Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-01
N VEIN Der DANCE IS
COUNTRY CLUBS HAVE POPULAR
lied HARVEST FETES.
Just the Season to Throw Aside For
mality-The Supper and thu
Decorations.
Written for The Evening Star.

Written for The Evening Star.
With the crisp, fresh air of autumn there
comes a note of jollity. Those that through
the heated summer time have given them
selves up to charms of languor and inact-
i've 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 Formally,
unbend enough to make merry like the ira
ditional Corydon and Phyllis when Novem-
Der comes Indeed, it was at the country
clubs of such places as Lenox and Tuxedo
that the idea of the harvest dance first
originated, and these functions are in a fair
way to become annual at all similar clubs
throughout the country.
About a successful harvest dance there
should be nothing commonplace. 1t comes
as an excuse for originality, fun and sur
prises From Dame Nature the inspiration
should be taken.
To one of the most elaborate of such
dances that the country will know this sea-
son the invitations were sent out about
week in advance. They were written dain-
tily 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 intrusted to the post
man, who, If resentful, might well have
lightened his load at some corner grocery,
but were sent by messenger.
Later amusing stories were told of faith
full maids who declared their ladies would
thank nobody for pulling their bells to hand
in an ear of corn, and that they could buy
their own vegetables. 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 COM
mittee of young girls and men, advised by
a matron of experience, take charge of this
part of the affair; the keynotes that princi-
pally are struck being the products of the
fields and the harvest. In one corner of the
room stack of corn stalks serves 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-rods
and purple asters; sumacs of rich and
brilliant coloring; wayside weeds that have
turned to golden: bursted thistles and milk
weed pods, await only hands to gather
them Colored leaves suspended here, a
hornets nest hanging 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, tspe-
cially the greens lurking in the background;
but the light of the occasion should appa-
rently come from many lusty pumpkins
carved to represent faces and holding light
ed candles Their hearty faces should be
allowed to shine brightly.
When there is pause in the dancing. and
refreshments are served. 1t is no ice cream
and lemonade that the harvest dance hon
ors but an old-fashioned collation. Of b1au-
tifui and appropriate dishes Is set in full
sight on long table. From one end a
great boiled ham, Respondent in paper frills
Is carved. while what probably was once
lord1y turkey dignfffes the other. Oys-
ters wrapped around in bits of bacon and
quantity called pigs in blankets" appear
among the first courses. The baked pota-
toes come later. Safely 1t may be wagered
that when they are opened they will be
found to harbor small roasted birds. In
deed this is the time to lookout for sur
prises Baked apples and individual pump
kin pies may be expected still later while
boiled eggs from the beginning are seen on
the table. AS Is true of the potatoes how
ever, they probably are deceivers and VIII
open but to reveal some delicious trffle in
the way of dessert
And what is the drink that accompanies
this old-time meal? Not champagne sure
ly, vet lemonade. Beer would be an af-
front. 1t Is good sweet cider, which makes
a white froth about the barrels bung In
quantities too, 1t is to be had; this In fact,
Is one of the privileges of a harvest dance.
To the girls that are looking forward to a
jolliflcation of this kind it may be suggest
ed that short dancing dresses are regarded
as being in the best form. Long, ceremo-
NOUS gowns are here decided out of place
for comfort, quick motion and the happy
freedom of action should all be present at
real harvest dance.