but Louise and
L contented ourselves with some pretty
japanese lanterns we had in the house.
Little Richard was invited, too. and he got
together quite a surprising and dazzling
achievement in the way of a lantern out
of an old cigar box and some red and yell
low tissue paper.
1T was great lot Of fun, going after
dark down the village street carrying our
lighted lanterns. The sidewalks here and
there were dotted with other guests, also
carrying bright lanterns. People Or the
sidewalks and on the summer piazzas ex-
claimed at this unusual sight When we
reached the country road leading to the
cottage of our hostess the spectacle was
even more beautiful. Such a number OF
bright, yet subdued, lights fitting noise
lessly along in the dark. AS we neared the
cottage we were all spellbound; a beauti-
ful picture was presented-house, porches
and the long lane to the great gate hung
with colored lanterns of all kinds and sizes.
After we arrived in the garden and were
seated. 1t was charming to watch all the
new arrivals coming up the lane bearing
lanterns-a long vista OF gigantic firefies
done in bright color. Those who wearied
Of carrying their lanterns could hang them,
ticketed. on one of the verandas; and.
before the evening was over, three judges
quietly inspected them and made the
awards The chief prize was a lovely little
Moorish lantern, and was won by a gen.
tleman who carried a curious little vene-
tian lantern, which was said TO have be-
longed to Robert Browning. He sent to
his Chicago home for it, 1 learned, and as
he was a much-traveled man. no doubt the
little literary lantern was authentic.
ITO our great surprise. little Richards
cigar-bOx lantern won the consolation prize
"a pretty copy of Stevenson's beautiful
essay. The Lantern Bearers
Music, conversation and the usual sum-
mer refreshments were other features of
the evening, but the charm of the lanterns
really made all else seem superiuous Our
lantern hostess told me she had once given
such a party at her city home where she
knew many artists and curio lovers; and
the rallying of beautiful. rare old foreign
lanterns on that occasion, she said, really
made her heart ache with the envious
greed Of nonpossession."